The best time to visit Portugal is during the shoulder seasons in the late spring and the early fall. The shoulder season in the spring runs between March and May. The fall shoulder season runs from September to October. While these are the best times to visit in my opinion, they are not the most popular times to visit. The summer months are the most popular time to visit Portugal as is common with most of Europe due to students being on break. The months of June through August are the peak times for tourists. This also coincides with the beach season in Portugal.
If you are considering a trip to Portugal, check out our Portugal Itineraries page for all the best ways to explore the country on your vacation.
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Weather in Portugal
Portugal occupies the Iberian peninsula with Spain in the south of Europe. Due to this location, temperatures tend to be warmer in Portugal than in most of Europe.
Temperatures
The average daily upper temperatures in much of Portugal are in the low to mid 80°F in the summer months of July and August. While these temperatures are warm for outdoor activities, they can be also quite enjoyable. When compared to temperatures in Spain for example, they are much more temperate due to the presence of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you prefer a little less heat (and smaller crowds), the spring and fall months are much nicer. These times of the year average highs are between 67 – 79°F. Lows during the shoulder season rarely get below 57 – 59°F.
Due to its Mediterranean climate, Portugal doesn’t get very cold in the winter months. During this time, the lows approach the high 40s and low 50s (in Fahrenheit). While this is definitely not cold, these months are the low season due to the precipitation during the winter. Read on for details on the year-round precipitation in Portugal.
Rain
The Iberian peninsula as a whole is pretty dry. However, the Atlantic Ocean tends to bring a little more moisture to the areas immediately next to it. For those familiar with the geography, this means most of Portugal gets more precipitation than the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Portugal receives an average precipitation total of 11.6 inches per year. While this varies by region, that is almost double the 4- 7 inches of precipitation that Spain receives. For this reason, you will want to plan your visit around times when the chance of rain is low.
Portugal receives over 80% of its yearly rainfall between October and March. While some of the major cities will still see tourists during this time, more rural attractions don’t. For this reason, many of these rural sites will have shorter hours or will shut down in these months. Even if they didn’t shut down, vineyard walks and boating on the Douro River aren’t much fun in the rain. While there is still an elevated chance of rain in April, May through September has almost no average daily rainfall.
While there are many places in the world that are year-round destinations, Portugal is not one of these. The temperature and rainfall are quite nice in the summer and shoulder months. However, if your schedule only allows winter travel, you may want to rethink your timing. If you absolutely have no other option, book activities that can be done in the rain (port tastings inside instead of in the vineyard, more tram tours than walking tours). Also, be sure to bring plenty of rain gear.
Crowds
June, July, and August are the most popular months to visit Portugal. During these summer months, many people throughout the northern hemisphere (including Europe and America) travel for vacation when schools are on recess. In addition to the international travelers, many Portuguese locals will also travel to the coast and beaches. The coast has cooler climates providing an escape from the heat in the interior of the country.
Following the basic economic rules of supply and demand, a large number of travelers in June, July, and August result in higher prices. The additional crowds also mean longer lines at popular attractions and difficulty securing tickets. If you want to avoid crowds at most of the major attractions, choose to travel during non-summer months. Traveling in the shoulder or off-season will also mean lower prices for flights and hotels. If your schedule allows, traveling in March-May or September-November tends to be the best bang for your buck. During these months, the weather is still good, and daylight hours are still long. In addition, you will be able to avoid the crowds of summer and save some money.
Festivals and Major Celebrations
Festivals and major celebrations can draw large crowds and change the normal rhythm of a city. At the same time, the festivals and celebrations are special events that provide unique insights into the cultural observances of a country. It is helpful to know when the festivals and celebrations are so you can plan the best time to visit Portugal. Depending on your preferred type of travel, you can plan to see them or avoid them altogether. The major festivals and celebrations observed in Portugal are listed below.
Holidays by Date
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – Businesses close on New Years Day to celebrate the start of the new year.
- Epiphany/Dia de Reyes (January 6th) – Caroling is particularly popular in neighborhoods on this date.
- Holy Week/Semana Santa (Spring – dates vary by year) – Some businesses will close on Maundy Thursday. Many cities will host passion plays and religious processions through the streets.
- Good Friday through Easter Sunday (Spring – dates vary by year) – Most businesses close in observance of the religious holiday.
- Liberty Day/Freedom Day/Carnation Revolution (April 25th) – Commemorates the day in 1974 when a peaceful military coup ended the reign of a dictatorship and reestablished democracy in the country. Most businesses close, but museums tend to remain open.
- May Day/Labor Day (May 1st) – In many regions, this continues to be a celebration of the coming of spring including many historical rituals such as placing flowers on cars, houses, and gates. In some regions, local socialist and communist groups also celebrate May Day as International Worker’s Day or Labor Day. Most businesses close.
- Pilgrimage to Fatima (May 13th) – This is the largest day for pilgrimages to Fatima. Smaller pilgrimages occur on the 13th of each month May through October.
- Portugal Day/Dia de Camões (June 10th) – Commemorates Luis de Camões, a Portuguese poet whose Os Lusiadas epic poem celebrates Portugal’s achievements bringing international recognition to the country. Most businesses close, and there are parades and street parties in many cities.
- Corpus Christi (Varies by year, it is 60 days after Easter) – Religious holiday held on a Thursday celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrament. Many cities host religious processions, and businesses close.
- Assumption Day (August 15th) – Religious holiday celebrating the assumption of Mary, mother of Jesus, into heaven. Most cities will have religious processions, and many businesses are closed.
- Republic Day (October 5th) – Celebrates the proclamation of the first Portuguese republic in 1910. Businesses will be closed throughout the country.
- All Saints’ Day/Dia de Todos-os-Santos (November 1st) – Religious holiday commemorating the saints in the Christian church. Many businesses will be closed across the country.
- Restoration of Independence Day/Restauração da Independência (December 1st) – Celebrates the end of the Philippine Dynasty (also called the Iberian Union) which saw the joint rule of Spain and Portugal.
- Immaculate Conception/Imaculada Conceição (December 8th) – Religious holiday celebrating the conception of Jesus in the Virgin Mary without sin. Many businesses are closed on this holiday.
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24th and 25th) – Businesses start closing the evening of the 24th and are closed all day on the 25th. A big family meal and attendance at a midnight church service is traditional in Portugal.
Itinerary Specific Date Considerations
Douro Valley – Fall is harvest time (mid-September to mid-October) in the Douro Valley. The vineyards and quintas become full of activities due to the grape harvest. Many of the trees are also changing colors as cooler weather begins to set in. If you are really focused on the optimization of your time in the Douro Valley, it’s hard to beat this time in the fall.
Coimbra – Queima das Fitas (early May, date varies by year) is a festival local to Coimbra known as the burning of the ribbons. This is a graduation celebration for the university filling the city with processions and festivals.
Lisbon – Lisbon hosts many festivals throughout the year. These include Peixe em Lisboa (a gourmet seafood festival in April), Out Jazz (free outdoor concerts May – September), Rock in Rio (outdoor rock concerts in June), Festival ao Largo (a festival celebrating symphony, ballet, and theater performances in July), and the Lisbon Marathon.
