When To Visit Portugal
- mcoelho813
- Sep 30, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
When To Visit Portugal
The best time for my family to visit Portugal is June, July, August, and September. We prefer to go to the beach and participate in lots of outdoor activities. August is by far our favorite month because we get to visit with all the cousins and family that return to Portugal for the holidays (festas and saints). You need to think about what your family likes to do and then plan your trip around the weather that fits your plans. If you like to swim in the ocean, then go to Portugal in the summer. If you want to visit when the weather is cool to walk the cobblestone streets, then visit in May, September, or October. April is rainy. December is cold.
How to plan a trip to Portugal with local language tips?
Planning a trip to Portugal involves choosing the best time to visit (spring or fall for pleasant weather), selecting key destinations like Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Sintra, and Madeira, booking flights and accommodation, planning an itinerary with historical sites and local cuisine, arranging transportation (trains, buses, rental cars), packing appropriately, and using the Euro (€) as currency. Learning basic Portuguese phrases can enhance your experience, such as greetings
December January February
weather | cold, damp, cloudy | rainy, snow on mountain tops, | 12°C (54°F) to 19°C (66°F), . The northern parts of the country are cooler, while the Algarve is slightly warmer |
clothing needed | hats, scarf, coat, boots, socks, sneakers, jeans, sweater, raincoat | Men wear pants, a belt, a button-down shirt, boots, shoes, a sweater, a sports jacket, NO SWEATPANTS, colored slacks | Women wear pants, boots, sweaters, scarves, layers, colored shoes, sneakers, NO sweatpants, a skirt not too long, small handbag |
meals | coffee and cake, pastry for breakfast 7:00-9:00 am | Lunch 1:00 - 3:00 PM 1300- 1500 large meal Lampreia is a fish eaten in March with rice festivals are all over Portugal https://www.centerofportugal.com/article/castle-of-montemor-o-velho | dinner1900- 2200 soup, smaller meal |
Shopping | clothing store hours 9:00- 1:00 then 1300- 1900 | food stores & gas stations stay open all-day 9:00 am-21:00 | most stores are closed on holidays and Saint Days |
holidays | December 25 Christmas January 1 New Year's Day | ||
Things to do | Serra da Estrela Mountain https://www.centerofportugal.com/destination/serra-da-estrela | ||
SOS Phone # 112 |
March April
weather | cool at night | rainy, sunny afternoons | |
clothing needed | raincoat lightweight jacket sweater | Men mostly wear slacks, button-down shirts, long sleeve sweaters, boots, jeans, belt, colored pants | Women wear pants, boots, sweaters, scarves, layers, colored shoes, sneakers, NO sweatpants, skirt not too long, small handbag |
Meals | coffee and cake, pastry for breakfast 7:00-9:00 am | Lunch 1:00 - 3:00 PM 1300- 1500 large meal | |
what to do and where | Algarve golf | Nazare watch surfing XXL waves | |
Holidays | Easter, Easter Monday | March 19th Father's Day St. Joseph's Day | April 25 Freedom Day Last Saturday in March is Daylight Savings |
Shopping | clothing store hours 9:00- 1:00 then 1300- 1900 |
May June
Weather | warm | pleasant | 9 hours/ sunlight | 18C- 24 C |
Clothing Needed | slippers for tile floors, hats, sunglasses | UV Protection | Men wear pants, belt, button-down shirt, boots, shoes, a sweater, a sports jacket, NO SWEATPANTS, colored slacks | sundress, capris, shorts, hat, sweater for nights, sandals, sneakersjean jacket, |
Meals | Lunch 1:00 - 3:00 PM 1300- 1500 large meal | |||
Shopping | clothing store hours 9:00- 1:00 then 1300- 1900 | |||
what to do and where | Outdoor Activities, biking, walking | Fatima May 13, June 13 Celebrations | Algarve golf | Coimbra- walk the old city, tour the college |
holidays | stores and businesses are closed | St. Anthony's Day, June 13 (Lisbon) St. John, June 24 (Porto) | St. Peter, June 29th, May 1st Workers' day, June 10th, Portugal Day |
July August September BEST TIME TO VISIT
Weather | hot hot | sunny12 hours of daylight | August is usually dry and hot, 22-32 °C |
Clothing Needed | dress comfortable UV Protection | bathing suit, shorts, sundress, hat, sunglasses, sweater for at night, tank shirts, capris, suntan lotion. You will look like a tourist if you wear shorts and a tank top | sneakers for walking, a hat for the sun |
Meals | Breakfast 7:00- 9:00 coffee and pastry | Lunch 1:00 - 3:00 PM 1300- 1500 large meal | Dinner can be later in the evening due to the tourism Festas one night |
Shopping | retail/ clothing stores- hours 9:00- 1:00 then 1300- 1900 | Euros | |
What to do and where | Porto Douro Valley wine making, wine tasting Viseu Festival, Central Portugal | Fatima July 13, August 13, Sept 13 Lisbon downtown, Fado music | Algarve beach time, swimming, Caramulo Car festival September https://www.caramulo-motorfestival.com/pt/ |
Holidays | Note that most stores do not have A/C | August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Festas every night |
October November December
Weather | cool. chilly, windy | ||
Clothing | Slippers- tile floors can be cold | jackets, sweater, jeans, boots, sneakers, hat | Lots of hotels have wall heaters not central heat |
Meals | Lunch 1:00 - 3:00 PM 1300- 1500 large meal | soup, bread | |
Shopping | clothing store hours 9:00- 1:00 then 1300- 1900 | ||
Holidays | 12/25 Christmas Restoration of Independence - 1 December Immaculate Conception - 8 December | November 1 All Saint's Day | Implantation of the Republic - 5 October |
What to do and where | Porto train ride, Outdoor Activities, North to South, Drive N2 road | Nazare watch the XXL waves | Fatima Oct 13 Celebration |
Journal for travel
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