Where is the Best Weather in Portugal?

Before you start planning your trip to Portugal you should know where is the best weather in Portugal. Although Portugal fosters some of the best weather in Europe, you should also have an insight into where is the best weather in Portugal.

In this blog, we will explore the best weather in Portugal and the places you can visit depending on your preferences.

Where is the Best Weather in Portugal?

Portugal boasts the best weather conditions, ranging from soothing summer sunshine to mild to cold winters. Portuguese weather has the influence of the Atlantic Ocean which makes the north and central regions cool and wet. On the other hand, the weather becomes hot and dry during summer when you move to the southern area.

Portugal also shares a border with Spain, which offers it a continental climate. The continental climate fosters cold winters and dry and hot summers in Portugal. In the summer, Portugal is influenced by Azores High, which keeps the summers full of sunshine. The north may occasionally bring rain to the northern areas of Portugal.

In addition to this, the southern part of the Algarve region is dry and sunny, with mild cold during winters and warm and dry summers. On the other hand, the Alentejo region, which is a south-central region of Portugal, has an extreme climate. It is famous for its scorching heat and hot and dry summers.

Regional Weather in Portugal

Portugal is not a big country; it stretches from north to south about 349 miles, and it extends from west to east about 135 miles. Nevertheless, this small country has a wide range of weather that vary from region to region.

Based on the climatic diversity, one can divide the country into five regions. This implies that when you are in Portugal, you can find a region that suits your weather preferences. No matter how diverse your climatic preferences are, you can always find one that goes with your choices.

Here is the list of different regions in Portugal which offer different weather conditions.

North Coast

The Douro Ricer runs from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. While Porto is considered the country’s second city, Vila Nova de Gaia is a place of ancient wine houses. Here on the north coast, the summer season is soothingly warm and more like spring.

Usually, the temperature on Esposende Beach, which is famous for windsurfing, ranges between the high 70s and mid-80s Fahrenheit. If you are a sky lover, this beach is our place to be. You will witness the most beautiful skies ever with moderate humidity and scarce rain.

In autumn, the temperatures range between the high 50s and mid-60s Fahrenheit. The rain pours more frequently in autumn. However, you may need warm clothing at the start of December as the temperature drops from 30 Fahrenheit to mid-40 Fahrenheit. The pouring is even more frequent during the winter, and it continues until April. Followed by this winter comes the flowery and greeny spring. 

North Interior

North Interior is a hub for activities like hiking and mountain biking. It is known as the birthplace of the Royal family of Braganca. If you are a mountain rider, July to August are your months to visit this place. This tenure between July and August has temperatures ranging from 80s to 90s Fahrenheit. Furthermore, there is a rise in humidity in this region, which favors the farmers of the region.

Autumn in the northern interior is even cooler, with temperatures in the low 50s Fahrenheit. The nights are cool and foggy in this region. If you are wondering where the best weather in Portugal is, well, this place can be the best place for you weather-wise. 

As the Autumn ends into the winter, it starts pouring more frequently than before. The rainy season continues between October to April and is even more cooler. The temperature drops to 30s Fahrenheit. 

However, in spring, you see olive trees blooming all over the northern interior of Portugal. Who knows, this place in this season might turn out to be an answer to your question, where is the best weather in Portugal? This time of the year, the sun is more regular, and the temperature goes up to the high 60s and low 70s Fahrenheit.

West Coast or Center of Portugal

This region extends from the Douro River to the Tejo River and covers cities like Lisbon and Figueira de Foz. In the center of this coast, you will get to see the University of Coimbra, which used to be the capital city of Portugal. However, the city of Coimbra is now the capital of Lisbon.

This coastline covers fishing villages and beaches that have long been the center of attention for many tourists and even locals. Summers in this area are really comfortable, with temperatures ranging between the mid-70s and 80s Fahrenheit. However, this temperature can occasionally escalate to the mid-90s Fahrenheit.

On the other hand, September is quite breezy, and rain is quite frequent, with temperatures fluctuating within the 70s Fahrenheit. However, when you are close to the ocean, your September on the West Coast can be a little chilly.

Breezes can be stronger and colder in places like Mafra and Ericeira. If you are a surfer, stop questioning where the best weather is in Portugal and just visit Ericeira. During the holiday season, the weather is a little colder, and rains are more frequent than before. 

The temperature drops to 30s Fahrenheit at night and 40s Fahrenheit during the day. The flowers and vegetation bloom during the spring. Most commonly, the lemon trees bloom during the spring, when the days are comparatively warmer and the nights are cool.

Thus, all in all, if you are wondering where the best weather is in Portugal, there is no fox answer to it. The answer can vary from person to person because every person’s preferences vary widely. Hence, you can always look for different weather conditions in different regions. 

Average Temperatures

Like the average weather of Portugal, its temperature also varies with region. Hence, if you are wondering where is the best weather in Portugal, you will have to figure it out based on the weather preferences of yours.

Usually you can enjoy chilly weathers in north while in the south, the moisture is really high. If you are originally from cold areas, you will definitely want to enjoy your vacations in a warm place. In that case, you can always visit the southern region of the country. 

To the south you also get rid of moisture as the weather becomes driers and warmer. During the summer this region’s temperature fluctuate between warm to hot.

Here is the average highs and lows of temperature in different cities of Portugal:

The winter season extends from December to Febraury and along the coast the temperature is mild. Whereas the inland including the northern region is comparatively more cool. The median temperature during the month of January usually hovers within 50s Fahrenheit. It is 50 F in Porto,55 F in Faro and53 F in Lisbon.  

However the Azores Anticyclone can influence the winter chunk of the year and it can be more chilled. These anticyclones bring along patches of heavy rain and chilled winds. The most affected area by the anticyclone is the northern part of the country.

However if you are from a region where extreme temperatures are a thing, you should stop wondering where is the best wether in Portugal and visit the city of Evora. This city is known for its extreme weather and is located in the Alentejo region. 

It is safe to say that Evora is the coldest city in Portugal. The temperature has set records with its extreme low temperatures dropping below zero. On the other hand the extreme highs can reach upto 100 F.

Portugal also has Atlantic Ocean on its border which imparts a significant influence on the temperature of the country. The Atlantic ocean protects the country from extremely chilled winds and shields the country against frosting.  

Hence, extremely cold weather is rare in the country, and the record low can be as much as 32 F in the southern part of Portugal. 

On the other hand the inland and Northern areas of Portugal are prone to extreme weather conditions. At higher elevations the weather is especially very cold compared to the southern region which is protected by the Atlantic ocean.

For all those wondering where is the best weather in Portugal, you must continue reading because chances are you may find your best weather in Portugal in the upcoming sections. 

Hence, binge read the article and find yourself the answer to where is the best weather in Portugal. Once, you know which place to go, you can plan your trip wisely and accordingly.

Back to the topic. Now if you are a summer lover, you should visit Portugal from June to mid-September. During this period of time the temperatures in north are mild to cool.

On the other hand in the southern hub of the country the temperature is hot. In the center of Portugal, the summer season is warmer compared to the Northern part. 

You would understand why the southern Portugal is hot while the northern side is cool in summer. It is because the southern part is protected by the Atlantic ocean, You can now estimate where is the best weather in Portugal for you. 

The daily average temperature of different cities in Portugal can vary during summer just like the winter. The temperature in Porto during August is 68 F which can reach upto 77F. Whereas it is 75 F in Lisbon and can be as high as 82 F in summer. 

On the other hand, the Algarve coast has an average summer temperature of 77F, which can go up to 84F. Moving further inland of Portugal comes the Alentejo region, which is extremely hot during the summer season. It can be as high as 117 F, which is a record in the country’s history of extreme weather. The 117F was recorded in 2003 in Amareleja city, which turned out to be the highest temperature in the history of the country.

Give a pause to your thought; “Where is the best weather in Portugal” because this information needs your attention. Portugal is also occasionally hit by heat waves which can be dangerous especially for those who cannot endure such extreme weathers. 

These heatways root back to the neighbouring region of Africa where tempratures can rise upto 100F and the winds can bring sand of Sahara desert. Sahara desert! Which is thought to be the hottest place on the planet Earth.

Wrapping Up

There you go; you now have a comprehensive map of weather conditions throughout Portugal. You can look into the daily weather conditions of different regions of Portugal and find out where the best weather in Portugal is for you.  

As already said, weather preferences vary widely, and so do the weather conditions of Portugal. There are places where summers are warmer compared to other regions. Likewise, in some places, winters are cooler than the other. Hence you should choose for yourself where the best weather is in Portugal.

Also read about, 6 Best Ways to Start Planning Your Trip to Portugal>>