When to Visit Portugal: A Month by Month Guide

Portugal has a mild Atlantic climate, which means the shoulder seasons are long and useful. A month by month view.

## Winter January and February are cool and can be wet, especially in the north. Lisbon rarely freezes. Sites are empty, prices are low, and the light is excellent. Bring layers and a rain jacket.

## Spring March brings almond and citrus blossom in the south and unpredictable showers everywhere. April is green, mild and one of the best months for the Alentejo and the Douro. May is the sweet spot: warm days, cool evenings, everything open, crowds still manageable.

## Summer June is warm and lively, with the popular saints festivals in Lisbon and Porto in the middle of the month. July is hot inland and pleasant on the coast. August is the busiest month of the year: the Algarve fills, Lisbon empties of locals, and reservations become essential everywhere.

## Autumn September is many people's favourite month. The sea is at its warmest, the harvest starts in the Douro, and the crowds thin after the middle of the month. October is mild and beautiful, with vineyard colour in the north. November turns wetter and quieter, and the cities are yours again.

## Choosing by interest Wine harvest: mid September to mid October. Beaches: June to September. Walking and photography: April, May and October. Value and quiet: November to February.

## Practical note Inland Alentejo can pass forty degrees in July and August, while the Atlantic coast stays much cooler. If you dislike heat, plan the interior for the shoulder months and keep the coast for the summer.

Whatever dates you choose, we build the daily pace around the season, earlier starts in summer, later and slower in winter.