Summer in Portugal is a sun-drenched dream with long beach days and wall-to-wall festivals and events, where every esplanada (terrace) is filled with happy people enjoying the weather and a few (too many) Super Bocks.
While summer is a fun time to explore Portugal, it is peak season, so the most popular places will be super busy. I suggest you visit these popular spots in either June or September, or choose an alternative idea from this list. (Don’t worry, they’re all winners!)
If you’re wondering where to go in Portugal this summer, here are a few ideas for the best places to visit in June, July, or August – whether you’re into surf towns, island escapes, or slow sunny adventures.
Summer tip: August is peak summer high season, with every European person on vacation. Students finish school around mid-June, with the school year starting in mid-September, but it’s August (when most parents and many workers can take time off) that is the craziest and hottest month. Therefore, in August, I’d avoid the more popular destinations, such as the western and central parts of the Algarve.
Alentejo Coast, a slow summer escape to Melides or Comporta
Just a 70-minute drive south of Lisbon lies the wild, usually empty beaches of Comporta and Melides. I’m not the biggest fan of Comporta – an area that attracts Europe’s jet-set crowd for private, barefoot luxury resorts – but Melides retains its Portuguese heart of soul. There’s not much to do but beach hop, read books, laze by the pool, and eat at a handful of restaurants. It’s the ideal place to switch off for sunny summer days.
Best things to do in Comporta & Melides this summer
- Beach hop along the coast, exploring somewhere new each day
- Ride horses on the beach near Comporta with Cavalos na Areia
- Shop at the chic and bougie boutiques in Comporta, particularly for homewares
- Keep an eye out for the summer cork tree harvest
- Visit the Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira, a rickety, zig-zagging pier, built in the 1950s and ‘60s by local fishermen
- Take a boat trip along the Sado to Alcácer do Sal, or go dolphin watching in Troia
- Visit the 381st Feira de Agosto to shop and eat street food in nearby Grândola
Read next: The average person’s guide to A-list Comporta: Portugal’s luxe beach town
Where to stay
I stayed one night at À Espera, a new guesthouse at the border of the Comporta and Melides area. It’s a beautiful little escape with a delicious breakfast and a pool to laze by. Then I switched to Ponte Pedra, an adults-only rural retreat with a large pool, cozy cabanas, bar service, free bicycles, and a yoga deck.
How to get there
Life moves slowly along this stretch of coast. While you could take a bus or transfer down here and then borrow bikes or use Uber/Bolt, having a car is the way to go.
Monsaraz, for surreal Alentejo sunsets
Best time: June or September
Golden hour seems infinite in Monsaraz. This medieval village, perched on the highest hill, with views as far as the eye can see, is the most magical in Portugal. Incredible scenery stretches endlessly in every direction beyond the preserved village walls as the sun dawdles downward, casting a glow all the way to Spain.
Best things to do in Monsaraz and nearby this summer
- Catch an immense Alentejo sunset from the walls of the ancient castle
- Wander the four streets of Monsaraz, taking in the details
- Swim at the praia fluvial on the lake, just below the town. There’s a fake sandy beach and lifeguards
- Visit Portugal’s largest pottery village, Corval, on the way
- Visit in June to catch the Feira de São João in Évora
Summer tip: Portugal has hundreds of praia fluviais, or what we might call river beaches in English. If you head inland during the summer, jump on Google Maps and type in praia fluvial to find a freshwater beach on a creek, river, or lake.
Read next: Full guide to Monsaraz
Where to eat
- Sahida
- Sabores de Monsaraz
- Xarez (best located for sunset with dinner)
- Taverna Os Templários
How to get there
Monsaraz sits a two-hour drive from Lisbon, and I’d suggest pairing it with a weekend in Évora or a countryside stay. You can take the train to Évora, but from there it pays to have a car.
Olhão, a seafood-heavy escape in the Eastern Algarve
Best time: anytime June – September
Olhão, a small whitewashed eastern Algarve town, is easily one of my favourite places in Portugal and somewhere I’ve returned to again and again. It’s hard to describe why I love this slightly beaten-up fishing town so much. Maybe it’s the relaxed yet buzzing vibe, the narrow alleyways of the old town that resemble a medina, or the huge waterfront market halls that hide treasures of the land and the sea.
Whatever the draw, there’s nothing like spending a week here soaking up sunshine, skipping off to small Algarve villages, and indulging in endless seafood. Bliss.
Best things to do in Olhão & the Eastern Algarve this summer
- Visit the huge daily fish and fresh produce market on the waterfront
- Catch a ferry to one of the sandbank islands for a relaxed beach day
- Visit a local olive producer or winery
- Go walking in the Ria Formosa wetlands reserve
- Explore nearby towns, such as Tavira
- Catch the Festival do Marisco in August, or visit Castro Marim for the Dias Medievais fair
Read next: Full guide to Olhão plus Itinerary: My ideal 7-day Algarve road trip
Where to eat
- Chá Chá Chá
- Vai e Volta
How to get there
Olhão is less than a 20-minute taxi ride from Faro airport or a three-hour drive from Lisbon. Olhão is on the Algarve regional train line, which is handy – although you’ll have to change lines on the way down from Lisbon.
June festas in Lisbon, São João in Porto
Best time: Lisbon, all month but especially the night of June 12; Porto, just the night of June 23
June is a very religious month… which Portugal celebrates by partying non-stop. Three saints are honoured in June: Santo António, São João, and São Pedro (Anthony, John, and Peter).
Best things to do during Santos in June
Lisbon celebrates with a month-long party, known as Santos Populares, with pop-up bars, sardine grills, and stages in traditional neighbourhoods across the city. The biggest night is the evening of June 12, when everyone gathers to dance to pimba music, drink beer, and stay up until dawn. You’ll find a handful of unique traditions detailed in my guide.
Read next: Sardines & pimba: Your 2025 guide to Lisbon’s Santo António Festival
Porto turns into a party for just one night – June 23 – each year. Naturally, there’s also terrible (yet perfect) music, dancing, street food, and beer, but São João has its unusual traditions too. In Porto, you’ll be bopped on the head with martelinhos – oversized plastic hammers – plus after dark, people begin releasing small paper hot air balloons, casting a fairytale glow across the entire city.
Where to eat
On the big party nights, you’ll find ample street food stalls where you can order simple dishes such as grilled sardines on bread, a bifana (pork sandwich), or a fartura (rustic cinnamon churro). For serious eats, refer to my Lisbon food guide and Porto food guide.
Minho, the verdant north – Viana do Castelo’s August Romaria, and Peneda-Gerês National Park
Best time: 12-20 August 2025 in Viana do Castelo, anytime in Peneda-Gerês
Summer in Portugal is a great time to explore the far north. The Minho region, which touches the border with Spain, has beautiful and wild beaches, a rich local culture, stacks of history, and is famous for vinho verde (green wine).
Best things to do in Minho this summer
If I were visiting in summer, I’d try to time my trip to align with Viana do Castelo’s annual Romaria de Nossa Senhora d’Agonia. Every August, the town – famous for its embroidery and filigree jewellery – throws this huge religious festival that celebrates faith, folklore, and cultural heritage with concerts, parades, processions, folk dancing, and fireworks. The highlight (for me, at least) is the Desfile da Mordomia, a parade where nearly 1,000 local women parade in traditional clothing. It’s thought to be the biggest public display of gold in the world, as they all wear their heirloom jewellery pieces.
Read next: 15 best things to do in Viana do Castelo
I’d pair my visit with a nature escape to Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal’s only national park. Here you can hike trails, swim at river beaches, and visit small villages within the park. The castle at Castro Laboreiro holds a special place in my memories, and you can’t miss the historic village of Soajo.
How to get there
It’s easy to reach Viana do Castelo by train, but the national park requires a car or a guide – there are lots of day trips available from Porto if you’re keen.
Peniche & Berlenga Islands
Best time: hot summer days, June – September
“Ah, the Oeste,” a friend said when I described how the fog came in on a gorgeous summer day in Peniche. Even on a perfectly sunny day, this patch of coastline north of Lisbon can be unpredictable – but the best time of year is certainly summer. Peniche is a raw and authentic fishing town and the launching point for the Berlengas Islands, a reserve that you can reach by crossing rough seas in the summer.
Best things to do in Peniche this summer
- Take a guided boat trip to the Berlengas Islands. This nature reserve is truly beautiful, though the sea can be choppy
- Visit the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom, a must-visit for anyone interested in Portugal’s anti-fascist resistance movement of the 1970s. It’s free for Portuguese residents
- Laze on the beach at Praia dos Supertubos, or on either side of the mini Baleal peninsula
- Visit the market in Peniche to shop for fruit or fish
- Drop into the Museu da Renda de Bilros de Peniche to learn about the tradition of lace making
Where to eat
- Tasco do Joel
- Taberna do Ganhão (Baleal)
- Marisqueira Mirandum
How to get there
Peniche is a 70-minute drive from Lisbon. Alternatively, catch a coach bus with Rede Expressos. The boat out to Berlengas usually takes around 40 minutes.
Summer days in Arrábida Natural Park, near Lisbon
Best time: perfect sunny, summer days between May and October
Note: Arrábida Natural Park closes to traffic in the peak of summer, making it a little bit trickier. With the restrictions, you can still drive close to Portinho da Arrábida, and some restaurants offer quad bike shuttles.
One of my favourite Lisbon day trips is Arrábida Natural Park, a paradise 50 minutes south of Lisbon. Each summer in Portugal, I’ve made some of my favourite memories exploring this coastal park that feels like a Mediterranean forest meets the Caribbean.
Best things to do in Setúbal & Arrábida this summer
- Start with a visit to Setúbal‘s incredible daily market, Mercado do Livramento. This market is one of the best in Portugal, and I’ve detailed why here
- Or start with a cheese factory tour and tasting at Queijaria Simões
- Stay in Setúbal for lunch to eat the local specialty, choco frito (fried cuttlefish)
- Or visit the village of Portinho da Arrrábida. Here I’d reserve a waterfront table at O Farol for the seafood rice (and everything else on the menu)
- Spend the afternoon lazing on the beach (with one eye on the lookout for wild boars)
- On the return to Lisbon, cross the mountain range to the wine town of Azeitão. Here you can join a wine tasting or drop into a bar, but I usually visit my favourite tile producer
- At Azulejos do Azeitão, the super nice owner usually shows us how tiles are made, and we explore the atelier and showroom. You can do a tile painting workshop here if you book ahead
Where to eat
- O Farol, Portinho da Arrábida
- Adega Leo do Petisco, Setúbal
How to get there
The easiest way to do this day trip is by car, though guided tours are also available if you’d rather sit back and let someone else do the driving. Alternatively, you can take a train from Lisbon to Setúbal, then a water taxi to Portinho da Arrábida, and finally an Uber/Bolt back to Lisbon (with or without a stop in Azeitão).
Azores escape to São Miguel & Terceira islands
Best time: May through September for weather, June to August for whale watching
Want somewhere cooler, greener, and way off the beaten path this summer? The Azores are calling. São Miguel and Terceira – two of the archipelago’s largest and most accessible islands – offer dramatic volcanic craters, lush hiking trails, and natural hot springs. I can’t wait to visit in June to slow down in a place where the landscapes are Portugal meets Iceland, Hawaii, and New Zealand all at once.
The summer months collide with the best season for whale watching, coastal picnics, and soaking in steamy thermal pools under a sky that stays light past nine o’clock.
Best things to do on São Miguel & Terceira this summer
- Join a whale and dolphin watching cruise in the summer
- Soak in steamy hot springs in the rainforest on São Miguel
- Explore geothermal power in Furnas on São Miguel
- Go canyoning down rivers or hiking on epic trails
- Visit the inside of a volcano on Terceira
- See the Sanjoaninas festival on Terceira Island in June
- Explore wine making and ocean pools on Terceira
How to get there
It’s easy to fly to either Terceira or São Miguel from the mainland, and smaller flights with SATA connect the two. Once on the islands, either rent a car or book day trips with guides.
Late summer western Algarve escape
Best time: The Algarve is summer. September is more fun than July or August
Come September, the Algarve starts to exhale. The summer crowds thin, and yet the water – after a long, hot summer – is at its best. I’ve noticed the Portuguese summers often stretch well into October, so you’ll still enjoy spontaneous swims at one of Lagos’ best beaches, cliffside walks around Ponta da Piedade, and long seafood lunches that stretch into late afternoons.
Best things to do in Lagos & the Western Algarve
- Swim at Praia do Camilo, or one of Lagos’ dreamy beaches
- Kayak through the sea caves at Ponta da Piedade
- Take a hike along coastal paths with the scent of wild herbs in the air
- Take a boat tour to spot dolphins or explore sea caves
- Wander the old town of Lagos and visit the daily fish market
- Watch the sunset from Cabo de São Vicente in Sagres, for that “end of the world” feeling
- Catch the Silves Medieval Fair in August
Read next: Where to stay in the Algarve: Ultimate guide to choosing your base, and Where to eat in the Algarve
How to get there
It’s easy to reach the Algarve coast. Fly into Faro in the centre, then either rent a car or take a train to Lagos. From Lisbon, the train will drop you in the middle of the coast; however, if you’re aiming for Lagos, it’s faster to take a coach bus from the capital.
Aveiro & Costa Nova
Best time: July during the Canal Festival
An hour south of Porto lies Aveiro, a small city with a handful of canals and stunning art nouveau architecture (and the unfortunate nickname of the “Venice of Portugal”). There’s always plenty going on in the old town, which is protected from the open ocean by a huge lagoon. But, I suggest heading out to Costa Nova to discover wide and windy, white-sand beaches, along with rows of the famous striped houses.
Best things to do in Aveiro this summer
- Go for unrushed summer days with icy ocean swims, long fish lunches, and jugs of vinho verde wine
- Explore Aveiro’s canals by traditional moliceiro boat
- Visit in July for the Festival dos Canais, and avoid August crowds
- Eat ovos moles, a traditional sweet invented here
- Get cultured at the Art Nouveau Museum or the Aveiro Museum
- Walk the salt pans and learn about traditional salt harvesting
- Learn about ceramics at the Vista Alegre factory
Read next: 11 best things to do and see in Aveiro
Where to eat
- O Augusto
- Zico
- Mercantel
- Taberna do Arco
How to get there
Aveiro is a stop on the high-speed train between Lisbon and Porto, making it easy to reach. Otherwise, it’s a one-hour drive south of Porto and about 2.5 hours from Lisbon by car.
That’s where to go this summer in Portugal. Anywhere else I should add to the list? Leave me a comment…
Keep reading….
- Lisbon’s best restaurants: 41 great places to eat
- 20 best things to do in Évora, the Alentejo capital
- 22 most beautiful castles in Portugal
- 48 hours in Monsaraz
- The average person’s guide to A-list Comporta: Portugal’s luxe beach town
- Best boat tours in Lisbon
- Where to stay in the Algarve: Ultimate guide to choosing your base
- Where to eat in the Algarve
