Winter
Dec → Feb15 to 16°
nights 9 to 10°
- 7 rainy days · 60 mm
- 7.9 h of sun
- sea 15°
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
- Jan15°not recommended
- Feb16°not recommended
- Mar17°fair
- Apr19°recommended
- May23°recommended
- Jun25°recommended
- Jul28°fair
- Aug28°fair
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct23°recommended
- Nov18°fair
- Dec16°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Portugal, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15° | 9° | 7.7 h | 55 mm | 8 d | 15° | |
| February | 16° | 9° | 8.5 h | 49 mm | 7 d | 15° | |
| March | 17° | 10° | 9.9 h | 59 mm | 9 d | 15° | |
| April | 19° | 12° | 11.1 h | 62 mm | 9 d | 17° | ✓ |
| May | 23° | 14° | 12.4 h | 38 mm | 5 d | 17° | ✓ |
| June | 25° | 16° | 13.3 h | 16 mm | 4 d | 19° | ✓ |
| July | 28° | 18° | 13.4 h | 3 mm | 1 d | 20° | |
| August | 28° | 18° | 12.4 h | 1 mm | 1 d | 19° | |
| September | 26° | 18° | 11.1 h | 30 mm | 4 d | 18° | ✓ |
| October | 23° | 16° | 9.1 h | 78 mm | 10 d | 19° | ✓ |
| November | 18° | 12° | 7.6 h | 75 mm | 10 d | 18° | |
| December | 16° | 10° | 7.4 h | 76 mm | 7 d | 16° |
The four seasons in Portugal, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Lisbon) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May17 to 23°
nights 10 to 14°
- 8 rainy days · 53 mm
- 11.1 h of sun
- sea 16°
Summer
Jun → Aug25 to 28°
nights 16 to 18°
- 2 rainy days · 7 mm
- 13 h of sun
- sea 19°
Autumn
Sep → Nov18 to 26°
nights 12 to 18°
- 8 rainy days · 61 mm
- 9.3 h of sun
- sea 18°
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Portugal, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h52 of daylight, in December 9h28, a difference of 5h24.
9h44Jan
10h42Feb
11h50Mar
13h10Apr
14h16May
14h52Jun
14h37Jul
13h40Aug
12h23Sep
11h06Oct
10hNov
9h28Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Lisbon" (38.72°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Portugal, month by month
EventsSantos PopularesJuneFátima pilgrimagesMay, OctoberVindima (grape harvest) in the Douro ValleySeptemberQueima das FitasMayDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Towns & culture: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, December
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Portugal, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JuneSantos Populares big crowds
Lisbon and Porto grill sardines in the street, hang up bunting and dance until morning for the feasts of St Anthony and St John.
- May, OctoberFátima pilgrimages
Pilgrims converge on the sanctuary on foot in mid-May and mid-October for candlelit vigils on the esplanade.
- SeptemberVindima (grape harvest) in the Douro Valley
The quintas harvest their terraced vineyards above the river, and some open their foot treading to visitors.
- MayQueima das Fitas
Coimbra celebrates the end of the university year: a parade of floats, black capes and late-night concerts for a week.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Portugal, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Lisbon | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇵🇹 Porto | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇵🇹 The Algarve | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇵🇹 Madeira | ~ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ |
| 🇵🇹 The Azores | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended15°9° at night
- 55 mm · 8 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended16°9° at night
- 49 mm · 7 d
- 8.5 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair17°10° at night
- 59 mm · 9 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended19°12° at night
- 62 mm · 9 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended23°14° at night
- 38 mm · 5 d
- 12.4 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended25°16° at night
- 16 mm · 4 d
- 13.3 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
July
Fair28°18° at night
- 3 mm · 1 d
- 13.4 h
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair28°18° at night
- 1 mm · 1 d
- 12.4 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended26°18° at night
- 30 mm · 4 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended23°16° at night
- 78 mm · 10 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair18°12° at night
- 75 mm · 10 d
- 7.6 h
- sea 18°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended16°10° at night
- 76 mm · 7 d
- 7.4 h
- sea 16°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 15 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (55 mm). Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Rain stays light: 49 mm over 7 days. Expect 8.5 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (62 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 38 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.4 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 16 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
July. 28 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 13.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 12.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 30 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (78 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Expect 7.6 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Rain stays light: 76 mm over 7 days. Expect 7.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 19 to 26 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Lisbon).
Which month should you avoid in Portugal?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 76 mm over 7 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Lisbon).
What is the hottest month in Portugal?
July, with 28 °C on average in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Lisbon).
What is the coldest month in Portugal?
January, with 15 °C at best during the day and 9 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Lisbon).
What is the driest month in Portugal?
August: 1 mm over 1 day of rain, against 78 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Portugal?
July, with 13.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Portugal?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 20 °C in July, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Lisbon): swimming is for the brave.
When is the best time to hike in Portugal?
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Lisbon), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Portugal guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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