Best time to visit
Best Time to Visit Porto
A riverside city of tiled facades and steep streets, famous as the origin of port wine and its dramatic Douro river valley. It has a grittier, more workaday character than Lisbon, which many visitors end up preferring.
Best time to visit: May to June or September, for mild weather without peak summer crowds.
Local tip: Cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia for port wine cellar tours — most of the historic producers are based there, not in Porto itself.
Getting around: Porto's steep streets are best tackled on foot in stages, with a metro and funicular helping on the steepest climbs between the riverfront and upper town.
Good to know: Livraria Lello now charges an entry fee (redeemable against a book purchase) due to overwhelming visitor numbers — buy a timed ticket online rather than queuing on the day.
What to plan your trip around
- Ribeira District
The colourful, UNESCO-listed riverfront old town, lined with cafés and port wine cellars across the water.
- Livraria Lello
An ornate early 20th-century bookshop, one of the most visited (and photographed) in the world.
- Dom Luís I Bridge
A double-deck iron bridge with walkable upper and lower levels and river views.
- São Bento Railway Station
A working train station famous for its entrance hall, covered in over 20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles.
Porto weather by month
Porto weather by month
Average temperatures and rainfall Porto gets in each month (2011–2020). Tap a month for the full breakdown.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13°C | 8°C | 130 mm | 86% |
| February | 14°C | 8°C | 100 mm | 83% |
| March | 15°C | 9°C | 108 mm | 81% |
| April | 17°C | 11°C | 102 mm | 81% |
| May | 20°C | 13°C | 72 mm | 79% |
| June | 22°C | 15°C | 29 mm | 76% |
| July | 24°C | 16°C | 9 mm | 74% |
| August | 25°C | 16°C | 19 mm | 73% |
| September | 24°C | 16°C | 52 mm | 73% |
| October | 21°C | 14°C | 118 mm | 77% |
| November | 16°C | 11°C | 145 mm | 84% |
| December | 14°C | 9°C | 114 mm | 85% |
Porto through the year
January · 13° / 8°C · 130 mm
- Expect more cloud than at any other time of year.
- There's little difference between day and night (around 5°C).
April · 17° / 11°C · 102 mm
- Porto is usually about 4°C cooler than Setúbal, 290 km away, in April.
- Keep a flexible plan: if showers roll in, shift São Bento Railway Station to a drier part of the day.
July · 24° / 16°C · 9 mm
- Rain is well below Porto's usual level (around 89% less).
- Only one month is warmer in Porto than July.
October · 21° / 14°C · 118 mm
- Temperatures are falling — expect highs around 5°C lower by November.
- It's wetter than a typical month in Porto — roughly 42% more rain than average.
The best time to visit Porto is June, July and August, when average highs are 22–25°C and rainfall is around 19 mm a month.
At a glance
When to go to Porto, season by season
December – February
Rainy14° / 9°C · 115 mm
The wettest part of the year. Showers are likely, so pack a rain jacket and keep plans flexible.
March – May
Good17° / 11°C · 94 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
June – August
Best time24° / 16°C · 19 mm
Pleasant temperatures and relatively little rain: the best window for sightseeing and time outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit Porto?
- For pleasant, fairly dry weather, go to Porto in June, July and August. Average highs are then 22–25°C.
- Why is June a good time to visit Porto?
- In June, Porto averages 22°C by day and 15°C at night, with about 29 mm of rain and 41% cloud cover: warm enough to be outdoors without the peak heat or the wettest weather.
- What is the warmest month in Porto?
- August is the warmest month in Porto, with average highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C.
- What is the coldest month in Porto?
- January is the coldest month in Porto: average highs of 13°C, dropping to 8°C at night.
- When does it rain the most in Porto?
- November is the wettest month in Porto with about 145 mm of rain. The driest is July, with around 9 mm.
- When is the worst time to visit Porto?
- January is the least pleasant month in Porto, with average highs of just 13°C. It's still fine for museums and fewer crowds.
- Is the shoulder season a good time to visit Porto?
- Yes. May and September sit just outside the best months for Porto, with average highs of 20–24°C and about 62 mm of rain a month. Weather-wise, they are a good alternative to the peak months.
- How can I check the weather in Porto before I travel?
- Compare the live forecast for Porto from three independent weather services on WeatherCompare. When they agree, the forecast is more reliable.
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Best time to visit Porto. WeatherCompare, 2026 (climate averages: NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020). https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/portugal/porto
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/portugal/porto">Best time to visit Porto</a> (WeatherCompare)
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