Spring can be the best time to visit Portugal, but it’s not all sunshine all the time. While there’s optimism in the air as the country defrosts and the warmth of the sun gains strength, there’s also a constant risk of April showers and crisp days where a thick coat is still necessary. Despite this, it’s a great time to visit Portugal when wildflowers bloom and cherry blossoms are in season, sending landscapes into fields of brilliant colour, and some interesting festivals take place.
If you’re considering where to go in Portugal this spring, here are some ideas for the best places to visit in March, April or May for brilliant blooms, spring hiking, or curious festivals.
Spring tip: Spring can be a shoulder season sweet spot – but it’s so unpredictable. One weekend in March we had a cyclonic storm, the next weekend I was sunbathing by a pool with G&T in hand. Essentially, the closer you are to summer, the better the weather will be.
Alentejo countryside for the wildflowers
Best time: mid-March to early April
I’m quietly obsessed with exploring the Alentejo in any season, but it’s extra special in the early spring when wildflowers are in bloom. I managed to get out there a couple of times in March where in the central part – around Évora, Monsaraz, and Estremoz – you’ll see the often arid, wheat-coloured fields carpeted with purple, yellow, white and red blooms. It’s hard to say when will be best, but I’d suspect around mid March until early April is best.
Read next… 48 hours in Évora
➼ Wish someone could shortcut your Portugal research? ➼ Talk to me – I offer 1:1 video calls to help cut through the noise and plan your perfect Portugal itinerary. Find out more here.
Douro Valley & Trás-os-Montes for the almond blossoms
Best time: late February to early March
In the northeast of Portugal you’ll find entire valleys filled with almond trees dripping with soft white and pale pink blossoms. It’s a sight to behold, best seen in late February to early March around Torre de Moncorvo, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, and parts of the Douro Superior. Time it right to catch annual almond blossom festivals, such as the Festa das Amendoeiras em Flor. It’s a great way to mark the start of spring.
Fundão and its cherry blossoms
Best time: late March to early April
Portugal has its own sakura season – and if you visit the region of Fundão in late March or early April you’ll see the cherry blossoms in bloom. Of course, the exact time changes each year based on the weather, but it’s worth a road trip to see the hills dotted with blossoming trees. Each year you’ll also find cherry blossom-themed events and trails, plus later in June when the fruits are ripe there are festivals for the cherries. Fundão is quite famous nationally for the best quality cherries.
Central Portugal’s schist villages
Best time: April-May
Spring is an ideal time to dive into nature, and if you like hiking or exploring small villages you have to seek out the Aldeias do Xisto. Tucked into the forested hills of Central Portugal, the schist villages are little stone time capsules. This time of year the trails between them are green and waterfalls full of rain. Within the schist village network there are 27 aldeias to explore, but they are quite spread out so pick a pocket – like Talasnal, Casal Novo, and Candal.
Bonus tip: The traditional carnival in Goís marks the start of spring and adds dimension to a handful of the villages.
Costa Vicentina for spring hiking
Best time: April
One day I dream of hiking the multi-day Rota Vicentina trail on Portugal’s southwest coast. It’s quiet down there – raw, windswept and peaceful – and spring would be the perfect time. Besides beating the summer heat, coastal wildflowers will be in bloom. Think calm days hiking between sweeping landscapes and the charming coastal towns of Odeceixe and Zambujeira do Mar.
Lisbon for late-spring jacaranda trees
Best time: late May
Lisbon, where I live, is gorgeous all year round – but it’s extraordinary in May when the jacaranda trees bloom purple along most of the city’s main avenues. It’s a dramatic addition to the already grand, colourful, and postcard-worthy streets. If you’re seeking them out, try Avenida da Liberdade, Estrela, Santos, and Campo Pequeno. They last a few weeks, though they peak for just a week or so.
Read next… 48 hours in Lisbon
Baixo Alentejo, around Serpa and Mértola
Best time: April and May
Wide open skies and a landscape waking up after winter welcome you to the Baixo Alentejo (Lower Alentejo). Down here near the Spanish border, summer can be too intense – but in spring it feels alive. Serpa is known for its whitewashed walls and signature sheep cheese, while Mértola, perched above the Guardiana River, celebrates its Moorish history every two years with the Festival Islâmico de Mértola. In 2025 it falls between 22-25 May, filling the town with music, food, markets, and exhibitions set against medieval streets.
Madeira Island in May
Best time: May, for the Flower Festival
Madeira’s capital, Funchal, transforms for three weeks in May during the annual Festa da Flor (Flower Festival). It’s one of the most famous celebrations on the island, which puts on more than its fair share of events each year. Expect over-the-top parades, old car shows, folk dance performances, a rare orchid house, floral carpets, pop-up markets and more. There are extra pop-up events around the rest of the island too.
Read next… It’s worth a flight to Madeira just to eat these espetadas
Barcelos for the “Feast of the Crosses”
Best time: 30 April – 4 May 2025
Expect a feast of colour, culture and Christ at the Festa das Cruzes, one of the biggest spring festivals in northern Portugal. Held annually in Barcelos, it’s considered the first great romaria (a kind of open-air pilgrimage-meets-party) of the Minho region, and it dates back to the 16th century. The legend goes that a local shoemaker saw a black cross appear on the ground after mass in 1504 – and the town has celebrated ever since. Today, expect a mix of religious tradition, petal carpets, live music, folk dancing, concerts, markets, bars and processions.
➼ Wish someone could shortcut your Portugal research? ➼ Talk to me – I offer 1:1 video calls to help cut through the noise and plan your perfect Portugal itinerary. Find out more here.
That’s where to go this spring in Portugal. Anywhere else I should add to the list? Leave me a comment…
Keep reading…
- 20 best things to do in Évora, the Alentejo capital
- Where to eat in Évora: The Best Restaurants, Cafés & Sweets
- Portuguese artisans: 10 traditional crafts from the Alentejo
- 22 most beautiful castles in Portugal
- 48 hours in Monsaraz
- Portugal’s pottery village: Why you should visit São Pedro do Corval
- The best things to do in Estremoz
- The average person’s guide to A-list Comporta: Portugal’s luxe beach town
- Just Flow: What to expect at this Portugal yoga and wellness retreat
