When to Visit Porto
Porto has hot summers, pleasantly warm springs and autumns and mild but humid winters. The main tourist season is from June to late September, while the beaches are busiest in July and August. The weather is suitable for visiting Porto and its beaches from June to mid-September, and this aligns with the high season.
The best time to go to Porto is in late spring or early autumn; when there are fewer tourists, but the weather is still glorious. Our favourite time to visit Porto is during the Santos Populares celebrations (13–24 June), when the city takes on a festive atmosphere.
This article will detail when to visit Porto on your holiday and what to expect from the different seasons, along with an overview of Porto's climate.
Average weather for visiting Porto
Porto has hot summers where the daytime temperature routinely exceeds 30°C. This is the average temperature measured in the shade, so it will feel much hotter in direct sunlight.
Surprisingly, Porto is one of the wettest cities in southern Europe, and this high annual rainfall is concentrated in the winter months.
A tip: April is a very wet month, and it is better to push any plans back to May.
During summer, Porto averages 9.9 hours of sunshine a day (compared to 11.4 in Lisbon and 11.9 in the Algarve), while in winter this average drops to 4.0 hours of sunshine (Lisbon 4.6 hours, the Algarve 5.5 hours). By comparison, Rome averages 3.6 hours of sunshine a day in January, London 1.6 hours and Paris 1.6 hours.
Can you visit Porto all year round?
There has recently been a massive increase in the number of tourists visiting Porto, and this popularity has led to the extension of the tourist season, so the tourist season is now almost year-round.
In our opinion, Porto is not a year-round destination, and it should never be considered a sun or a winter destination.
That said, Porto will have a significantly better winter climate than most European cities, and it will be much warmer than northern Europe/America/Canada, but there is a high chance of rain.
Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve
In general, Porto is cooler than Lisbon and the Algarve, and in winter Porto is much wetter.
Porto is the best destination for the summer months. Lisbon attracts far more visitors than Porto, but this popularity means that in summer Lisbon can feel very crowded and full of tourists. Porto has many features similar to those of Lisbon: a rich culture, fascinating tourist attractions, a lively nightlife and excellent beaches.
The Algarve has one of the best climates of continental Europe, but the region is more focused on family holidays and package holidays, and the cities do not offer the same diversity as Porto or Lisbon.
The different tourist seasons of Porto
The high season
The high season for tourism is in July and August, and during this period there is a lively and vibrant atmosphere in the city. Porto's summer weather is hot, but not unbearable, with temperatures lessened by the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the cool evening breezes.
The only problem with visiting Porto in summer is that demand for accommodation and flights often exceeds supply. This means that prices are inflated too high, and if you leave it too late, they sell out completely. If you are thinking of visiting Porto during high season, always book your flights and accommodation well in advance.
The mid season
The mid season is a wonderful time to visit Porto, and it is the best time of year for sightseeing, day trips or a touring holiday in Portugal. This season offers the chance to explore the historic sights without the hordes of other tourists and is a quieter and more relaxing holiday. The mid season still offers good weather, while accommodation will be at reasonable prices.
Our tip: If you visit Porto in the mid season, plan to stay longer in the city and take day trips to Braga, Aveiro, Guimarães and Viana do Castelo.
Winter and the low season
The low season runs from October to April, and the weather becomes wetter and cooler by mid-winter. The problem with the winter season is that the weather is unpredictable: one week might be sunny and pleasant, while the next might be very wet and cold. As Porto is a big city, tourist services never close entirely in winter, but there will be less frequent services, such as boat trips or sightseeing buses. Even so, staying in Porto over Christmas will be something magical.
The Festas Santos Populares and the Festa de São João do Porto
Our favourite time to visit Porto is during the Festas Santos Populares, which fall in the middle two weeks of June. During these festivities, Porto is decorated with tinsel and streamers, while at night there are street parties with traditional music and dancing.
The climax of the Santos Populares festivities in Porto is the night of 23 June, the Festa de São João do Porto. On this night there are big celebrations, fireworks and, strangely, everyone hits each other on the head with plastic toy hammers (historically it was a leek instead of a toy hammer). 24 June is the feast of Saint John, the patron of Porto, and there is a regatta in which traditional boats sail along the Douro river.
The cold sea
It surprises many visitors to Porto's beaches that the sea waters are so cold, reaching only 17°C in midsummer. This cold temperature is because the waters are fed by the Atlantic Ocean.
