We tell you when is the best time to go to Portugal. Monthly weather and beach season features. When is the surfing season and the biggest waves? Reviews of tourists about the weather.
Beach season in Portugal
When is the best time to go to Portugal for a beach holiday? You can swim in the Atlantic Ocean from May to October. The most comfortable water temperature is in August and September. It is during these months that the most tourists rest in Portuguese resorts.
Surfing season in Portugal
The continental part of the country has a subtropical maritime climate, so the surfing season in Portugal lasts all year round. From mid-May to mid-September, the waves are not too high. This is the time when beginners and intermediate surfers travel to Portugal.
When are the big waves? The huge ocean shafts loved by professional surfers appear from September to May. The largest waves were recorded at the resort of Nazere, an hour's drive from the Portuguese capital. The most comfortable month for surfing is April.
Portugal Monthly Weather
January
Water and air temperature. In the middle of winter, the air temperature during the day is +12 ... + 17 ° С, at night +8 ... + 16 ° С. The water in the ocean near Lisbon and Porto is warmed up to + 10 ° С.
Weather. Due to the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream, frosts and snowfalls are rare in Portugal. In the center and north of the country, it is cold and rainy in January. Average precipitation is 150 mm.
Reviews of tourists. Winter is the time when fans of excursion tourism go to Portugal. Lisbon is usually dry and warm in January. Walk the narrow streets and admire the colorful azulejo tiles on the walls of the houses!
February
Water and air temperature. In February, the air temperature is +14 ... + 18 ° С. The water in the ocean is cold + 10 ... + 11 ° С. If you love swimming, choose a hotel with a heated pool.
Weather. In winter, there is no time for beach activities! Half a month there are sunny days, but the coast is damp and windy.
Reviews of tourists. Vacationers are attracted by low prices. Tours to Portugal are inexpensive in February, and hotels offer big discounts. The mild weather is good for ecotourism and excursions. Visit the ancient port cities and travel north-east of the country to the picturesque Peneda Gerês National Park.
March
Water and air temperature. In the first month of spring, Portugal gets warmer. Air temperature +16 ... + 18 ° С. The water in the ocean is warmed up to + 14 ° С.
Weather. Spring comes into its own. March has 16 sunny days and 6 rainy days. Daylight hours increase to 12.5 hours, and humidity decreases.
Reviews of tourists. The warm and sunny weather is popular with tourists. In Cascais, during the day, the thermometer shows from + 17 ° С to + 25 ° С. You can sunbathe! There is one more bonus - democratic prices for vacations in March.
April
Water and air temperature. In mid-spring, the air temperature rises to +17 ... + 19 ° С. The water in the ocean is also getting warmer +14 ... + 19 ° С.
Weather. Nature comes to life, fruit trees are blooming. Portugal has a lot of sun, and the number of rainy days is reduced to 5. Fresh breezes blowing from the Atlantic at a speed of 4-9 m / s, so April weather is popular with surfers.
Reviews of tourists. April is one of the most enjoyable low season months in Portugal. At this time of the year, it is better to relax for families with children, elderly tourists and fans of excursions.
May
Water and air temperature. The high season begins in Portugal in May. Average air temperature during the day is +20 ... + 22 ° С. In the south of the country, the thermometer rises to +21 ... + 25 ° С. In the north, the ocean is still cool + 16 ° С, but in the southern resorts the water is warmed up to + 17.5 ° С.
Weather. Daylight hours increase to 14.7 hours. Two-thirds of the month is sunny, and there are only three rainy days.
Reviews of tourists. A full beach season in May is possible only in Madeira, where the water temperature is + 21 ° C. There are few tourists in the resorts of continental Portugal; vacation by the sea is only gaining momentum. In May, it is better to go to Portugal to do cultural and sightseeing tourism, yachting, hiking, cycling, paragliding, diving and surfing.
June
Water and air temperature. In early summer, Portugal gets noticeably warmer. The air temperature during the day is +24 ... + 26 ° С, and at night + 17 ° С. The water in the ocean near Lisbon is warmed up to + 18 ° C.
Weather. June is dry and sunny. The amount of precipitation decreases to 12-13 mm, only one day in the month is rainy.
Reviews of tourists. If you plan to come to mainland Portugal in early summer, don't count on long swims. The Atlantic Ocean is colder than the Mediterranean Sea. But there is also a plus - a beach holiday can be combined with sea fishing and an interesting excursion program.
July
Water and air temperature. While the summer heat begins in the resorts of the Mediterranean and North Africa, the weather is comfortable in Portugal. The air temperature is +26 ... + 30 ° С, and the water in the ocean is +18 ... + 19 ° С.
Weather. There is no sweltering heat in July. The number of sunny days increases to 25, there is no rain.
Reviews of tourists. Vacationers like comfortable conditions for beach entertainment and active tourism. During the high season, many interesting events take place in Portugal - music and food festivals are held in almost every town.
August
Water and air temperature. The last month of summer is the warmest on the Atlantic coast. The air warms up to +27 ... + 30 ° С, and the water in the ocean - up to + 19 ° С in Porto and up to +23 ... + 25 ° С in the south of the country and the resorts of the Lisbon Riviera.
Weather. In August, Portugal has a really hot summer. Rains are possible only in the north of the country, but the number of days with precipitation does not exceed 4 per month.
Reviews of tourists. At the peak of the beach season, tourists from all over the world rest in Portugal. In addition to Europeans, Americans, Japanese and Chinese also come here. According to reviews, the main disadvantages of August are the congestion of beaches and crowds of tourists on the streets of Portuguese cities.
September
Water and air temperature. The beginning of autumn in Portugal is very comfortable. The air temperature is +26 ... + 27 ° С, and the water in the ocean is +19 ... + 22 ° С.
Weather. There are many sunny days in September. There are no cold winds, and it rarely rains.
Reviews of tourists. Parents with children like to relax in Portugal in September. It is warm during the velvet season, freer beaches and fruit harvests. At night it gets colder up to +15 ... + 18 ° С. Take warm clothes and a windbreaker on your trip!
October
Water and air temperature. In mid-autumn, the air temperature drops to +19 ... + 22 ° С. The water in the Atlantic Ocean cools down to +16 ... + 18 ° С.
Weather. In the velvet season, Portugal still has a lot of warmth and sun, but the number of rainy days rises to 5-6.
Reviews of tourists. October is the month of transition to low season. Tourists note that it is already cool to swim. Only in the Algarve, in the south of the country, sea water is warm +21 ... + 22 ° С. In the second half of October, vacationers switch from beach activities to excursions, shopping, ecotourism and food tours.
November
Water and air temperature. In November, the air temperature is +14 ... + 17 ° С, in the waters in the ocean +16 ... + 17 ° С. For a beach holiday, the mainland of Portugal is no longer suitable.
Weather. The last month of autumn meets with cloudy weather and rains. The sun rarely comes out, most of the day the sky is covered with clouds. The coast is damp and windy.
Reviews of tourists. In November, the surfing season in Portugal is in full swing. In addition to those who like to ride the waves, those who appreciate excursion tourism also rest at the resorts. Autumn weather is good for trips to the historical and natural sights of the country.
December
Water and air temperature. In December, the air temperature is +12 ... + 16 ° С, in the waters in the ocean +14 ... + 16 ° С.
Weather. At the beginning of winter, snow falls only in the mountains. In the flat regions of the country, the thermometer rarely drops below + 5 ° С. Almost all the time the weather is cloudy and windy, the sun rarely peeps out from behind the clouds. Rains are possible, but they are not prolonged.
Reviews of tourists. In terms of the weather, December in Portugal is similar to the Russian autumn. Literally from the first days of the month, the Portuguese begin to prepare for Christmas and New Year. Tourists love small artificial skating rinks, Christmas trees in city squares and colorful fairs.
