Last Updated on April 22, 2024 by Maryam Siddiqui
To truly achieve the ultimate Portuguese experience, full of adventure and tranquility, you’ll find planning your journey itself an exploration. Almost 90% of future expats ask us the same questions, and it’s time we create a guide to help you. With the unique needs of expats in mind, this article will delve into the best time to visit Portugal, allowing you to make an informed decision.
As we unfold all your considerations, get ready to take some notes! We’re sure you will get more out of this guide than you thought you would. But why is planning your trip so important? Why can’t expats do an impromptu exploration trip and call it a day?
To make the most of your stay, you must synchronize with the seasons that unveil Portugal’s distinct charm and have rentals available. By strategically choosing the right time, you not only escape the tourist throngs but also bask in the authentic essence of this European gem. Now, let’s discover the best months to visit, the top cities, culture, and much more about Portugal. Happy reading!
Why do you need to plan ahead?
Planning well is a strategic no-brainer for expats, and here’s why!
You wish for budget-friendly flights, accommodation, and activities to do. But sometimes, due to the high influx of tourists, you can only avail these options if you pre-book them months in advance. This is also the time to choose which month you want to visit. Different months offer different charms of weather, crowds, and festivals.
For example, the tourist season between May and July tends to get crowded, making it difficult to find appropriate flights or short-term rentals. So, you should get detailed information on which weeks are ideal for the best time to visit Portugal.
Whether you’re in for a quick stay in a temporary city or plan to unpack for the foreseeable future entirely, you’ll have to secure your spot early. We will discuss each of these reasons in much more detail, so keep reading the article to find out more!
Expats Plan Scouting Trips
Some expats like to go for a scouting trip to help plan for their official moving trip. But before visiting Portugal, you must consider the best time to make the most out of your scouting strategy.
If you time your trip during the shoulder season in spring or fall, you can enjoy the benefits of milder weather and fewer tourists, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities like hikes and bike rides. Also, costs are lower in these seasons, offering favorable prices and opportunities for activities such as surfing and bird-watching, making your trip more economical.
When you’re in the country, pay special attention to the rentals and neighborhoods. For example, if you’re moving with children, are renowned schools in the short-listed neighborhoods? Or how far would your workplace be from your accommodation, and which transport routes would work well for you?
- Here are the Top 7 Tips For Your Scouting Trip To Portugal to help you figure out the details on timing, costs, and making the most of your mission.
Top Cities For Expats
Let’s talk about the cities expats love the most!
Lisbon is a popular expat choice for those looking to work or those with school-going children. Its expanding tech industry provides stable job opportunities, and renowned schools ensure quality education.
Second on the list, generally speaking, comes Porto. This city appeals to picturesque landscape lovers. It offers a reliable metro service to facilitate easy travel. Porto also offers job prospects through its thriving business sector and is home to International schools that cater to expat families.
Another expat gem is Faro, which is nestled in the Algarve region. With beaches, a laid-back lifestyle, and reliable local buses, the city offers many opportunities for tourism-related jobs. You can also find excellent International Schools for your children.
Another coastal gem, Cascais, offers a relaxed and luxurious atmosphere. Its reliable commuter trains link it to Lisbon, and job opportunities in tourism and hospitality secure a living.
Lastly, Aveiro, the “Venice of Portugal”, is an academic hub. The University of Aveiro attracts academic opportunities, and reliable regional trains connect the city for easy travel.
Even though these are the top cities, you’ll find expats in many other regions of Portugal.
- Check out The 15 Cheapest Cities To Live In Portugal With Quality Of Life for more.
Cheapest Cities In Portugal
Braga, Coimbra, and Évora take the lead in this category.
Located in Northern Portugal, Braga is still not quite as popular as Porto, which is one reason to love it more. It’s often described as the perfect place to raise a family, with a low cost of living and immense tranquility.
Coimbra is a city that hosts many International students, so it naturally offers budget-friendly living with a vibrant atmosphere. The nightlife is exciting, and you’ll always have something fun to do, especially if you’re young.
Lastly, Évora’s medieval charm combines history with affordability. These cities allure expats with lower living costs compared to the larger metropolitans of Lisbon and Porto.
Check out the table below to get an estimate of rent prices:
| City | Monthly price per 50m² |
|---|---|
| Braga | €425 |
| Coimbra | €490 |
| Évora | €515 |
Estimates are taken from Idealista (as of January 2024).
Manage Finances Better
Planning your trip also helps to manage your finances better. This means creating a budget and limiting exactly how much you wish to spend on your trip.
To do that, you’ll need to determine your expenses and settle on a city or region. For example, while transport may be more accessible in one city, the next may offer less expensive education. So, assess where more of your income or savings will go, and then take the next step accordingly.
This is also a great time to explore what the daily cost of living will be like for you. By exploring local markets, using public transportation, and looking around for rentals, you can manage your finances better after you relocate.
It is a great idea to open your local bank account to streamline transactions. Don’t worry if you don’t understand the process yet. Viv Europe can help you open your bank account for you!
Cost of Living in Portugal
Moving onto the numbers! Each city comes with its own cost of living. Even though Portugal is mostly affordable, knowing the main differences will help you pick the best relocation options.
We’ve compiled some prominent expenditures and their variations from city to city for you:
| Type Of Expense | Lisbon | Porto | Coimbra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | €876 | €703 | €535 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | €1,547 | €1,150 | €863 |
| Utilities | €117 | €101 | €114 |
| Transport | €42 | €40 | €30 |
| International Schooling (yearly) | €13,645 | €7,198 | €6,500 |
Data is from Numbeo (as of January 2024).
Secure A Suitable Rental
The best time to visit Portugal for apartment hunting is the shoulder seasons. During these mild temperatures and without a tourist rush, you can optimize your search for more variety and lower costs.
Online real estate websites are a great place to start your search. You can view listings according to your budget, room preferences, and neighborhoods.
But it can also get very confusing in no time. If you’d like an easier way out of this, our real estate agents at Viv Europe can find you your dream apartment or house!
Meanwhile, you can engage with local expat communities as they often share firsthand experiences and reliable leads that help expats make decisions.
Let’s Move to Europe
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Explore Cities Easily
It’s best to explore the country during the pleasant months of spring (February to April) or fall (September to November) for comfortable weather and fewer crowds. In early spring, while the water temperature along the coast may still be chilly, it’s a fantastic time to enjoy the coastal scenery without the crowds and with comfortable temperatures for exploring the cities. It’s also the best time to visit any UNESCO World Heritage Site you’ve wanted to explore!
Early summer brings one of the liveliest times to visit Portugal, with warm, sunny days, packed festival calendars, and fewer crowds than the peak summer months. However, it’s worth noting that northern Portugal’s beaches can still be fairly cool, and the country’s interior can get pretty hot during this period.
You can stroll through historic neighborhoods like Alfama in Lisbon, ride iconic yellow trams, and savor pastel de nata in local bakeries. Walking along the Douro River in Porto is also therapeutic and indulging in the wine-tasting tour in the nearby Douro Valley.
The charm of each Portuguese city is that the well-connected public transportation system of trams, buses, and metros makes it effortless to explore them. Cultural sites and popular local cuisine spots are easily accessible through efficient urban planning.
When visiting, do check out the seafood at the Mercado da Ribeira and the historic sites of São Jorge Castle in Lisbon and Faro’s Cathedral.
Remember to familiarize yourself with Safety In Portugal For Expats, especially when exploring less touristy areas.
Make Connections & Meet Expats
Portugal has a good expat community in almost every city – some larger than others. When you visit Portugal to see where you fit in, take this opportunity to make connections. This will help you relate to real-life stories and expand your horizons.
We also created an online expat community with thousands of Portugal enthusiasts. Join our Facebook Group – All About Portugal For Expats, where expats have a safe space to connect and explore.
Apart from this, public spaces such as meet-up groups or expat fairs and expos are where you get the chance to interact with many other expats. Stay on the lookout for those if you’re interested!
Research Schools & Neighborhoods
Another major hurdle you’re likely to work on is exploring neighborhoods and schools that are best suited for your family!
International schools like St. Julian’s in Lisbon and Oporto British School in Porto offer English education, while local schools provide an immersive cultural experience. So you should be mindful of your child’s future career aspirations, and pick the school which aligns most with it.
As you shortlist schools, you should simultaneously consider lifestyle preferences and amenities before you land on a specific neighborhood for your stay.
While researching, do consider and weigh housing costs and other living expenses. In the long run, it will even benefit you if you evaluate your transportation options, safety, and the presence of expat communities beforehand as well.
- Read more on Is Portugal A Good Place To Raise Your Family?
Enjoy The Best Weather
The best time to visit Portugal weatherwise is June, but do note that that month also comes with increased tourist activity. Also, while September and October may not offer June’s optimal weather conditions, these months have milder and more pleasant temperatures.
As temperatures begin to rise in the spring, leading into the summer, Portugal experiences its hottest season. The summer heat in Portugal sees high temperatures averaging around 30°C (86°F) and can reach as high as 40°C (104°F) in southern and central Portugal, making it ideal for activities like whale watching in the Azores and exploring scenic towns like Sintra.
Summer is generally associated with rising temperatures in the country, so try avoiding that season if hot weather is not your preference.
Take a look at some average temperatures:
| Type Of Expense | Lisbon | Porto | Coimbra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | €876 | €703 | €535 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | €1,547 | €1,150 | €863 |
| Utilities | €117 | €101 | €114 |
| Transport | €42 | €40 | €30 |
| International Schooling (yearly) | €13,645 | €7,198 | €6,500 |
Data is from Climate Data.
What is the best time to visit Portugal?
So, to summarize it all, when is the best time to visit Portugal?
Generally, spring or fall months are considered the best time to visit Portugal. That’s when the streets are clear of tourist crowds, giving you time to settle down or do your research if you’re on a scouting trip.
However, everyone has their own preferences. You might like to visit during December, and that’s completely okay. You’re still likely to have the time of your life!
You can use this time to familiarize yourself with local customs and languages. If you plan well ahead, you’ll be well-prepared to embrace the vibrant Portuguese lifestyle, making your journey well-orchestrated.
When should you start planning?
Ideally, you begin your preparations around a year before the relocation date. Some expats like to prepare a couple of years in advance as well. The headstart will make it easy for you to thoroughly research neighborhoods, schools, and job opportunities. You should also secure rentals and make travel arrangements ahead.
Top Tips For A Scouting Trip
Apart from choosing the right time to visit, we’ve compiled a list of things that would help your research in your scouting trip:
- Explore neighborhoods to find the right fit for your lifestyle;
- Make appointments with international and local schools to assess their facilities and programs;
- Use public transportation to familiarize yourself with the commute and routes;
- Research the living cost in different areas;
- Interact with locals to understand the community atmosphere and daily life;
- Familiarize yourself with visa and residency requirements to understand the process for legal integration;
- Gather information on public healthcare and private insurance.
Tips For Each Season
There’s no hard and fast rule on what to do or what to wear. But a few tips might help you make it more fun!
You can embrace the beach or explore historic cities in summer and autumn, but remember to wear comfortable footwear. Thanks to the 300 days of sunshine, it is best to go for breathable clothes, but keep a light jacket with you in case you find the breeze too strong.
If you wish to catch the spring season, the best time to visit Portugal is April. Overall, spring lasts from March to May, showcasing blooming gardens of Sintra, Easter, and outdoor markets. You’ll only need light layers with a mix of sweaters, but a light rain jacket is necessary for unexpected rain.
In winter, from December to February, you’ll need warm coats, thick layers, and a waterproof jacket.
Events and Festivals in Portugal
There’s no doubt that you will adore Portugal’s vibrant culture! Events and festivals in Portugal take place throughout the year.
We’ll talk about a few of the most popular ones that expats thoroughly enjoy.
Starting off with the lively street celebrations, sardine feasts, and captivating parades that keep the city alive all night. You should also attend the Carnival in February and March, Holy Week in April and May, and the Sintra Festival in the summer.
Then we have Portugal’s Popular Saints Festival, which is celebrated in June in Lisbon and beyond in honor of the city’s patron saint. Prepare to see decorated streets and lots of parades and dances.
At the end of the year, Portugal also shines through winters with enchanting Christmas decorations and bustling markets, especially in Lisbon and Porto. There’s so much to explore and enjoy throughout the year!
Do you need help choosing the best time of the year?
It is completely okay to still be unclear! We’ve been there and done that. Thankfully, our team of experts at Viv Europe is here to help out. Let’s plan out your relocation journey from A to Z and make your dream come true.
To get in touch, book a consultation with our experts and sort out everything you need to relocate hassle-free. From Visa applications to buying your dream home, we’ve got it covered. See you soon!
