Best Time to Travel to Portugal

Peak tourist season is generally from middle June to September, excluding the Algarve where the only time it really quiets down is in the dead of winter. Carnaval and Easter are two holidays celebrated with gusto all over the country and are worth going out of your way for.

The Atlantic tempers the Mediterranean climate down south, where summer temperatures normally reach 30°C (86°F). The climate is temperate, and you will find enjoyable weather just about everywhere from April to October, and nearly year-round in the Algarve. Generally, the wettest season is from November to March: the soggiest regions are in the farthest north and in the Serra da Estrela mountain region in the country's centre.

HOLIDAYS

January - New Year's Day

February - Carnival

March - Good Friday

March - Easter Day

April - Liberty day

May - Labour Day

May - Corpus Christi

June - National Day/Camoes and Portugal Day

August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary1

October - Republic Day

November - All Saints Day

December - Independence Restoration Day, Youth Day

December - Immaculate Conception

December - Christmas Eve - banks

December - Christmas Day

1 Not listed by the Banco de Portugal

Local Festas

Portugal has a remarkable number of festivals and local holidays, including the Holy Week Festival (Braga, Easter), which features colourful processions; the Festas de São João (Oporto, 24 June), when everyone dances through the streets amicably hitting each other over the head with leeks and the Feira de São Martinho (Golegã, November), which showcases all manner of horses, riding contests and bullfights. The following are known dates:-

May - Municipal holiday (Ponta Delgada)

June - Regional holiday (Azores)

June - Saint Anthony's Day (Lisbon)

June - Municipal holiday (Oporto)

July - Regional holiday (Madeira)

August - Municipal holiday (Funchal)

December - Boxing Day (Madeira)

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday