Iberia · When to go
The best time to visit Portugal, month by month
Sardines smoking in Alfama in June, grapes trodden by foot in the Douro in September, and Madeira mild enough for a walk in January: Portugal has a good month for almost everything.
Photo: Unsplash
The short answer
When to go, in one paragraph
The best time to visit Portugal is May, June or September, when Lisbon sits between about 22 and 26°C, the Algarve is warm enough for the beach and the summer crowds have either not arrived or have gone home. July and August are hottest and busiest, especially on the Algarve. September and early October bring the Douro grape harvest, while Madeira stays mild all year, with Funchal highs of about 19 to 26°C.
- For beachesJune and SepWarm Algarve days of about 24 to 26°C, without the August crowds.
- For wineMid Sep to early OctHarvest in the Douro, with grapes still trodden by foot at some quintas.
- For winter sunMadeira, Nov to MarFunchal highs of 19 to 22°C while mainland Portugal turns wet.
Checked on 16 October 2026 against Jacada Travel: Best time to visit Portugal, Algarve Tourist: Algarve weather and when to visit and Weather2Travel: Praia da Marinha climate.
Pick your month
Turn the year
- October
- Excellent weather for hiking, cycling and city breaks. Lisbon sits near 23°C, harvest wraps up in the Douro in the first days of the month and rain slowly returns.
- What's on
- End of the Douro harvest; Lisbon and Porto
- Prices
- Shoulder, good value
Shoulder seasonHigh summerWinter
Portugal month by month
- JanuaryWinter · Low, the quietest monthCool and often wet on the mainland, with Lisbon highs around 15°C, but long sunny spells are possible. Madeira is the warm escape, at about 19°C. Quiet museums; Madeira walking.
- FebruaryWinter · Low, busier over half termStill quiet for tourism, with Lisbon near 16°C. Carnival brings parades to Lisbon and the Algarve, and the Atlantic surf is good on the west coast. Carnival; surf at Ericeira and Peniche.
- MarchWinter · Low, rising for EasterSpring begins in the south, where the Algarve and Lisbon start to warm up, while the Douro is still cool, around 12°C. Early spring walks on the Algarve coast.
- AprilShoulder season · Shoulder, busy over EasterSpring in full bloom and one of the best months for walking and cycling. Lisbon reaches about 18°C, though the sea is still cool for swimming. Holy Week processions; hiking.
- MayShoulder season · Shoulder, good valueOne of the best months. Lisbon reaches about 22°C, the Algarve is usually warm enough for the beach and Comporta is quiet and green. Algarve beaches without crowds; Comporta.
- JuneShoulder season · High, book Lisbon well ahead for mid JuneSummer without the peak. The Algarve reaches about 24°C, and Lisbon throws its biggest party of the year on the night of 12 June. Santo António in Lisbon, 12 to 13 June.
- JulyHigh summer · Peak, book months aheadHot and busy. The Algarve averages about 27°C with 12 hours of sunshine a day, and inland cities can reach the high 30s. Long beach days; Madeira's warm season begins.
- AugustHigh summer · Peak, the most expensive monthThe busiest month on the Algarve, especially the first two weeks, when Portuguese families take their holidays and some villas insist on stays of a week or more. Algarve sea at its warmest, about 21°C.
- SeptemberShoulder season · High, easing late in the monthArguably the best month. The Algarve is still about 26°C, the sea is warm and the Douro harvest peaks in the second half of the month. Douro grape harvest.
- OctoberShoulder season · Shoulder, good valueExcellent weather for hiking, cycling and city breaks. Lisbon sits near 23°C, harvest wraps up in the Douro in the first days of the month and rain slowly returns. End of the Douro harvest; Lisbon and Porto.
- NovemberWinter · LowRain increases, but the Algarve still averages about 19°C, one of the warmest places on the mainland in winter. Madeira holds at around 22°C. Mild, quiet Algarve walks.
- DecemberWinter · Low, peak around New YearCool and wet on the mainland, with Lisbon and Porto highs of about 14 to 16°C. Christmas markets, lights and nativity scenes fill the cities. Christmas markets in Lisbon and Porto.
June and September · The Algarve
Cliffs, coves and the warmest sea
The Algarve's golden cliffs, sea caves and coves are at their best in June and September, when days run from about 24 to 26°C and the beaches have room to breathe. July and August are hotter, at about 27°C with almost no rain, but the first two weeks of August are the absolute peak, when Portuguese families take their own holidays. Hotspots such as Benagil and Praia da Marinha become crowded. The Atlantic peaks at about 21°C, and runs a degree or two warmer around Tavira and Monte Gordo in the east.
For August, book months ahead and expect minimum stays of seven to fourteen nights at many villas. Restaurants and boat trips need booking days in advance.
12 to 13 June · Lisbon
Sardines, saints and street parties
Lisbon's biggest night is 12 June, the eve of Santo António, the city's favourite saint. At 9pm, twenty neighbourhood marching groups parade down Avenida da Liberdade in costume, competing with their own songs. In Alfama, Mouraria, Graça, Bica and Madragoa, the streets fill with arraiais, outdoor parties with music, paper garlands and grills of sardines on almost every corner. Earlier that day, couples marry in the city's traditional Santo António weddings. The 13th is a holiday in Lisbon, so the city sleeps late.
Book a hotel well ahead for mid June, ideally within walking distance of Alfama, and arrive on 11 June so you can pace yourself for the long night.
September to October · The Douro
Harvest in the terraces
The Douro's vineyards climb steep schist terraces above the river for nearly 150km inland from Porto. Harvest usually runs from mid September to early October, peaking in the last two weeks of September, when highs sit between 25 and 30°C and evenings cool to 15 to 18°C. Several quintas still tread their best grapes by foot in shallow granite tanks called lagares, including Quinta do Crasto and Quinta da Pacheca. It is the most atmospheric time of year in the valley, and the busiest at the best estates.
The train from Porto Campanhã to Pinhão takes about 2 hours 15 minutes along the river. Without a car, quintas are hard to reach, so book transfers or stay at one.
May to June · Comporta
Rice fields and empty sand
Comporta, about an hour south of Lisbon, is Portugal's most fashionable stretch of coast, and it still feels rural. Rice has been grown by the Sado river for about a century, storks nest on chimneys and lamp posts, and some 60km of Atlantic sand runs along the Tróia and Comporta peninsula, backed by cork oak and pine. High summer brings Lisbon's weekenders. The quieter windows are May and June, or late September and early October, which also avoid the worst of the mosquito season.
Allow about 80 minutes by car from Lisbon airport, and hire a car for your stay. Some places, such as the Rice Museum, keep limited hours, so check before you go.
All year · Madeira
The island for every season
Madeira is Portugal's answer to the calendar. Funchal's highs only move from about 19°C in winter to 26°C in August and September, and the sea stays between about 18 and 23°C. That makes it the obvious winter escape when the mainland turns wet, and a fine place for walking the levadas in spring and autumn. Summer, from July to September, is the warmest and sunniest season. Most rain falls between November and February, so pack a waterproof for the mountains in winter.
Flights from Gatwick to Funchal take about 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes. Base yourself in Funchal and hire a driver for mountain days.
- 2h 45m
- London Heathrow to Lisbon, non-stop, at the shortest
- 27°C
- Average July and August high on the Algarve
- 150km
- How far the Douro wine region stretches inland from Porto
- 19 to 26°C
- Funchal's range of average highs through the year
Planning the trip
Where to go, how long, and how to get there
Portugal is under three hours from London to Lisbon, Porto or Faro, so a long weekend works as well as a fortnight. Pick your month first: the Algarve and Comporta want warm weather, the Douro wants harvest time, the cities work almost all year, and Madeira fills the winter gap when the mainland turns grey.
- Long weekendLisbon or PortoThree nights in either city, from April to June or September to October. In Lisbon, time it for 12 June if you want the city at full volume. In Porto, add a day trip up the river by train to Pinhão. Both are quieter and cheaper in winter, though often wet.
- One weekPorto and the DouroTwo nights in Porto, then four or five at a quinta in the valley. Go from mid September to early October for the harvest, or in May and June when the terraces are green. In July and August the valley is very hot.
- Ten daysLisbon, Comporta and the AlgarveStart with three nights in Lisbon, drive about an hour south to Comporta for three, then continue to the Algarve. June and September are ideal. Avoid the first half of August, when the coast is at its most crowded and expensive.
- WinterMadeiraA week in Funchal from November to March, with highs of about 19 to 22°C and a sea of around 18°C. Walk the levadas, take a mountain drive and eat well. Pack layers and a waterproof, as winter is the island's wettest season.
Getting there
British Airways and TAP fly non-stop from Heathrow to Lisbon in about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes. For the Algarve, BA, easyJet, Wizz Air and Jet2 fly Gatwick to Faro in a similar time. Porto is about 2 hours 20 minutes from London City with TAP, or around 2 hours 45 minutes from Gatwick.
Getting around
Trains link Lisbon and Porto, and Porto with Pinhão in the Douro, which is a beautiful journey in itself. For Comporta, the Alentejo and the quieter Algarve, hire a car. Madeira is best explored with a driver or a car, as roads climb steeply into the mountains. Allow more time than the map suggests for any mountain drive on the island.
Booking
The best Algarve villas fill first for August, often with minimum stays. Lisbon hotels fill for mid June, and the top Douro quintas for harvest weeks. Shoulder months bring better value. In winter, larger Algarve towns such as Faro, Lagos and Tavira keep most cafés and restaurants open, while smaller resorts can feel very quiet.
Questions people ask
The best time to visit Portugal, answered
What is the best time to visit Portugal for beaches?
June and September. The Algarve reaches about 24°C in June and 26°C in September, the sea is close to its warmest, and the beaches are less crowded than in the first half of August. July and August are hotter, at about 27°C, but bring the year's biggest crowds and highest prices.
When is the grape harvest in the Douro Valley?
Usually from mid September to early October, with the peak in the last two weeks of September. Some quintas still tread grapes by foot in granite lagares and offer harvest experiences. Days are warm, between 25 and 30°C, with cooler evenings, so pack a light layer.
When is the Santo António festival in Lisbon?
The main night is 12 June, when the marchas parade down Avenida da Liberdade at 9pm and the old quarters fill with street parties and grilled sardines. 13 June, Santo António's day, is a municipal holiday in Lisbon, though not a national one.
Is Madeira good to visit all year?
Yes. Funchal's average highs run from about 19°C in winter to 26°C in late summer, and the sea stays between about 18 and 23°C. Summer is warmest and sunniest, while winter brings more rain, especially in the mountains, but stays far milder than the mainland.
When is the best time to visit Comporta?
May and June, or late September and early October. The weather is warm enough for the beach, the crowds of Lisbon weekenders have not arrived or have gone, and you avoid the peak mosquito season. Comporta is about an hour's drive from central Lisbon.
How long is the flight from London to Portugal?
Under three hours to the mainland. Heathrow to Lisbon takes about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes, Gatwick to Faro about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes, and London City to Porto about 2 hours 20 minutes. Madeira is further, at about 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes from Gatwick.
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