Winter is the low season for travel in Portugal, but there are so many positive reasons to visit. Fewer tourists and lower prices are just two (of many) reasons to visit during this quieter period, and having spent six winters in Portugal now I can attest that it’s often sunny with blue skies in January!
Yes, I live in Portugal so I can give you a real opinion on visiting in the winter months. My main TL;DR takeaway is that you’re rolling the dice to visit Lisbon, Porto or the Algarve in the winter months, but with luck on your side you’ll be drinking white wine beneath sunny winter skies with your toes in the sand.
While there is always a good chance of rain, Portugal is in southern Europe – so it’s one of the warmest European destinations in winter, and there’s a good chance of gorgeous winter sunshine – just don’t expect places to be heated inside.
If you plan to visit Portugal – Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve – in winter, below I’ve included a handful of reasons why winter here is great, a breakdown on what the weather is like, a winter packing list, plus the fun stuff – the best things to do each month across Portugal.
All the pictures in this article belong to me – and I made sure to only use images I took between the months of November and March. This is what it’s really like!
Why visit Portugal in winter? Best reasons to visit
First, let’s look at the top 5 reasons why Portugal is a great destination for the winter months. Basically if you travel between November and March you’ll hit the off-season, and honestly it’s one of my favourite times to explore Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and beyond.
Cheapest time of year
If you visit Portugal in December, January or February you’ll be able to rent a car for cheap, stay in nicer hotels for a fraction of the price.
I watch the hotel prices here fluctuate like crazy over summer when I’m researching places to stay as part of my private Portugal planning calls . If people want hotel suggestions, I ask for a nightly budget range and in the winter months you can stay in the nicest hotels for half of what you’d pay in the summer.
As for car hire, I’ve paid as little as €3 for a week in winter. Yes, that’s €3 total not per day. In winter you can often find fantastic deals on car hire, particularly if you don’t mind reading the fine print and going with local companies. I like to use discovercars.com to search dates and options across many companies.
Smaller crowds and less queuing
I live in Lisbon and quite frankly I’ve started avoiding the city centre in summer. It’s getting too busy with tourists and the footpaths, which curve around historic buildings, are often two narrow to pass. In winter, the bulk of the crowds disappear and the city returns to the locals. This is when I love to get out there on one of the (many) sunny January days and experience the sights of my chosen home.
The winter weather is mild (and often sunny)
Portuguese winter weather is not too bad – and I’ll dive into more details on that with average temperatures below. The days are usually quite mild and it’s common to have sunny days – though you should arrive expecting rain.
The main problems I find are that houses are not heated and we have winter humidity – it makes the temperatures feel colder and you go outside to warm up. If you’re staying in nice hotels or apartments, you’ll have heating – but best to triple check!
You’ll actually meet locals
Some people travel to see the place and love meeting other travellers, others like to experience the culture and connect with the locals. If you’re in the latter category, winter is a better time to visit. You’re more likely to meet local people doing their Christmas shopping, or enjoying the city without the tourist rush of summer.
There are fun events and celebrations
From São Martinho celebrations on November 11, through to Christmas fun, New Year’s Eve fireworks, countless winter cheese and smoked meats festivals, and the end-of-winter carnival celebrations – there’s lots happening in these quieter months.
Read next… Ultimate Portugal Events Guide: Best Festivals & Cultural Events
What’s the winter weather *really* like in Portugal? Does it snow?
Portugal is a long skinny country with two coastlines and mountains, so the climate and Portuguese winter weather varies depending on where you go.
If you compare it to the rest of Europe, the winter is beautifully mild with a good chance of sunshine. If you ask the locals they will complain that it is usually warmer outside than inside their houses, thanks to a lack of heating and winter humidity that chills you to the bone! As visitors, you’ll likely have heated accommodation, but be careful when choosing where to stay – lots of apartments are affected by humid walls and mold.
As for snow, yes! You’ll find snow at the top of Serra da Estrela, continental Portugal’s highest mountain. There’s a small ski resort here that’s popular with local families.
More importantly, winter is surf season in Portugal. While the ocean flattens out in summer, in winter the swell pumps. It’s only between November and March that you really have any chance of seeing the mega waves (up to 30m/100ft high) at Nazaré.
Winter weather in the Algarve
The warmest destination in winter on continental Portugal is the southern Algarve coast (yes, the islands of Madeira are even warmer). The villages and towns on the southern coast gain an advantage from the warm Mediterranean Sea overflow, and the coast experiences little rain. Bad for farmers, great for holidaymakers. The Algarve famously claims to have more than 300 days of sunshine a year, so even in January or February you can expect nice temperatures with highs averaging 15°C (60°F) and a sea temperature around 17°C (62°F).
I’ve enjoyed a crisp yet sunny December vacation to the Algarve with friends. Even in the middle of winter you can book kayaking excursions around Ponta da Piedade, or little boat trips. It might be the off season, but the fun is still on.
Winter weather in Lisbon
Lisbon, where I’m based, is cooler than the south but daytime highs are always in the double digits and sometimes push past 20°C. Each winter I expect the skies to grey over, so I’m usually pleasantly surprised with blue skies at least half the time. Over the past six winters I’ve found we get a few weeks of grey skies and rain, but it’s often broken up with these glorious winter days. Of course, as a visitor it’s a roll of the dice whether you’ll have great weather or not.
I love living in Lisbon, but it gets so busy in the summer that exploring the downtown is too much. But Lisbon in winter is amazing – the quieter crowds and streets feel more authentic. If you’re here in December, you’ll have the festive crowds out to see the big tree in Praça do Comércio and the lights strung across many streets in Baixa-Chiado. From there I’d wander around the narrow alleyways of Alfama, and warm up with fresh-from-the-oven pasteís de nata and coffee.
Lisbon’s most popular day trip Sintra is also amazing in winter. This hilly microclimate gets all misty, adding a moody layer to the fairytale vibes of the many palaces, such as Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira.
Read next… Lisbon’s best day trip: Sintra 1 or 2-day itinerary
Winter weather in Porto
North of Lisbon is less favourable for the winter weather. Porto is notoriously a much cooler, wetter place than Lisbon. I would arrive expecting grey skies and rain – especially since Porto expects around 150 days of rain a year, most of which falls between October and March. This all said, I’ve spent plenty of time in Porto including during the winter off-season and it’s usually not too bad – just have a raincoat or umbrella on hand.
Porto is the type of city that shines in any weather, so winter is just as special. Use grey days as an excuse to tour an extra Port wine cellar in Gaia, or spend more time browsing at the famous Livraria Lello, a Harry-Potter-like bookstore that attracts big queues in the summer.
Planning a winter trip to Portugal and wish you could speak to someone local? You can book a private call with me! I can help structure your itinerary, offer packing advice, and share hidden finds.
What to pack for Portugal in winter
Here’s a few tips for packing your suitcase if you plan to visit Portugal in the winter months.
- Winter coat: You won’t need a jacket to protect you against freezing temperatures, but a winter wool coat is ideal.
- Raincoat: ideally that winter coat might be waterproof too so you can step out and explore without having to worry about potential rain! Alternatively, pack an umbrella.
- Layers: Bring layers. You’ll might have T-shirt weather in early December, or need a thick wool sweater to keep you cosy. As a solid rule, a t-shirt layer, sweater layer, and good jacket should be enough.
- Winter accessories: since you’ll be exploring you’ll be outdoors, so pack a beanie, scarf, and gloves.
- Boots or waterproof sneakers with grip: if you’ve seen pictures of Lisbon’s notorious yet beautiful cobblestone footpaths you’ll understand – difficult in summer, dangerous when wet.
The best things to do and places to visit in Portugal in winter
Now for the fun part – let’s dive into all the best things you can do in winter in Portugal, month by month. From Christmas fun in December through to wild carnival festivities in February. I’ve broken it down by month so you can discover various events, the weather and things to do each month.
Since I don’t have an autumn or spring guide, I’ve included November and March too.
Portugal in November: Things to do & places to visit
You’ve heard the saying about Saint Martin’s summer? Well, each November São Martinho falls on November 11 – and honestly the weather around that date is usually brilliant with blue sky and sunshine. Portugal celebrates this religious day, also known as magusto, by eating roasted chestnuts and tasting the year’s fresh wine. Locally you’ll find little festas in town squares or at restaurants. Or head to a wine-making area, like the small Alentejo village of Vila Alva when they crack open the talhas (terracotta vessels) to taste the wines. It’s a beautiful time to visit the Douro Valley too and see it’s autumnal glory.
Towards the end of the month, Christmas lights will start going up and the cities are buzzing with festive cheer.
Weather in Portugal in November (average temperatures)
Faro, Algarve: Average highs of 19°C (66°F), with minimums of 12°C (54°F). But it does reach up to 25°C (77°F) during the day with around 9 hours of daylight.
Lisbon: Average highs of 19°C (66°F), with minimums of 12°C (54°F)
Porto: Average highs of 17°C (63°F), with minimums of 7.3°C (45°F)
This is the weather in Lisbon during the final week of November. Not bad, hey?
November events in Portugal
- São Martinho or Magusto
- Monchique Walking Festival, Algarve
- Feira Nacional do Cavalo Golegã (National Horse Fair), Ribatejo
- Festival da Batata-Doce (Sweet Potato Festival)
- Marvão Feira da Castanha (Chestnut Fair)
Read next… Food Festival Guide: Best Gastronomic Events in Portugal
Portugal in December: Things to do & places to visit
December in Portugal is really fun. All the cities and towns put up Christmas lights, and you’ll find lots of little Christmas markets popping up all over town. Besides the big cities, where you can find Christmas markets in the main squares, there are a few famous smaller places to visit during Christmas – the village of Obidos, Santa Maria da Feira, and Águeda.
If you’re in the deep north of Portugal in December or around Christmas, you might get to experience some wilder pagan traditions in small villages of Tras-os-Montes too.
Weather in Portugal in December (average temperatures)
Faro, Algarve: Average highs of 17°C (63°F), with minimums of 10°C (50°F)
Lisbon: Average highs of 16°C (61°F), with minimums of 10°C (50°F)
Porto: Average highs of 15°C (59°F), with minimums of 8°C (47°F)
A very breezy cool change hit Lisbon on December 8, 2024, and this is the forecast for the rest of the week. Colder than usual but sunny!
December events in Portugal
- Christmas Hopen Braga Beer Festival, Braga
- Óbidos Vila Natal, Greater Lisbon
- Águeda é Natal, near Aveiro
- Wonderland Lisboa
- Reino de Natal – Sintra
- New Year’s Eve on Madeira Island
Portugal in January: Things to do & places to visit
I’ve done a 9-day road trip across Portugal in January, and while I remember grey skies I don’t recall it raining very much. While the festive fun has long disappeared, there are other festivities and fun happening in Portugal in January. I remember accidentally passing through Aveiro during the Festas de São Gonçalinho, where we wandered by a hexagonal chapel where a crowd stood with fishing nets, umbrellas and basketball hoops ready to catch cavacas (hard sweet breads) being thrown from the roof. This festival celebrating São Gonçalo takes place over a few days around January 10 – and the same saint is celebrated elsewhere, such as Amarante where he’s the patron saint (and gives his name to the phallic pastries).
While it makes more sense to go south to the Algarve in January, where you’re more likely to find sunny days, you might as well embrace what nature throws you and venture into the north – it’s up here there are two great food festivals, listed below. If you head to Serra da Estrela, continental Portugal’s tallest mountain, January is usually the first proper snowfall too.
Weather in Portugal in January (average temperatures)
Faro, Algarve: Average highs of 16°C (61°F), with minimums of 8°C (46°F)
Lisbon: Average highs of 15°C (59°F), with minimums of 9°C (48°F)
Porto: Average highs of 14°C (57°F), with minimums of 6.3°C (43°F)
January events in Portugal
- Festas de São Gonçalinho, around 10 January
- Festa das Fogaceiras, January 20
- XXVII Feira Gastronómica do Porco (Pork Festival)
- XXXIIII Feira do Fumeiro (Smoked Sausage Festival), northern Portugal
Portugal in February: Things to do & places to visit
February is one of my favourite months in Portugal. It’s carnival! Well, actually in 2025 carnival will fall in March (but the previous years it has always been February). Over the past three or four years I’ve set off on cross-country road trips to hunt down the weird and wonderful traditional Portuguese carnivals with pagan roots. During these trips the weather has been cold yet pleasant, rarely raining (even in the north!) – but usually with grey skies or small pockets of blue each day.
Weather in Portugal in February (average temperatures)
Faro, Algarve: Average highs of 16°C (61°F), with minimums of 9°C (48°F)
Lisbon: Average highs of 17°C (63°F), with minimums of 10°C (50°F)
Porto: Average highs of 15°C (59°F), with minimums of 6.4°C (43°F)
February events in Portugal
- Feira do Fumeiro de Vinhais (Smoked Meats Fair), Vinhais, Trás-os-Montes
- Feira do Queijo Serra da Estrela – Seia (Cheese Fair)
- Feira do Queijo do Alentejo (Cheese Fair), Alentejo
- Simplesmente Vinho, Porto
Read next… Food Festival Guide: Best Gastronomic Events in Portugal
Portugal in March: Things to do & places to visit
March is a fantastic month to visit Portugal. It’s the time of year where it feels like the cities are waking up again after a slower, quieter period. Lisbon comes to life with a half-marathon over the famous red Ponte 25 de Abril bridge, surf comps are still on, and in the case of 2025 carnival is here to shake loose the shackles of winter and welcome spring.
If you stay in Lisbon, where I live, you’ll come across Carnival blocos or impromptu street parades with live Brazilian beats. Or you can visit towns – Sesimbra, Torres Vedras, Loulé etc – that are famous for modern carnivals with silly costumes and political in-jokes. I personally prefer the weirder carnivals, which I’ve wrapped up here.
Don’t be fooled into thinking January and February will be wet and rainy and March will be beautiful and sunny. While it often is a nicer break (before “Em Abril, águas mil” – April showers) I’ve found some years Portugal in January or February ends up being gorgeous and we get all the rain in March.
Weather in Portugal in March (average temperatures)
Faro, Algarve: Average highs of 19°C (66°F), with minimums of 10°C (50°F)
Lisbon: Average highs of 19°C (66°F), with minimums of 11°C (52°F)
Porto: Average highs of 17°C (63°F), with minimums of 8°C (47°F)
March events in Portugal
- Carnival 2025, across Portugal
- Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Peniche
- Lisbon Half Marathon
- Talha à Mesa (Amphora Wine Festival), Alentejo
- Millennium Estoril Open, Lisbon
FAQs about winter in Portugal
Is Portugal worth visiting in January or February?
Yes, for sure. If that’s the best time for you to visit then you’ll have an amazing trip with lots of things to do in Portugal in January or February. Just don’t come expect warm summer days – so every blue-sky day will feel like a blessing!
Below is a picture from a three-hour hike I did in February 2024. We had blue skies and sunshine the whole time on the walk from Regoufe to the abandoned village of Drave in Arouca GeoPark.
What are the top winter festivals in Portugal?
In December, every city has Christmas lights and fun festivities or markets. Smaller off-the-radar towns to consider are Óbidos and Águeda. The year ends with fireworks, and New Year’s Eve on Madeira Island is unbeatable. Then in January I love the Festas de São Gonçalinho, around 10 January, in Aveiro. And the Festa das Fogaceiras on January 20 is meant to be beautiful.
Then, besides Portuguese carnival celebrations (pictured below), there are lots of food festivals from those celebrating smoked sausages to cheese to wine.
How cold does Portugal get in the winter?
Honestly, it can be unpleasantly cold – so come prepared for rainy winter weather. Depending on where you go, temperatures can range from around 8°C (46°F) to 20°C (68°F) during the day, with some areas dropping below freezing – Serra da Estrela does receive snow, but it’s unlikely that you’ll even need winter tires to drive up there (nor would they be available!).
Any questions about what winter in Portugal is like? Drop me a comment below… or I can help plan your trip with a private call.
