Introduction
Hello, this is Ismail Siddiky of Europe Diary, and as promised, here I am for my first tips and tricks about Portugal. You may have heard that Portugal has excellent weather all year round, and it’s true; we do have a very sunny country with over 200 days of sun per year. But I’m going to clarify today what the best time to visit Portugal is. Before we get down to business, I’m just going to leave a disclaimer: I am NOT a weather person; I am a tour guide. So, this will be based on my personal experience as a local. Also, I will only be speaking about continental Portugal. I’m not going to include the islands of Azores and Madeira in this conversation because I’m not very knowledgeable about that part of our territory.
Winter in Portugal
Another thing you should know is that we have quite different temperature differences between the south and the north, the east and the west of Portugal, with the south and the west a little warmer than the north and the east. So let’s start by analyzing winter, which is the season we are currently experiencing. It always comes with cold temperatures. But what’s cold for a Portuguese person, you may ask? It’s usually anything under 20 degrees Celsius. But today it’s around 10 degrees Celsius, and at night it was actually minus one, quite cold for Coimbra, which is close to the Atlantic Ocean, just about 40 kilometers away.
Winter Activities
So, the West is a very nice area of Portugal if you are looking for milder temperatures. As you go to the East, it will be much colder, considering that it’s snowing right now, an hour and a half away from here in Serra da Estrela. Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain in continental Portugal, 2000 meters tall. So people are skiing there right now, which is really good for travelers who want to experience different things in a short period of time. You can go from the coast all the way to the tallest mountain and ski right there. Also, you may see lots of surfers on the ocean, which is a very normal sight, even during winter.
Nazaré: A Winter Surfing Paradise
And actually, there’s a place in Portugal that people love for surfing in winter, called Nazaré. If you’re a surfer and like high risks, you may have heard about the giant wave of Nazaré, made famous by Garrett McNamara. The waves usually show up around January and February on the northern beach of Nazaré. It’s quite cold there as well during winter, cold by our standards, obviously. Another thing you should consider during winter is that the days are much shorter; usually, they last until 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. That’s also the schedule when monuments close to the public—they’re open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and then they close. So if you’re traveling around, take that into consideration.
Indoor Activities for Rainy Winter Days
And after that, there are plenty of activities that you can do. I usually tell people that if it’s a rainy day, which is common in winter, you might want to spend more time visiting monuments and museums. But there are also other activities you can do so you don’t end up stuck in the hotel. Obviously, there are tricks that you can use. For example, if you enjoy spa activities, you can look for a spa in the city where you’re staying. Many hotels have spas available, and even if you’re not staying there, you can often use their services; just contact them to arrange a visit.
Cultural Experiences
Also, we have lots of art galleries in Portugal, in addition to museums, and there are concerts as well. Some of those concerts are during the day; for example, fado concerts here in Coimbra usually start around 6 p.m. so you can enjoy a show before dinner and then go out for dinner, which is quite nice. If it’s raining, don’t worry; usually, rain doesn’t last long in winter. We may have weeks with days of intermittent rain, which means it rains, stops, rains again, and so on. So make sure to carry a small umbrella in your backpack and a rain jacket for those days.
Spring in Portugal
Also, in spring, we may still have some rain. Spring starts on March 20th and comes with colorful flowers and trees. It’s usually dry and sunny, except for April. We have a saying, “Abril, águas mil,” which means it rains a lot in April. Well, in recent years, the weather has been somewhat unpredictable, so you never know what to expect, but you can expect some rain in April. So also bring your rain jacket and a small umbrella if you’re visiting here on vacation, or if you’re already in Portugal and not expecting rain, you may encounter it along the way.
Temperatures and Activities in Spring
March is already a month when temperatures rise quite a lot, reaching between 20 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius. It’s really pleasant. Some people already go to the beach during this time of year, especially in the south of Portugal, on the Alentejo coast or in the Algarve. These areas of Portugal are much warmer than the north, as is the ocean. Another advantage of spring is that the high season begins. By high season, I mean that businesses stay open longer than usual, and museums and monuments have extended opening hours. They typically open around 10 a.m. That’s the standard schedule for everything in Portugal, so if you plan on shopping or doing something else before 10 a.m., forget about it; you won’t find many places open before that time, except for maybe a farmers market, which starts much earlier—around 6:30 a.m. or 7 a.m.
Summer in Portugal
However, regular shops, even shopping malls and museums, open only from 10 a.m. But they stay open until 7 p.m., which is quite convenient. So, you have an entire day to explore and travel around. Then comes summer, with very high temperatures, usually ranging between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius, and sometimes even higher. This is because Europe has been experiencing numerous heatwaves in recent years, and Portugal is no exception. So, if you’re traveling around Portugal, especially in July and August, you may encounter a heatwave. But we have strategies to cope with this.
Coping with Summer Heat
One of these strategies is that we have a long coastline, as I mentioned earlier. So, you can always head to the beach and take a dip. Even if the water is cold, it will refresh your body and probably your spirit too. You can also find water in the mountains. In the mountains, there are beautiful trails amidst the trees, making it much more pleasant to walk there in the summer. You might also come across river beaches here and there, or areas around dams that are specifically prepared for hikers and travelers during this time of year. It’s a great idea to get out of the city and discover a river beach, a dam area, or even go to the beach and simply admire the ocean, have an ice cream, take a swim, or stroll along the shore.
Long Summer Days
The days are very long; we have sunlight until 9 or 9:30 p.m., so sunset on the beach is spectacular. Even in the city, you can witness beautiful sunsets. Here in Coimbra, for example, we can vouch for that, especially if you’re on the left bank of the river, overlooking the river, with the entire historic center and the university on the hilltop. It’s quite breathtaking to see the sunlight reflecting off the windows of the historic houses and the university buildings. The colors of the sky are incredibly beautiful; it’s hard for me to put into words, so the best thing is for you to come here and experience it yourself.
Exploring Cities in Summer
Another tip for summer, if you’re visiting a city, is to stroll through the narrow streets of the historic center. Walking along these narrow streets is a delightful experience. The sun doesn’t shine directly on the streets, so it’s cool and pleasant. Plus, you can admire the shops, rooftops, and facades of the historic buildings, do a bit of window shopping, or buy something from the local shops. It’s a wonderful experience just to wander through these narrow streets. For instance, here in Coimbra, we also have the botanical garden and the river, where you can swim or enjoy activities like paddleboarding or canoeing.
Fall in Portugal
There are plenty of things to do around here. Whenever you’re near a river, it’s a great opportunity to explore. All the major cities in Portugal have large rivers where you can engage in these activities. Then there’s fall, my favorite season of the year. It begins on September 22nd and starts off quite warm. So, you can expect pleasant, warm days with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It’s still great weather for going to the beach, having ice cream, or taking a stroll along the coast. You can also travel to the mountains to explore trails and visit the small historic villages of Portugal. It’s a fantastic experience, especially in early October.
Fall Weather and Activities
Usually, from the second half of October onwards, we start to experience some rain. Temperatures also drop, and it tends to get quite cold at night and in the early mornings. My strategy for this is to layer up with clothes because mornings are chilly, but it warms up during the day. So, around noon, you might want to shed your jacket and maybe even your outer shirt, just staying in a t-shirt. But by evening, it gets cold again, so you’ll need to layer up once more. Don’t forget these layers in your hotel room. Always bring sunglasses as well, and just in case, carry a small umbrella in your backpack along with your rain jacket, especially from November onwards, as it can rain a bit.
Conclusion
Okay, that’s a wrap. I hope you enjoyed learning about this.
The conclusion on the best time to travel to Portugal really depends on you. To me, any time is a great time to travel around Portugal. There are always these little tricks you can use. And yeah, that’s it. I hope it helps you when you’re planning to visit Portugal. Also, the next time you’re stuck in an elevator with someone you don’t know, you can always chat about Portuguese weather.
Thank you so much.
