Best Time to Travel to Portugal: Plan Your Trip Now

Key takeaways

• Portugal has four distinct seasons and is geographically diverse. With that in mind, the weather is different depending on where you are in the country, and it can significantly impact your trip depending on when and where you go.  
• Spring and fall are the best time of year to travel to Portugal for a mix of good weather and low prices. Winter is the best time to visit Portugal to save money and avoid crowds, though you won’t be able to swim. 
• If you plan to travel to Portugal during peak season, plan to book your trip 2–8 months in advance. 
• Download the Going app, sign up for a Premium or Elite membership, and set a price alert to get real-time alerts when prices drop on flights to Portugal.

Planning the perfect time to explore Portugal

Portugal is a year-round destination, but not all activities are best in all seasons. Therefore, where you want to visit, what you want to do, and what your budget is may be dictated by seasonality. So, what is the best time to travel to Portugal? Let’s dive in. 

Overview of Portugal’s climate by region

Portugal is a beautiful country with varied geography, including valleys, mountains, and a long Atlantic coastline. Lisbon and the Algarve, the southern region famous for beaches, have hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Spring and fall are warm and temperate. 

Meanwhile, the Douro Valley, in the interior of the country where much of Portugal’s wine comes from, has cooler winters and more rain throughout the year, especially in December and January. Porto can also be rainy in the winter, but that makes the areas nearby more lush than other parts of Portugal. 

High season vs. low season: What to expect

Like much of the world, the high season in Portugal is during the summer, from June to August. Hot weather draws visitors to the beaches, and there are lots of festivals and other outdoor activities to partake in. This is also when many travelers are off from work and school, meaning they have more time to travel. Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve get very busy during the summer, and prices for flights and accommodations are at their highest. Read our guide for flight-booking hacks to score cheaper flights. 

Low season in Portugal is from November to March, with the exception of a couple of weeks around Christmas, when Lisbon and some areas get busy with holiday markets and festivals. Throughout the rest of the winter, you can find amazing deals. Travelers should note that some restaurants and other attractions close or have limited hours (especially in the Algarve) during this time, so you’ll want to plan ahead. 

Want to go to Portugal? Let the Going app do the hard work—real-time flight deals straight to your phone!

Best time to visit Portugal by season

Portugal has four distinct seasons, with wildflowers in the spring, colorful leaves in the fall, hot, sunny days in the summer, and some rain in the winter. The best time to visit depends on what you hope to get out of the trip. 

Spring in Portugal (March to May)

Spring in Portugal is a great time to visit. Porto and other areas in the north can be cool, with temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while Lisbon is warmer and can reach the 70s. 

Blooming landscapes and comfortable weather

Spring is when flowers in the Alentejo and Douro Valley come into bloom, making it a gorgeous time to take a river cruise or go wine tasting in the valley. Throughout the country, the weather is mild enough to hike and wander for hours through cities without getting too hot. It’s also a good time to book a walking tour. Unlike summer, there are far fewer crowds in the spring, making it a good time to visit attractions that tend to be heavily touristed. 

Summer in Portugal (June to August)

Summer in Portugal can be very hot, especially in Lisbon and the Algarve. Temperatures are regularly in the low 90s and, in recent years, have reached above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the height of summer. While Porto and other northern regions are slightly cooler, it can still get into the 80s. 

Beach escapes and vibrant festivals

Because of the hot weather, summer is the prime beach season in Portugal. Praia da Marinha and other Algarve beaches are busy during the summer (for good reason). They’re beautiful, and water sports, such as surfing, kiteboarding, or simply swimming, provide a nice respite from the heat. 

There are also major festivals in the summer, including NOS Alive music festival and various food festivals in Lisbon. Summer is the busiest time to visit Portugal because people come for the beaches, but it’s also when many people have time off of work and school. Needless to say, summer is the most expensive time to travel to Portugal. 

Autumn in Portugal (September to November)

Autumn in Portugal offers warm, pleasant weather around 60–70 degrees Fahrenheit, with temperatures on the higher end of the spectrum in the south. Summer crowds have left, leaves in the Douro Valley turn various hues of gold, and there are harvest festivals and outdoor activities galore. 

Wine harvests and scenic adventures

Harvest season is the prettiest and most fun time to visit the Douro Valley, where wineries host harvest events and special dinners and tastings throughout the season. It’s also a good time for biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities, as the weather is warm but not too hot. Fall colors also make trails especially scenic. 

If you want to visit cities such as Lisbon, fall is a nice time to see famous sights and spend your afternoons in a cafe or wine bar—without the summer crowds. 

Winter in Portugal (December to February)

Winter is the coldest time of year to visit Portugal, but it’s still pretty mild compared to other parts of Europe and the US. In most areas, temperatures will be in the mid-40s to high 50s throughout the winter. 

Mild weather and cozy experiences

Winter is a good time to visit the dozens of museums in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, and elsewhere. It’s too cold to swim at the Algarve’s beaches, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a nice beach walk, eat seafood, and explore coastal towns with very few crowds. Many of the cellars in the Douro Valley have cozy indoor port and wine tasting rooms, an ideal chilly-weather activity. 

Regional highlights: when to visit popular destinations

Portugal is one of the most western countries in Europe, with a long Atlantic coastline. The southern part of the country is home to the Algarve and Portugal’s most famous beaches. Lisbon is in the northwest, while Porto is much farther north, still on the coast. Many visitors don’t make it too far inland, but there are beautiful national parks and mountains there. 

Best time to visit Lisbon

The best time to travel to Lisbon, Portugal, is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are warm but not too hot and there are far fewer crowds than in the summer. Winter is the best time to visit to save money, but it’s chillier and you might have some rainy days during your trip. There are tons of things to do in Lisbon, from appreciating the intricate azulejos and sampling pastel de nata, to seeing (or hearing) a fado performance and touring UNESCO monuments. 

Just stopping in Lisbon on a layover? Here’s what you need to know and what you should see. 

Best time to explore the Algarve

Most people visit the Algarve for the beaches, in which case summer is the best time to visit. It can get very hot and crowded, so if you’re okay with slightly cooler but still warm weather, late spring or early fall are optimal––and usually cheaper––options. 

When to visit Portugal’s Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is especially beautiful during the fall, particularly in September and October. This is also when wineries host harvest festivals and events. 

Events and festivals worth planning around

Portugal hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, some drawing international crowds, some mostly for locals. If you’re visiting during the summer, there will likely be a neighborhood festival of some kind during your visit. Whether that festival will impact your travel plans depends on the festival and how far in advance you book accommodations. Some festivals, such as the Douro Wine Harvest Festival in the fall, are worth planning your trip around. 

Portugal’s top festivals by season

Summer is festival season in Portugal. There are dozens of neighborhood food, art, and cultural festivals in Lisbon and elsewhere. There are also bigger celebrations, such as the Feast of Saint Anthony Festival in the Alfama district on June 12, where the Portuguese grill tons of sardines to celebrate the story of a fish rising out of the sea. Also in June, the Rock in Rio-Lisboa festival is the largest music festival in Portugal, drawing international stars and crowds. Portugal also has a large Pride festival in June and a huge street party with fireworks celebrating Saint John the Baptist on June 23. 

Fall is harvest season, and the Douro Valley has a large harvest festival, as well as numerous small events put on by wineries and restaurants. In Golegā, thousands of people visit for a two-week horse fair. There are competitions, food, lots of wine, and—though there are large crowds—there aren’t many international tourists. 

The winter is much less touristed in Portugal, with the exception of the weeks around Christmas and Carnaval. During December, you’ll find Christmas markets in many towns. Also, the entire country celebrates Carnaval in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday. Expect parades, specialty foods, and lots of music. 

In the spring, you can expect processions all over Portugal during Holy Week around Easter. In Barcelos, the Festival of the Crosses draws thousands of domestic visitors, and on May 13, the Peregrinaçao de Fátima––Portugal’s most famous Christian pilgrimage––takes place in Leiria-Fatima. 

Tips for enjoying local celebrations

Some festivals, such as Rock in Rio-Lisboa and the harvest festivals, draw international tourists and are set up for international crowds. Others, like Carnaval festivals in small towns, neighborhood food and art festivals, and religious festivals across the country, are geard more toward the local crowds. These festivals can be special to visit for a chance to experience local celebrations without many other tourists. 

The Visit Portugal tourism website has information on festivals throughout the country, or you can search blogs by local writers or find tips on social media. 

Practical tips for traveling to Portugal

Portugal isn’t as crowded as France or Italy, but it still sees millions of tourists each year, mostly in the summer. That said, it’s a geographically diverse country with distinct seasons and a wide array of activities. Your interests, the weather, and your budget will all impact the type of trip you have and when you should visit. 

Budget-friendly months for your trip

Winter is by far the cheapest time to visit Portugal. Flights and accommodations are significantly cheaper than in the summer, and there are far fewer international tourists. The weather is chilly but not too cold. If you plan to explore cities, this is a great time to visit to save money. 

If you’re hoping for beach time but don’t want high-season prices, consider visiting in May or September, just before and after high season, when you can find some deals but still have warm weather. 

Balancing weather, crowds, and activities

If you’re visiting Portugal for the beaches, summer is your best bet for consistently sunny, hot weather. If you’re visiting for other outdoor activities, you might want to visit in the spring or fall, when it’s not too hot. Some activities are time bound, like the harvest festivals in the Douro Valley, which take place in September and October. If budget is your main priority, visit during the winter and take advantage of low prices and relatively empty attractions. 

Shoulder seasons can often offer the best of both worlds: not as many tourists, lower prices than high season, and warmer, sunnier weather than winter.  

Conclusion

Portugal is a year-round destination. There’s no bad time to visit, but there are better times to visit depending on what you want to get out of the trip. Think about your budget, your ideal weather, and the activities you want to prioritize before booking your trip. 

Going can help you take the guesswork out of planning your trip to Portugal. Download the Going app, sign up for a Premium or Elite membership, and set a price alert to get real-time alerts when our Travel Experts find cheap flights to Portugal.