Although there is no such thing as the worst time to visit Portugal, we are here to guide you on what time can turn out to be the worst choice to visit Portugal. Furthermore, we will be uncovering the best time of the year when visiting Portugal can turn out to be the wisest decision you have ever made.
The worst time to visit Portugal can reflect the worst weather or the most crowded time of the year. Furthermore, when we speak of the worst time of the year, it can also imply that you are visiting Portugal when it is visited by most tourists and its living costs rise to the peak.
Here in this blog, we will explore reasons why a specific time of the year can turn out to be the worst time to visit Portugal.
Let us dive deeper into the topic and find out more about the best and worst times to visit Portugal.
Best Time to Visit Portugal
Every time is the best time to visit Portugal, considering its good weather, splendid landscapes, and saturated cultural heritage. However, there are a few months that can literally be the month to only visit Portugal. The best time to visit Portugal is between the months of May to June and September to October.
The months between May to June and September to October offer plenty of perks when you are in Portugal. For instance, during these months, the weather is great, there are fewer tourists, and the spaces are not flooded with people. Furthermore, these months also foster multiple local festivals.
However, the summer season can prove to be the worst time to visit Portugal because, like any other place in Europe, tourists head to Portugal during this season. Hence, the peak summer months are not for those who run away from crowds and people.
Furthermore, this implies that these months of the year have higher living costs than the others. However, if you are visiting these slots of the year, you can avoid high rates by booking your hotels in the early days of these months.
That way, you can also get your hands on different deals and accommodation discounts. Furthermore, when you visit Portugal during the summer season, you can enjoy the sunniest side of Portugal, which is probably the best side.
Here, we feel it’s our duty to remind you to visit places like famous beaches, vintage castles, and vineyards. A visit to such places is usually very comforting. Also, these places are relatively less crowded. To be more specific, the best time to visit these places can be the spring and autumn seasons.
When in Portugal, you must never miss festivals like St. Anthony’s Day, St. John’s Day and the pilgrimage to Fatima. All these festivals are organized during the months, like May, June, or October. Hence, it is best if you book your tickets to Portugal during this time of the year.
Cheapest Time to Visit Portugal
When you visit Portugal at times other than Portuguese holidays and European vacations, you get to witness the cheapest Portugal ever. Hence never visit Portugal during the public holidays like Christmas and Easter Holidays.
Furthermore, you must keep in mind the European holidays as well. We say that because during the European holidays, people from rest of the Europe tend to visit Portugal in more concentration.
Thus, we suggest you do not visit Portugal during these days. When the tourist influx is high, the prices and rates in Portugal go sky-high. On the other hand, if you visit Portugal during the busy months or days of the year, you will be able to land multiple deals and discount offers on hotel fairs and other charges.
The cost of living is the lowest in Portugal during the January and February months. You can also get your hands on trans-Atlantic flights from the United States directly to Lisbon at cheaper rates during these months compared to the ones you will pay during August.
Your ticket fare might be even cheaper if you book your flights to airports like London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Furthermore, you can book flights to a cheaper European airline like Ryanair to whichever city you like in Portugal.
When you visit Portugal during these winter months, like January and February, you can enjoy temperatures as low as 60 Fahrenheit. You might not be able to witness the sunniest side of Portugal during these months, but you can enjoy the rainiest months of Portugal as a bonus.
In addition to this, if you visit Portugal during January and February months, yo get to experience the culture of Portugal in its most raw form. During the winter months, you can visit places that have long been tourist hotspots like the UNESCO World Heritage site and the Moorish castle of Sintra.
Furthermore, you can visit places like museums, art galleries, and restaurants which give you the best bite of Portugal even during the winter season. When you visit places like these, you are witnessing the best part of Portugal.
Worst Time to Visit Portugal
However, the worst time to visit Portugal really depends on your personal preferences and dislikes. The worst time to visit Portugal is still said to be the months of December, July, and August.
Why is December said to be the worst time to visit Portugal? Here, we explain all the reasons why. December is the worst time to visit Portugal because of its low temperatures, wavy rains and flooded tourists that have come here to enjoy their Christmas holidays.
On the other hand, tourists visit Portugal in abundance during July and August due to the warm temperatures. Tourists from Europe tend to visit Portugal during this time of the year because they seek sunny days. Portugal in its summer months has the most sunshine days which is the primary attraction for most of the tourists.
Although these are the worst times to visit Portugal, you can still have the best experience in Portugal during these months. December, July, and August may turn out to be the worst time to visit Portugal due to the increased tourist influx.
Furthermore, with an increased number of tourists visiting Portugal during these months, the living costs skyrocket. The flight fares, the hotel charges, and other accommodation rents tend to be higher during these months.
When you visit these months of the year, remember to keep rain gear with you and some warm clothing to stay comfortable during the chilled season. Furthermore, you can dodge the crowds by moving away from the beaten paths.
Furthermore, if you are an introvert, these months can prove to be the worst time to visit Portugal. However, for extroverts, July, August, and December is the month when they can enjoy their dream vacations. You can experience the Portuguese culture to the fullest during these months of the year.
When you visit Portugal during the Christian holidays, you can absorb the local culture during the most sacred period of the year. You can pre-book your stays and plan your visit to Portugal during the winter month of the year, which is December.
On the other hand, if you visit Portugal during July and August, this can turn out to be the best time to soak up the sun and absorb the culture of Portugal. Also, if you are a solo traveler and up for social communication and random interaction, think no more and book yourself the tickets to Portugal for these months.
As we have already mentioned, the best and worst time to visit Portugal varies with a person’s likes and dislikes. If you are an introvert, the summer months can be the worst time to visit Portugal. However, if you are an extrovert, the winter months can be the worst months of the worst time to visit Portugal.
Least Busy Time to Visit Portugal
The least busy times to visit Portugal are the spring season and Autumn season when people are least interested in visiting Portugal. If you are an introvert this is the best time to visit Portugal and the worst time to visit Portugal if you are an extrovert.
This time of the year fosters the best weather and the best festival. However, above all the benefits, less crowd is the most attractive benefit of visiting Portugal during the autumn season.
On the other hand, the most crowded times of the year in portugal are the July, August, and December months. During the summer months, European tourists visit Portugal to soak up the sunshine as much as they can.
In addition to this, you can also find students who love to party hard during the summer season, especially in towns like Lagos. Hence, if you are a party animal, the summer season can turn out to be the best time to visit Portugal for you.
Meanwhile, during the winter season or the December month, most European tourists visit Portugal to enjoy the Christmas holidays. Furthermore, during the February months, most of the tourists visit Portugal to attend Carnivals.
During this less crowded season, you can delve deeper into the culture of Portugal and explore the untouched side of Portugal. You can go on cosy strolls and enjoy spending your alone time on the beach. You can enjoy the breezes on the coastlines during the autumn season when Portugal has a lower tourist ratio.
In addition, flights and accommodation rates during these seasons can be fairly lower than during the peak tourism months. Hence, this least busy time of the year can be the best time to visit Portugal.
However, it can also be the worst time to visit Portugal for those who love being in social gatherings and who enjoy random interactions with people.
Best Time for Special Events or Festivals
If you like to get an immersive experience of Portugal’s traditions and festivals that portray the local culture, we suggest you visit Lisbon and Porto during the month of June. This month of the year brings life to these two cities with its vibrant festivals and cultural events.
In the city of Lisbon, you can enjoy festivals like Festas de Lisboa which continues throughout the month of June. With this festival, you can experience the street festivals and local parties that are immersed in the local traditions and culture of the country.
Furthermore, you can also unwind with enchanting melodies during the Fado festival and enjoy the widely famous NOS Alive festival, which is dedicated to music. When in Portugal, you must never miss the opportunity to attend an event called Festa do Sao Joao, which is held during the month of June.
To be more specific, this event of Festa do Sao Joao is held on the 24th of June in Porto. This event beholds sensational street parties, spellbinding fireworks, and lively ambiance. You can also explore the street culture of this city.
Hence, June is the best time to visit Portugal if you love to attend events and interact with people. Through these events, you can delve deeper into the local culture and lifestyle. However, the month of June can turn out to be the worst time to visit Portugal for those who have social anxiety and enjoy the solitude.
All in all, the month of June is a great time to visit if you are willing to enjoy the local festivals and events. These festivals will give you the best insight into what the local lifestyle looks like and how the people of Portugal are different from other nations.
There you go we have provided you a comprehensive guide into the best and worst time to visit Portugal. Although this really depends on the personal preferences of a person, still the summer season can be the worst time to visit due to sky-high prices and crowded places.
Furthermore, you may not get enough space to enjoy your tour on your own because Portugal us flooded with the incomers during the summer season.
