Best time to visit Portugal: month by month

YesTrip editorial team · Updated: 27 October 2026

In short

The best time to visit Portugal is May, June and September: Lisbon then reaches 23 to 26 °C by day with little rain. July and August are hot and almost dry, at 28 °C in Lisbon and 29 °C in Faro, and the main season on the Algarve. Winter is mild in Lisbon at around 15 °C by day, but the north is wet: Porto gets 160 to 180 mm a month from October to January.

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Portugal is small enough to cross in a day, but its climate changes noticeably from north to south. Porto and the green north get a lot of Atlantic rain in winter, Lisbon sits in between, and the Algarve in the south is the sunniest and driest part of the mainland. Summers are hot and dry everywhere, winters mild. We analysed the weather from 2015 to 2024 at three places: Lisbon, Porto and Faro.

The short answer

Best time overall: May, June and September. Lisbon averages 22.8 °C by day in May, 24.8 °C in June and 26.1 °C in September, with 16 to 38 mm of rain.
Beach season: June to September on the Algarve. Faro averages 28.9 to 29.2 °C in July and August with almost no rain.
Hottest months: July and August, at 28 °C in Lisbon. The UK travel advice warns of higher than normal temperatures in summer.
Wettest region: the north. Porto gets 183 mm in October and 182 mm in December.
Winter: mild in Lisbon (15 to 16 °C by day) and Faro (16 to 17 °C), good for city trips.

Portugal's climate: all 12 months

Month	Lisbon day	Lisbon night	Lisbon rain	Porto day	Porto rain	Faro day	Faro rain
January	14.6 °C	8.7 °C	55 mm	13.5 °C	161 mm	16.1 °C	35 mm
February	15.9 °C	9.3 °C	49 mm	14.7 °C	120 mm	16.8 °C	42 mm
March	17.2 °C	10.2 °C	59 mm	15.8 °C	146 mm	18.0 °C	71 mm
April	19.4 °C	12.0 °C	62 mm	17.8 °C	135 mm	19.8 °C	42 mm
May	22.8 °C	14.4 °C	38 mm	20.2 °C	85 mm	23.2 °C	29 mm
June	24.8 °C	16.3 °C	16 mm	21.8 °C	50 mm	25.6 °C	7 mm
July	27.7 °C	17.9 °C	3 mm	24.5 °C	13 mm	28.9 °C	1 mm
August	28.3 °C	18.4 °C	1 mm	24.7 °C	14 mm	29.2 °C	0 mm
September	26.1 °C	17.4 °C	30 mm	23.5 °C	68 mm	26.2 °C	13 mm
October	22.9 °C	15.6 °C	78 mm	20.7 °C	183 mm	23.3 °C	76 mm
November	18.1 °C	12.2 °C	75 mm	16.6 °C	167 mm	19.4 °C	56 mm
December	15.9 °C	10.3 °C	76 mm	14.7 °C	182 mm	17.2 °C	56 mm

Temperature and rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. A grid cell is about 25 km wide, so the values are a regional average rather than a single weather station. Inland, for example in the Alentejo or the Douro Valley, summer days are often much hotter than on the coast.

Lisbon: daytime high (bar) and night low (start of the line)

Lisbon has a long warm season: from May to October the days are above 22 °C. Winter nights rarely drop below 8 °C on average, so frost is very unusual in the capital.

Porto: rain per month, average 2015–2024

Porto shows how wet the north is: from October to March it gets 120 to 183 mm a month, more than twice as much as Lisbon. In July and August, on the other hand, it is almost dry as well.

Portugal month by month

April to June: spring

A very good time for Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and the Douro Valley. The countryside is green, days are warm, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. April can still bring rainy days, especially in the north. By June, the Algarve is warm enough for the beach, though the Atlantic stays cool.

July and August: summer

Hot and almost dry, with 28 °C in Lisbon and 29 °C in Faro by day. This is high season on the Algarve, when beaches, hotels and hire cars book up early. Porto is a little cooler at 24.5 °C. According to the UK travel advice, there is an increased risk of wildfires from April to October when the weather is hot and dry, and some beaches have a strong undertow and rip tides – swim where lifeguards are on duty.

September and October: autumn

September is often the best month of all: still summer at 26 °C in Lisbon and Faro, with fewer visitors than in August. It is also harvest time in the Douro Valley. October brings the first heavy rain, especially in Porto at 183 mm.

November to March: winter

Mild in the south: Lisbon averages 15 to 16 °C by day and Faro 16 to 17 °C. A good time for city trips without crowds, though rainy days are common. The north is wettest, with around 160 to 180 mm a month in Porto. Pack a rain jacket and shoes that cope with slippery cobblestones.

**Porto's Ribeira district on the Douro**Photo: Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

**Praia da Marinha on the Algarve**Photo: Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

**Pena Palace in Sintra in June**Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

**Terraced vineyards in the Douro Valley**Photo: Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where the places are

Lisbon, Porto and Faro

Base map: Natural Earth

Porto and the Algarve are both a few hours from Lisbon by train. A classic first trip combines Lisbon and Porto in spring or autumn and adds the Algarve in summer. More on the cities: how many days in Lisbon and how many days in Porto. For a longer trip, see our Portugal road trip, and for the south coast in detail the best time to visit the Algarve. The islands have their own climate: see the best time to visit Madeira.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

In YesTrip you plan Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Algarve day by day on one map, including the train between the cities. The forecast for your travel days shows when a rainy day in Porto is better spent in a port wine cellar than on a viewpoint, and the packing list adds a rain jacket in winter or sun protection in summer. Travelling as a group, you share the trip and split costs such as the hire car and tickets.

Before you go

Entry: Portugal is in the Schengen area. Check the current entry rules for British citizens on gov.uk before you travel.
Time: mainland Portugal has the same time as the UK all year.
Power: 230 volts, sockets type C and F, so bring an adapter from the UK.
Mobile data: a travel eSIM^* can be cheaper than roaming, depending on your UK provider; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

More destinations by month: Best time to visit: where to go when.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Portugal?

May, June and September. Lisbon averages 22.8 to 26.1 °C by day in these months with little rain, and the Algarve is warm enough for the beach from June. September combines summer weather with fewer visitors.

Is Portugal too hot in summer?

On the coast it is usually bearable: Lisbon averages 28 °C and Faro 29 °C by day in July and August. Inland regions such as the Alentejo get much hotter. The UK travel advice warns of higher than normal temperatures in summer and a wildfire risk from April to October.

When does it rain most in Portugal?

From October to March, especially in the north. Porto gets 161 to 183 mm a month in October, November, December and January, Lisbon 55 to 78 mm. July and August are almost dry everywhere.

Is Portugal worth visiting in winter?

Yes, for Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve without crowds. Lisbon is mild at 15 to 16 °C by day and Faro at 16 to 17 °C, but expect rainy days, especially in Porto.

When can you swim in Portugal?

The main beach season is June to September. The Atlantic stays cooler than the Mediterranean all year, and some beaches have strong currents, so swim where lifeguards are on duty.

Sources

Climate data: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (ERA5), average 2015–2024 – open-meteo.com
Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis (Hersbach et al. 2020) – cds.climate.copernicus.eu
Weather forecasts and warnings: Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) – www.ipma.pt
Summer heat, wildfire risk from April to October and rip tides: UK Foreign Travel Advice for Portugal – www.gov.uk
Cultural Landscape of Sintra: UNESCO World Heritage – whc.unesco.org
Entry requirements for Portugal: UK Foreign Travel Advice – www.gov.uk

Researched with AI support and checked by our editors. Prices, opening hours and weather can change – please check before you go. YesTrip is not a travel agency. Published: 27 October 2026.

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