Best time to visit · Porto · Portugal
The best time to visit Porto
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
The best times to visit Porto are May, June, September and October, when days are warm, rain is less frequent and the Douro Valley is at its best. July and August are sunny but crowded and more expensive. Winter is mild but wet, with low prices and quiet sights.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March–April, July–August and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 25°C (77°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 14°C (57°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~14 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Porto has a mild Atlantic-influenced Mediterranean climate: wet, cool winters with frequent rain, and warm, mostly dry summers moderated by sea breezes and morning fog. The ocean stays cool year-round.
March–May
Spring
Mild, greening hills and fewer crowds, with frequent showers in March and April; May is warm and often sunny.
June–August
Summer
Warm, dry and busy, with São João in June, morning sea fog and cool Atlantic beaches; peak prices.
September–November
Autumn
Warm early autumn and harvest time in the Douro Valley, turning wet and cool by November.
December–February
Winter
Cool, rainy and quiet, with the lowest prices; port lodges and museums make good wet-weather refuges.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C | 5°C | 14 | 14°C | 9.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 15°C | 6°C | 12 | 13°C | 10.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 17°C | 8°C | 11 | 13°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 18°C | 9°C | 11 | 14°C | 13.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 20°C | 11°C | 9 | 15°C | 14.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 23°C | 14°C | 5 | 16°C | 15.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 25°C | 15°C | 3 | 17°C | 14.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 25°C | 16°C | 3 | 18°C | 13.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 24°C | 14°C | 6 | 18°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 21°C | 12°C | 12 | 17°C | 11 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 17°C | 8°C | 13 | 16°C | 9.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 14°C | 6°C | 14 | 15°C | 9.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Fantasporto — international film festival (usually February or March) |
| May | Queima das Fitas — student festival (usually early May) |
| June | São João — street party with fireworks, grilled sardines and plastic hammers (night of 23–24 June); Primavera Sound Porto — music festival (usually June) |
| September | Douro Valley grape harvest (usually September to early October) |
| November | São Martinho — chestnut and new wine celebrations (around 11 November) |
| December | Christmas lights and market on the Avenida dos Aliados (usually December); New Year's Eve fireworks over the river and Aliados (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in January–February and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Porto?
The best times to visit Porto are May, June, September and October, when days are warm, rain is less frequent and the Douro Valley is at its best. July and August are sunny but crowded and more expensive. Winter is mild but wet, with low prices and quiet sights.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Porto?
Usually in January–February and November. Cool and often rainy, with occasional crisp, sunny days; museums and lodges are quiet.
+What is the rainiest month in Porto?
January, with about 14 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Porto get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 15°C (59°F).