Month guide · Porto · Portugal
Porto in May
What May is really like in Porto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Joseolgon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Porto. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 14.5 hours of daylight. Warm, longer days and terraces opening; a good month for walking and the Douro Valley.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 14.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 6th-warmest month in Porto: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (18°C (64°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:16
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:45
- Daylight
- About 14.5 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Spring (March–May). Mild, greening hills and fewer crowds, with frequent showers in March and April; May is warm and often sunny.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Queima das Fitas — student festival (usually early May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Viewpoint · Baixa and Aliados
Clérigos Church and Tower
Climb in the late afternoon for softer light on the river and Gaia.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Religious site · Sé
Porto Cathedral (Sé)
The fortress-like Romanesque cathedral, begun in the 12th century, crowns the hill above Ribeira.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
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Museum · Boavista
Serralves Museum and Park
Allow time for the Treetop Walk and the pink Art Deco Casa de Serralves.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Outdoors
- Architecture
- Kids
Garden · Massarelos
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
These hilltop gardens laid out in the 19th century have shaded paths, fountains, peacocks wandering the lawns and several terraces with views down the Douro towards the sea.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 11°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Porto?
One of the best months to visit Porto, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June and September–October. Compare every month.
Porto in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Porto?
It is one of the best months to visit Porto. Warm, longer days and terraces opening; a good month for walking and the Douro Valley.
+How warm is Porto in May?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Porto in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.