Porto has an Atlantic climate: cooler, windier and rainier than Lisbon's, with pleasant, rarely scorching summers and mild but damp winters. The weather changes quickly, and there is often morning mist on the river that clears around midday. It is part of the Porto guide; see also the climate in Portugal.
The climate in charts
The seasons
Spring (March-May)
The city wakes up: temperatures rise from 17 to 20 degrees, gardens bloom, terraces reopen. Rain decreases but doesn't disappear, especially in March and April. It is a good time to visit the city and the Douro valley, green and without the summer heat.
Summer (June-September)
The best season. Highs are around 23-26 degrees, heatwaves are rare, days long and bright. On 23 June the São João festival transforms the city; early June brings Primavera Sound and Serralves em Festa. The beaches of Foz and Matosinhos fill up, though the ocean stays cold, 15-19 degrees. Evenings can be cool and windy: bring a sweatshirt.
Autumn (October-November)
October is often still lovely, with mild days and fewer tourists; it is the time of the harvest and autumn colours in the Douro valley. In late October and November the Atlantic rains arrive.
Winter (December-February)
Winter is mild but rainy: highs around 14 degrees, lows rarely below 5, many days of rain and wind. Portuguese homes are often poorly heated. But it is the quietest, cheapest period, with the city lit up for Christmas, New Year fireworks over Aliados and the river, and historic cafés cosy on grey days.
Month by month
| Month | Weather | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cool, rainy | Low season |
| February | Cool, rainy | Fantasporto, Carnival |
| March | Changeable | Almond blossom in the Douro |
| April | Mild, some rain | Easter |
| May | Pleasant | Ideal for city and Douro |
| June | Mild, sunny | Primavera Sound, Serralves em Festa, São João |
| July | Moderately warm | High season, beaches |
| August | Moderately warm | High season |
| September | Mild, sunny | Douro harvest |
| October | Mild, first rains | Vineyard colours |
| November | Cool, rainy | Chestnuts, low season |
| December | Cool, rainy | Christmas, New Year |
Prices and crowds
Hotels cost more in June, for São João, and in July and August. November, January and February are the cheapest months, for flights too.
What to pack
- Always a raincoat or umbrella and a sweatshirt, even in summer.
- Comfortable shoes with good grip: streets are steep and paved with granite, slippery in the rain.
- In summer: sunscreen, a swimsuit for the ocean, but also a sweater for the evening.
See also when to go to Portugal.