Feb 6, 2025 • 11 min read
21.01.2025 - 19:51 / cntraveler.com
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the best time to visit Portugal is any time you can go. The aptly-nicknamed “garden planted at the edge of the sea” (translated loosely from the Portuguese “jardim à beira-mar plantado”) is so full of beautiful places, like the vineyards of the Douro Valley and the sunflower fields of the Alentejo region, that a trip at any time of year is well worth it. In fact, day-to-day living in the country is so wonderful that many expats are retiring in Portugal. Still, if you can't spare a lifetime, a visit of any length to Portugal is sure to be fabulous—especially when you toss some colorful heritage souvenirs and delicious tinned fish into the mix.
To get the best tips for traveling to Portugal, I spoke to two of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists: Virginia Irurita, the founder of the travel agency Made for Spain & Portugal; and Gonçalo Correia, general manager of Lisbon-based tour operator Tours for You, both of whom count Portugal among their geographic specialties. Below, Irurita and Correia offer tips on the best time to visit Portugal, where to stay (especially during peak season), and when you can get more affordable rates at the best hotels in Portugal.
If you want to visit Portugal for mild weather and affordable deals at hotels, the month of March is the sweet spot.
For good weather, the best time to go to Portugal is March, just as spring arrives and before most of the tourist crowds appear, according to Correia. February and early April are optimal times to visit as well, Irurita says, as the weather will be mild.
“Beach lovers should head to Portugal’s southern coast, the Algarve region, in summer or early autumn—any time from July to October,” Irurita says. “But if you do, be ready for many tourists—Europeans and visitors from elsewhere.” To really avoid the crowds, winter is also a good time to visit Portugal, although the weather will be cooler and more unpredictable—and you won’t be able to enjoy the Portuguese beaches and sun. Conversely, be warned that the months of July and August can be very hot, Correia says, so bring your best sunscreen.
For a more affordable trip to Portugal, both Correia and Irurita recommend traveling in the winter months, from November to March. “The weather will be rainy, especially by the coast, and it will be cooler, especially in the northern part of the country,” Correia says. “And hotels will offer low-season rates from November 1 up to March 31.”
Given its popularity with tourists, the peak season in Portugal stretches from May all the way to September, according to Correia. In Portugal’s coastal areas, like the Algarve, July and August are particularly popular, thanks to the beaches that attract those traveling
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stephen and Joanna Vargha, a married couple who moved from North Carolina to Cuenca, Ecuador, in 2020 after retiring early. Cuenca is located in the Andes mountains and has a population of about 600,000 people. Their interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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My wife and I have been living as full-time nomads since 2019 and have already visited more than 43 different countries.