Country guide
Portugal
Lisbon's hills and Porto's port lodges, Atlantic surf beaches and the Douro's terraced vineyards, mild almost year-round.
Currency
EUR
Language
Portuguese
English
Widely spoken
Payment
Cards & cash mixed
Power
Type C / F
230 V, 50 Hz
Dialing
+351
Destinations
Azores (Ponta Delgada)
Volcanic crater lakes, hot springs and whale-rich ocean, on islands in the middle of the Atlantic.
✓ best Feb-SepCoimbra
A hillside university town where Portugal's first kings were crowned and buried, and the library is gilded from floor to ceiling.
✓ best Feb-SepDouro Valley (Peso da Regua)
A whole river valley terraced into vineyards by hand, and the oldest demarcated wine region on earth.
✓ best Apr-SepEvora
A walled town where a Roman temple, a Gothic cathedral and a chapel of bones sit within one short walk.
✓ best all yearLisbon
An Atlantic capital of seven hills, tiled lanes and viewpoint terraces, where the river is never out of sight.
✓ best Mar-OctMadeira (Funchal)
An Atlantic island of levada walks, cloud-height ridges and a year-round mild climate, all within an hour's drive.
✓ best Jan-NovPorto
A granite river city where the port lodges, the tiled churches and the bridge over the gorge all sit within one walk.
✓ best Apr-OctSintra
A misty hill of romantic palaces and gardens above a tiled town, half an hour from Lisbon by train.
✓ best Feb-SepThe sweet-spot windows
Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.
| Where | When | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon/Algarve | May-Jun, Sep | Warm, dry, long days, Atlantic swimmable, pre/post peak | Aug crowds + prices peak |
Climate zones, month by month
Portugal has 8 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.
Azores (Ponta Delgada) →
✓ Best Feb-Sep
Watch for Jun-Nov cyclones & hurricanes risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Coimbra →
✓ Best Feb-Sep
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Douro Valley (Peso da Regua) →
✓ Best Apr-Sep
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Evora Alentejo →
✓ Best all year
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Lisbon →
✓ Best Mar-Oct
Conditions Jan Cool & wet · Feb Cool · Mar Mild spring · Apr Pleasant · May Warm · Jun Warm & sunny · Jul-Aug Warm & dry · Sep Warm · Oct Mild autumn · Nov-Dec Cool & wet
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Madeira (Funchal) →
✓ Best Jan-Nov
Watch for Jun-Nov cyclones & hurricanes risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Porto →
✓ Best Apr-Oct
Conditions Jan-Feb Cool & wet · Mar Mild · Apr Pleasant · May-Jun Warm · Jul-Aug Warm & dry · Sep Warm · Oct Mild autumn · Nov-Dec Cool & wet
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Sintra Lisbon Coast →
✓ Best Feb-Sep
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions