If you’ve ever wished summer could stretch just a little longer, then Portugal might be your autumn answer. Early in the season, while much of Europe is already embracing sweater weather, you can still chase sunny beach days along the Atlantic Coast, and push ‘just one more’ ocean swim in the Algarve or on Madeira Island.
Alternatively, head to the north or inland seeking cosy autumn vibes. Think a weekend sipping wine by the fire in the Douro Valley, wandering a misty and mysterious Sintra, or eating roasted chestnuts at hilltop Marvão.
Fall is a season of contrasts in Portugal, so pack a sweater for moody northern mornings and sunglasses for southern afternoons. September, October and November are among my favourite months to explore Portugal as the weather is generally good with sunny or crisp, clear skies. Based on a lot of my personal experiences, here’s where I’d visit to make the most of autumn in Portugal.
Douro Valley, for harvest and fall colours
Best time: late September through November for foliage, peaking in October. Go earlier for potential grape harvest fun.
Autumn in the Douro Valley is harvest time. The “vindimas” begin in early September (sometimes late August, depending on the summer heat) as the terraced landscape comes to life with workers hand-picking grapes on the steep slopes. Wineries open their doors for tours, tastings and long-table harvest lunches, where you’ll see the process up close and perhaps get to pick and stomp some grapes yourself.
By October and into November, those same terraces shift from green to deep gold, copper and plum red. It’s a dramatic landscape that really shifts with the seasons, and while you can take a guided day trip to the Douro Valley from Porto, I’d suggest a slow stay at a dreamy quinta to embrace sweater weather and sip deep reds by a fireplace.
Best things to do in the Douro Valley this autumn
- Join the vindimas (grape harvest) at a local vineyard and stomp grapes the traditional way.
- Board a traditional rabelo boat in Pinhão to see the landscape from the water.
- Ride the Linha do Douro train from Porto to Pocinho – Portugal’s most scenic rail journey.
- Visit a wine estate or three for tastings and cellar tours – try Quinta do Crasto, Quinta do Seixo, Quinta da Pacheca.
- Hike to the São Leonardo da Galafura viewpoint for sweeping views of the valley and river.
Where to stay
- Six Senses Douro Valley – Top-tier ultra-luxe retreat and a bucket-list stay with epic vineyard views
- Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo – Historic 4-star wine estate
- The Vintage House Hotel, Pinhão – Elegant riverside location
- Quinta da Pacheca Wine House Hotel – Famous for its barrel-shaped rooms and wine experiences
How to get there
From Porto, the Douro Valley is a two-hour drive or a three-hour scenic train ride along the Douro River to Pinhão – check out my Porto to Douro Valley guide suggesting extra stops along the way. Renting a car gives you more flexibility to explore wineries and viewpoints, but the train is excellent.
Read next… Portugal Road Trip: Where to stop between Porto and the Douro Valley
Sintra, for moody, misty fall vibes
Best time: October to December
Sintra is just half an hour from downtown Lisbon, but it’s a world apart in vibe and climate. Kissed by the icy Atlantic Ocean, the Sintra region is almost always 5°C cooler than downtown Lisbon. It’s a place where fog rolls off the ocean and mist gathers around the palaces. Expect moody beach days, atmospheric hikes through Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, and extra fall magic adding to Sintra’s fairytale vibe.
Best things to do in Sintra this autumn
- Ride the Sintra tram to Praia das Maças through a corridor of autumnal leaves.
- Tour Palácio da Pena and its park, without peak-season queues (though it will still be busy).
- Hit off-road trails in an open-top UMM jeep with Flamingo, and explore foliage across the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
- Hike up to the Moorish Castle, without breaking a sweat, for misty morning views.
How to get there
Sintra is just 40 minutes by train from Lisbon’s Rossio station, with departures every 30 minutes. Driving is possible, but parking is super limited in town – I don’t recommend it if you’re only visiting the historic village.
Read next… 31 best things to do in Sintra
Marvão, the hilltop Alentejo border village
Best time: during the two autumn festivals
I audibly gasped the first time I saw Marvão, a tiny village and defensive castle set high on a rocky outcrop in the Serra de São Mamede. Autumn or fall is an atmospheric time to visit – from the moment you step out of the car, you’ll spot chestnut trees heavy with those distinctively spikey fruits.
In early October, the Al Mossassa festival celebrates the town’s Moorish origins with markets, music and street performances inside the medieval walls. A few weeks later, November brings the Chestnut Festival, which has been running for more than four decades and celebrates fall produce from the region. Expect plenty of roasted chestnuts, local wines and live music.
Best things to do in Marvão this autumn
- Join the Al Mossassa festival (early October) with markets, concerts and medieval re-enactments.
- Celebrate the Chestnut Festival (early November) with roasted chestnuts, wine, music and local crafts.
- Walk the castle walls for sweeping views across the Serra de São Mamede and over the Spanish border.
- Visit the Municipal Museum, housed in a 15th-century church, to learn about Marvão’s layered history.
- Wander the whitewashed streets lined with granite houses and flowerpots.
- Hike or drive through São Mamede Natural Park, rich in autumn colour.
Where to stay
- Pousada de Marvão – Historic hotel with unbeatable views
- Varanda do Alentejo – Family-run hotel with hearty regional food and views
How to get there
Marvão is best reached by car. From Lisbon, it’s a 2.5-3 hour drive via the A23. There’s no direct train, though buses run to nearby Portalegre.
Porto, for perfect autumn light
Best time: late October or November
Porto might be my favourite Portuguese city to visit in autumn. I’ve caught the train up from my home in Lisbon in November on a number of different years, and I find the city has such a great fall energy. It’s cooler and moodier, and though I arrive expecting mediocre weather, I’ve often been met with sunny days, soft light that’s beautiful for photography, and a smoky glow from the roasting of seasonal chestnuts on every street corner. It’s a good time of year to explore without the summer crowds and to visit another port wine cellar or two.
Best things to do in Porto this autumn
- Wander the Ribeira neighbourhood at sunset, when the riverfront glows in autumn light and the terraces are filled with people sipping wine.
- Warm up with a tawny port tasting at a Gaia wine cellar on a guided tour.
- Go on a self-guided tile crawl past Porto’s many churches and through São Bento station.
- Buy roasted chestnuts from street vendors.
- Spend an afternoon at the Serralves Museum and Park, where autumn colours transform the gardens.
Where to stay
- Torel Avantgarde – Boutique hotel with art-inspired rooms and river views
- The Rebello Hotel & Spa – Luxe modern-yet-warm hotel on the Gaia side, with amazing views back to Porto’s skyline
- Moov Hotel Porto Centro – Budget-friendly and central pick
How to get there
Porto is served by Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, 20 minutes from the city by metro, bus or taxi. Fast trains from Lisbon arrive at Campanhã station in around three hours.
Baixo Alentejo, for wine, wine, wine
Best time: around November 11 – Saint Martin’s Day!
Summer in the lower Alentejo is hot, so there’s more life in the streets in autumn when the community comes together for festivals and rituals – and almost all revolve around wine. As seasons shift and the harvest is long past, the agricultural region’s many wine-loving towns celebrate by tasting the young wines.
There’s always a big celebration around Magusto of São Martinho on November 11. Locals mark the day with roasted chestnuts and Jeropiga wine. November brings the Festa da Vinha e do Vinho to Borba. In December, Vitifrades in Vila de Frades celebrates both wine and the Roman heritage of winemaking in clay amphorae, known as talhas, a practice still alive in this corner of the Alentejo.
Best things to do in Baixo Alentejo this autumn
- Don’t miss the wine events! Visit Borba during the Festa da Vinha e do Vinho (11-16 November 2025), where streets fill with wine tastings, craft stalls and regional food.
- Join Vitifrades in Vila de Frades (5-7 December 2025) for wine and Roman wine heritage.
- Explore Beja, the regional capital, with its medieval castle.
- Wander the whitewashed lanes of Serpa, famous for its cheese and olive oil.
- Stop in Mértola, on the Guadiana River, and explore layers of Islamic and Christian history.
- Join a local Magusto for roasted chestnuts and new wine.
Bucket-list worthy stays in Baixo Alentejo
- Pousada Convento de Beja – A former Franciscan convent turned into a grand hotel
- Herdade da Malhadinha Nova – Luxury wine estate with vineyards, spa and fine dining
- São Lourenço do Barrocal – Countryside retreat with design-led comfort and wine experiences
How to get there
You’ll need a car to explore the Baixo Alentejo. From Lisbon, it’s just over two hours to Beja, the regional capital. Public transport is limited, and a rental car gives the flexibility to explore villages, vineyards and the countryside at your own pace.
Algarve, for super late summer sun
Best time: September to mid-October
Portugal has one of the longest summers in Europe, and down south on the Algarve coast, you can chase warm rays of sunshine into early November. October 5 is a public holiday here, and last year I rented a big house with friends and spent the long weekend tanning by the pool, wearing shorts and kayaking around Ponta da Piedade. A last hoorah for summer!
Autumn also brings fun festivals to the south: the Birdwatching & Nature Festival in Sagres (October) attracts nature lovers from across Europe, with guided tours and coastal hikes. In Faro, the Feira de Santa Iria fills the city with food stalls, concerts and fairground rides in late October. While at the end of November, the Festival da Batata-Doce celebrates sweet potatoes in Aljezur.
Best things to do in the Algarve this fall
- Enjoy a final pool or beach day – October often still feels like summer.
- Kayak around the golden cliffs of Ponta da Piedade – I did this tour, and we didn’t even touch the icy ocean.
- Join the Birdwatching & Nature Festival in Sagres (October) for guided walks, boat tours and lectures.
- Chase the party in Faro during the Feira de Santa Iria (late October).
- Catch the sweet potato festival in Aljezur, usually the final weekend of November.
- Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, spectacular under softer autumn skies.
How to get there
Faro Airport is the Algarve’s main hub, with flights from across Europe. From Lisbon, it’s about three hours by car or train to reach the coast. Driving is the easiest way to reach Sagres, Aljezur and coastal trails, but regional trains and buses connect major towns like Faro, Lagos and Portimão.
Peneda-Gerês National Park, to peep leaves and hike
Best time: September and October
Portugal’s only national park, Peneda-Gerês, might be at its prettiest in autumn. The nature reserve, which sits on the northern border with Spain, is filled with oak and chestnut forests that turn shades of gold, amber and deep red in the fall. While summer brings big crowds to the park, autumn is quieter and the trails of Peneda-Gerês are even better after the first rains when some waterfalls start flowing again.
Best things to do in Peneda-Gerês this autumn
- Visit the pretty villages of Lindoso and Soajo, with their granite granaries.
- Drive or walk the N304 scenic route for autumn colours.
- Visit Arado and Tahiti waterfalls, especially after early autumn rains.
- Spot wild horses and deer, or grazing cows, along the remote mountain paths. Keep an eye out for wolves too!
- Walk to Miradouro da Pedra Bela for sweeping vistas over the Cávado River valley.
- Explore the castle at Castro Laboreiro – pack a picnic and take in the sunset.
How to get there
From Porto, it’s about 1.5-2 hours, depending on where you want to visit. Public transport is limited, so having a rental car or joining a guided day trip is essential to explore remote trails, waterfalls and villages scattered across the park.
Madeira Island, to extend the summer
Best time: September – November
When I visited Madeira last October, I still swam in the sea and dined outdoors at night without a jacket. The island’s subtropical climate means temperatures stay mild year-round – yes, it’s called the island of eternal spring for a reason. While autumn had a full grip on Lisbon, we flew to the island and swapped sweaters for shorts as summer was still kicking. The weather forecast sounded cool on paper, but in reality, a thick layer of toasty humidity kept us cosy.
Best things to do in Madeira this autumn
- Hike one of the amazing levadas – especially Levada do Caldeirão Verde or Levada das 25 Fontes – for lush greenery and waterfalls.
- Or hike the Ponta de São Lourenço trail for dramatic coastal cliffs and ocean views.
- Explore Funchal’s farmers’ market (Mercado dos Lavradores) for tropical fruits and local crafts.
- Taste Madeira wine at Blandy’s Wine Lodge or other Funchal wine cellars.
- Enjoy dinner outside on a terrace in the humid evening air in Funchal or Câmara de Lobos – I loved our meal at Gavião do Ilhéu.
Where to stay
Madeira Island is popular all year, so it pays to book early.
- Belmond Reid’s Palace (Funchal) – Historic and iconic oceanfront luxury hotel that forms part of my Portugal bucket list
- Quinta da Casa Branca (Funchal) – Boutique hotel set in a lush garden estate
- Casas da Levada (Ponta do Pargo) – I stayed at this gorgeous guesthouse set across restored stone cottages with an infinity pool, epic honesty bar and ocean views
- Saccharum Hotel Resort & Spa (Calheta) – Beachside, modern design with pools
- Hotel Quinta do Furão (Santana) – Countryside retreat with cliffside ocean views and a pool encircled by grape vines
How to get there
You’ll fly into Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (Funchal) from Portugal or other European cities. Once on the island, renting a car is the easiest way to reach coastal trails, levadas and remote villages. Buses and taxis are best around Funchal, or the main city is a good base for guided day trips if you want to avoid a rental car.
That’s where to go this autumn in Portugal. Anywhere else I should add to the list? Leave me a comment…
Keep reading….
- Where to eat in Porto
- It’s worth a flight to Madeira just to eat these espetadas
- 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
- What to eat in the Azores Islands
