A Guide to Visiting Portugal in the Winter

Planning a trip to Portugal? You should consider visiting during the “off season” from November through March. In this week’s blog I’m going to explain why I chose to go to Portugal during the winter months (and why you should too)!

I planned my trip from mid January to the end of the month. Traveling during the winter can be advantageous for a handful of reasons. For one, the prices are much better during these months. I found Portugal to be an affordable destination. Because I went during the colder months, I avoided most of the prices that come along with the warmer months and summer vacation crowds. Speaking of crowds, I felt like I was able to avoid throngs of tourists. Of course, there will always be hustle and bustle in the city. But I felt like I was able to experience more personable and smaller tours, interactions with locals, and see how Portuguese people live year round. Seeing other peoples’ walks of life is one of my favorite parts of traveling.

Of course there are some things you should consider before booking a January plane ticket. There is a reason that a majority of people vacation there during the summer, it’s when it’s most desirable to visit. If you plan to visit the Algarve, you should know that there will be some things you’ll likely miss out on. For one, I was bummed to miss out on peak sardine season. The locals said it’s from April through September. They raved about this cuisine and boasted that Spaniards cross the border just for the sardines. I also wasn’t able to take a dip in the crystal blue waters. There were a few brave souls going for a swim but I noticed they donned wetsuits. On the other hand, I was able to see Benagil cave without 20 tourist boats surrounding the entrances. I was often the only person walking along a beach. To me, that’s worth missing out on sardines.

If you do decide to visit during the winter months, make sure you go prepared. Plan on bringing an umbrella or plan on buying one. In Porto and Lisbon it was rainy one minute and then sunny a few minutes later. The temperatures in these cities ranged from 45-60 degrees Fahrenheit. In Lagos it was mid 50s-60 degrees Fahrenheit and pleasant in the sun. I would also suggest dressing in layers. Not only did the weather change hour to hour, but you never know what you’ll end up doing. I walked a lot and ended up working a sweat but was glad I brought an extra layer once I reached my destination. All in all, I’m so glad that I went off the beaten path and explored this beautiful country during its winter months.