When to visit Portugal

Entirely predictably, the Portuguese summers are hot, barely wavering from a steady 30°C. They also coincide with the holiday season – both domestic and international – meaning higher prices and larger crowds. With this in mind, consider looking either side, with spring and autumn offering a more temperate climate, ideal for hikes. In turn, the rain falls mainly in the winter, when sightseeing spots are all but deserted in the crisp sunshine. Conversely, Madeira enjoys warm weather year-round, making it an ideal destination to soak up some winter rays.