Country guide
Portugal weather by month
Portugal is best for beach weather in summer and early autumn, while spring and autumn offer gentler conditions for city breaks. July and August average 28°C by day, but the sea reaches only 21°C at its warmest, so hot afternoons do not mean warm-water swimming. September stays summery at 26°C, with a greater chance of rain. Location matters too: Albufeira has the warmest daytime average across the year, while Porto is the coolest.
- Hottest month
- 28.2°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 15.2°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 20.8°CAugust
- Destinations tracked
- 13warmest: Albufeira
Portugal, month by month
A little perspective
Portugal through the year
Country figures are the mean of the 13 destinations listed below; individual resorts can differ by several degrees.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.2°C | 9.6°C | 15.9°C | 4.8 | 61 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 15.9°C | 9.8°C | 15.3°C | 5.4 | 54 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.8°C | 11.2°C | 15.5°C | 5.9 | 62 | 8 | 1% |
| April | 19.1°C | 12.4°C | 16.2°C | 6.6 | 56 | 8 | 4% |
| May | 21.8°C | 14.6°C | 17.3°C | 7.9 | 40 | 7 | 20% |
| Junebest | 25.3°C | 17.2°C | 18.9°C | 10.1 | 12 | 2 | 49% |
| Julybest | 27.9°C | 18.9°C | 20.0°C | 11.8 | 3 | 1 | 78% |
| Augustbest | 28.2°C | 19.5°C | 20.8°C | 10.6 | 5 | 1 | 84% |
| September | 25.7°C | 18.3°C | 20.8°C | 7.9 | 28 | 5 | 57% |
| October | 22.2°C | 16.0°C | 19.8°C | 5.5 | 75 | 9 | 16% |
| November | 18.3°C | 12.7°C | 18.2°C | 4.9 | 76 | 9 | 0% |
| December | 16.1°C | 10.8°C | 16.9°C | 4.3 | 86 | 9 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
When to go to Portugal
Daytime highs average 25°C or more in June, July, August, September. Even in summer the sea stays below 22°C (20°C in July). Winter (December to February) averages 16°C by day - mild rather than warm. December is the wettest month (86 mm) and July the driest (3 mm).
Destinations in Portugal
Each has a 12-month table; our most searched places have month-by-month detail pages.
| Destination | Hottest month | Coolest month | Months 25°C+ | Sea (warmest) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algarve | August 29°C | January 15°C | 4 | 21°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Madeira | August 26°C | February 17°C | 1 | 24°C | 3 h 48 min |
| Albufeirain Algarve | July 31°C | January 16°C | 4 | 21°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Lisbon | August 27°C | January 14°C | 2 | 19°C | 2 h 42 min |
| Porto | August 26°C | January 13°C | 2 | 18°C | 2 h 24 min |
| Vilamourain Algarve | July 29°C | January 15°C | 4 | 21°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Faro | August 27°C | January 15°C | 2 | 21°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Funchalin Madeira | August 26°C | February 17°C | 1 | 24°C | 3 h 48 min |
| Alvorin Algarve | August 30°C | January 16°C | 4 | 20°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Quarteirain Algarve | July 29°C | January 15°C | 4 | 21°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Vale do Loboin Algarve | July 29°C | January 15°C | 4 | 21°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Ferragudoin Algarve | August 30°C | January 16°C | 4 | 20°C | 2 h 54 min |
| Carvoeiroin Algarve | August 30°C | January 15°C | 4 | 20°C | 2 h 54 min |
Warmest place in Portugal each month
| Month | Warmest destination | Day | Coolest destination | Day | Warmest sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Madeira | 17°C | Porto | 13°C | Madeira 19°C |
| February | Madeira | 17°C | Porto | 14°C | Madeira 18°C |
| March | Albufeira | 19°C | Porto | 16°C | Madeira 18°C |
| April | Albufeira | 21°C | Porto | 18°C | Madeira 18°C |
| May | Albufeira | 24°C | Funchal | 20°C | Madeira 19°C |
| June | Albufeira | 28°C | Funchal | 23°C | Madeira 21°C |
| July | Albufeira | 31°C | Funchal | 25°C | Madeira 22°C |
| August | Albufeira | 31°C | Funchal | 26°C | Madeira 23°C |
| September | Albufeira | 28°C | Porto | 24°C | Madeira 24°C |
| October | Albufeira | 23°C | Porto | 20°C | Madeira 23°C |
| November | Madeira | 20°C | Porto | 16°C | Madeira 21°C |
| December | Madeira | 18°C | Porto | 14°C | Madeira 20°C |
The shape of the year: mild winters, steadily warmer springs
Winter suits travellers who prefer mild daytime weather to beach heat, provided plans can bend around rain. January averages 15°C by day and 10°C at night, so bring layers rather than relying on light holiday clothing. February warms only slightly, before March reaches 18°C and April 19°C. That makes spring a reasonable choice for spending time outdoors without summer heat, though showers remain a catch: March and April each average 8 rain days. May feels warmer at 22°C, but its 17°C sea still favours travellers happy with a cool swim. Temperatures ease back to 18°C in November and 16°C in December, when a waterproof layer becomes useful again.
Beach holidays: summer reliability or September warmth
June marks a useful shift for beach holidays: daytime temperatures reach 25°C and rain drops to 2 days on average. The catch is the sea, still a cool 19°C. July and August offer the strongest combination of heat and dry weather, with just 1 rain day each, so plan shade breaks during the middle of the day. August has warmer water than July, and September holds that warmth at 21°C even as the air cools slightly. September is therefore a good compromise if swimming matters more than peak daytime heat, although rain becomes more likely. October's 20°C sea may still appeal, but 9 rain days make a beach-only trip less dependable.
Where to stay, and when to choose a city break
For a warmer base, Albufeira is the clearest choice in these figures, with an average daytime temperature across the year of 23°C, compared with Porto's 19°C. That gives a useful broad contrast, but does not mean every Portuguese destination follows the same seasonal pattern. For city breaks, spring and autumn are sensible starting points if you would rather avoid peak summer heat. May and October both average 22°C nationally, though October has more rain days, so May is the better weather bet for plans mostly outdoors. Porto's cooler overall profile may suit heat-averse travellers; if choosing summer, leave room for shaded breaks and carry a layer for evenings.
A little more detail
Portugal weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
Weighing warmth, low rainfall and sunshine across 13 destinations, the best months for Portugal are July, August, June. August is the hottest month (average high 28.2°C) and January the coolest (15.2°C).
How many months is Portugal over 25°C?
4 months average a daytime high of 25°C or more across our Portugal destinations.
Which is the hottest place in Portugal?
Over the year, Albufeira has the highest average daytime temperature of the 13 Portugal destinations we track (22.8°C averaged across all months).
When is the sea warmest in Portugal?
August and September have the highest country-average sea temperature, at 21°C. September keeps the same water temperature with slightly cooler daytime weather, but more rain. Even at its warmest, the sea may feel cool if you prefer warm-water swimming.
Is Portugal warm enough for a winter beach holiday?
Winter is better suited to time outdoors between showers than a holiday centred on swimming. December to February bring average daytime temperatures of 15°C to 16°C, with cooler nights. Sea temperatures of 15°C to 17°C make swimming a chilly prospect.
What should I pack for Portugal in May?
Pack light daytime clothes, a layer for evenings and a waterproof jacket. May averages 22°C by day but 15°C at night, with 7 rain days. Bring swimwear if you enjoy cooler water, as the sea averages 17°C.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 13 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C