What to do in Portugal in winter. A week in winter Portugal. The best time for excursions
I was asked a question by a man who wants to come to Portugal for the winter. Did you ask? We answer!
Portugal is a country with a wonderful climate and excellent ecology. To come here to live for a few months - in my opinion, this is the best thing a person can do for his health (both physical and mental). When does winter start in Russia? In my memory - at the end of October, when wet snow falls, then it melts, then falls again ... and so on until the end of March. In Portugal, the end of October is Indian summer. Even in the north of the country, you can swim in the cold Atlantic until November. In December, of course, the rains begin. In January, the so-called winter ends. In February, early spring is already raging. There are, of course, exceptions, like this year, when in January the temperature dropped to plus five degrees (at night). And even in June there were some not very pleasant, cold rainy days, but this is rare.
This is how acacia (which we call mimosa) blooms in February.
So, wintering in Portugal. What questions need to be answered and what nuances should be taken into account?
- Need to choose a place.
The islands are stunningly beautiful, warm and peaceful. But let's face it: it's very boring there.
Mainland Portugal is conditionally divided into three parts: the north (Braga and Porto), the central part (Viseu, Quimbra) and the south (Faro, Albufeira, Portimao). Lisbon and its environs stand a little apart.
Porto in February 
Porto is an ancient city with an interesting history and great importance for all of Portugal. It is not surprising that the second largest city in the country lives the full life of an average European city. There is an excellent spacious modern airport from which you can get directly to almost anywhere in Europe and America (to Russia, however, it is impossible - only through Lisbon, from Lisbon to Porto 1 hour flight). Porto hosts exhibitions, festivals, biennials, conferences, concerts and other interesting things. The infrastructure (transport, shops, hospitals) is well developed here.
I especially appreciate the fact that the city has many faces: there are old quarters, and high-rise modern buildings, and expensive villas, there are typical Portuguese city houses, there are mansions for the middle class - choose what your heart desires. Although, all Portuguese cities are just like that ... It's just that Porto is subjectively closer and dearer to me.
Unlike Lisbon, Porto does not suffer from an invasion of illegal migrants, nomadic gypsies or barbaric tourists. Everything is within the bounds of decency here. The city is crowded, but there are many beautiful quiet places.
It is believed that Porto is located in the north, and therefore it is very cold and rainy here. All this is slander and slander. The whole of Portugal from north to south is 560 km. If the winter falls cold and rainy, then it will be so along the entire coast, and the temperature difference between Porto and Lisbon, if any, is insignificant.
- Visa.
- Housing.
Perhaps you should look for something through Booking or Airbnb (I like Booking more, it does not take commission from guests), then you will not have to pay for utilities and everything is simplified in terms of contracts, registrations and other paperwork. And another important point: through these sites you can book beautiful apartments, at least for six months, at least for a year in advance, which is almost impossible to do with a normal apartment search, since the owner needs to rent an apartment faster, so the apartment search takes place in real time. And it will be easier to agree on payment (for example, you can pay for the first month when booking, and then continue to pay monthly).
- How much money do you need to live?
You need to think in advance which card (or better - cards) you will use here. Russian banks give privileges to some clients for interest-free cash withdrawals abroad using certain cards (from foreign currency accounts, of course). Portuguese ATMs give out 200 euros at a time. Those. if you want to withdraw 1000 euros, you will have to insert the card into an ATM five times and make 5 withdrawal operations. In large Portuguese cities, bank cards are widely accepted for payment.
- Language.
With English in Portugal, not everything is as perfect as in Holland or Slovenia. But not as bad as in Italy. Representatives of prestigious professions: doctors, lawyers, bankers, as well as customs officers and airport workers - are 100% fluent in English. Young people are more likely to talk well. People from 40 and above - more or less, something primitively everyday, yes, they can handle it.
- Medical insurance.
- Connection.
I hope I answered all the basic questions about wintering in Portugal. In any case, you need to remember: those who come here will not remain in a vacuum. There are quite a lot of Russians here who are ready to help (if not by deed, then at least with advice).
The best time to travel to Portugal is May - October. In general, weather conditions in Portugal can be called warm and sunny, but depending on the region, the climate may vary slightly. You can choose any time of the year when you fly to Portugal, but certain features should be taken into account.
Portugal in winter: where to go
The weather in Portugal in winter is significantly different from what the inhabitants of Ukraine and Russia are used to seeing. Holidays in Portugal in winter can be overshadowed by the fact that this season is considered the rainiest. Despite this, in the southern regions of the country you can sunbathe, and in the northern regions you can ski. Due to ocean currents, the water here is always colder than on the Mediterranean coast.
With the onset of the winter months, the low season begins in Portugal. Despite this, on the beaches of the Algarve you can sunbathe even at this time. Some hotels in the country offer discounts for those who dare to come to Portugal in winter.
Portugal in spring
The advantages of holidays in Portugal in the spring are that the heat comes to the country already in February. At this time, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean warm up to +14 - +17 o C.
As for the air temperature, the coldest weather in Portugal in the spring is set in Porto - +17 o C, the warmest becomes in Madeira and the Algarve - +19 - +20 o C. With the onset of the spring months, lovers of active sports, including surfing.
Holidays in Portugal in the summer
The official high season in Portugal begins on June 15 and lasts until September 15. However, tourists from Russia and Ukraine open the beach season long before this date. If you want to know the details of the weather in Portugal in the summer, then it is characterized by a dry, hot and sunny climate, while rains throughout the country are very rare.
When planning a beach holiday in Portugal in the summer, you should know that in June the ocean warms up to +18 o C, and in August to +20 o C. In the southern regions, the water temperature is usually several degrees higher. In the northern regions of the country, swimming is not recommended even in summer. There are quite strong winds here, so the climate is suitable only for sightseeing holidays, sunbathing and admiring the local landscape.
I'm talking about a winter trip to the country of "green" wine and sardines. and of course, an incomparable drink called Port wine!
Portugal, the full official name of the Portuguese Republic is the westernmost state in continental Europe. The name of the country comes from the city of Porto (lat. Portus Cale - "warm port").
The most important traditional industries are textiles (cotton and wool), clothing, winemaking, the production of olive oil, canned fish, and cork processing (the leading place in the world). Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (shipbuilding and ship repair, car assembly, electrical engineering); the chemical, oil refining and petrochemical, cement, glass-ceramic (production of blue facing tiles) industries are developing.
Farming dominates agriculture. About half of the cultivated land is arable; viticulture, fruit growing, olive plantations. In livestock breeding, cattle breeding, sheep breeding, pig breeding. Fishing (mainly sardines).
Exports: textiles and clothing, food products, cork, ships, electrical equipment, chemical products.
on a cold Moscow evening, ignoring a party with friends, I stay at home to analyze Portuguese photographs and indulge in memories of green meadows and palm trees, fresh fish and delicious wine. the trip turned out great - from the series if you suddenly have 10 days off at your disposal, you don’t have to stay in the city!
spend the time of mass New Year's binge in another country. the possibilities of the modern world allow you to quickly and fairly cheaply move to a completely different world, and this time our world was called Portugal.
many, having heard about Portugal in the winter, played at the temple, but the general reaction was - "how cool!". I had the idea of a trip in my head back in September, when my uncle returned from a press tour for a race that takes place near Lisbon. he brought a lot of impressions, and since then I knew exactly the direction of my next
trips.
tickets were bought at the end of October Helsinki-Lisbon for ridiculous, in general, money for a direct flight - 270 euros roundtrip (fly 4.5 hours). At first glance, the Portuguese airline TAP did not discredit itself in any way - Airbus planes, the entire crew - what caught your eye - in a well-fitting uniform of a positive combination of colors - red and green on a black background. on the way there, we were delayed for only 1.5 hours - in the harsh conditions of the city of Helsinki, the luggage compartment door froze, and we could not fly away.
a taxi in Lisbon is cheap, however, and the airport is nearby (5 km). now I just understand that the best way to get to know the city is to spin around it in a car with a map, trying to figure out the narrow streets and names. we enjoyed this to our heart's content, and in various localities. in 10 days from north to south with stops in small towns and private villas: Lisbon-Porto-Sintra-Lisbon-Faro-the sky is a large town of Tavira on the border with Spain-Spanish Huelba, which is not far from Seville-Lisbon airport. the roads in Portugal are beautiful, it's a pleasure to drive, the turns are smooth, it's not scary to fit into such a 130! however, paid - for 300 km of the way about 40 euros. plus gasoline is expensive, but car rental is budget. on trains and buses, it would have been as much, if not more.
in Lisbon there was a feeling that all the inhabitants had left the city, the tourists stopped by, but they were also confused and everyone disappeared somewhere. on New Year's Eve there was a feeling that no one except us in this place knew about the existence of the holiday. only about one in the morning some screams in an untranslatable language began to be heard. either because of the mountainous terrain, or because of the remoteness of our hut from the main streets, there was a feeling that they were celebrating only on Red Square. about which the Portuguese television reported in the New Year's news and showed this same Red frozen square with a crowd of crazy people standing in front of the Kremlin in a 20-degree frost. we tried for a long time to set up a wave of the 1st channel on the Internet, but realizing the futility of our actions, we sat down to play cards. the benefit of a bank of red caviar and "green" wine we had at hand.
Perhaps the most pleasant feeling for January 1 is to go outside and feel that the wind is warm. I, of course, had a sore throat on the way, so I was in no hurry to undress. but when the sun began to frankly shoot down on the embankment, she took off both her jacket and scarf. and drank port for dinner. in principle, in Lisbon in January you can walk in ballet shoes, unless, of course, it rains. it feels like such a pleasant mild autumn with palm trees.
since the whole city is on the hills, it is quite difficult to move around it on foot. after a couple of hours you are already all sweaty, your legs are tired, and another restaurant beckons with fresh seafood in the windows. we honestly crawled around the city for two days, we didn’t go to the museum, it was too good on the street. we didn't take the elevator either - it was the only place where tourists started to feel sick. after standing in line for about 15 minutes, we realized that we couldn’t fit into the elevator, and in the corner where the queue ended up, it smelled terribly of urine. so the elevator is for suckers! to see the city from above, it is not necessary to pay 3 euros. There are enough observation decks in every area.
there are also enough dealers on the streets. "hash-hash, coca," they hiss as you pass by. however, the city is not touristy, which is nice. there are no Chinese with cameras, mostly the French, coveting the cheapness and the Danes with the Dutch, who are cold at home. Russian speech was heard only a few times. it is immediately clear that Afisha has not yet released a guide to Lisbon. this, on the one hand, is pleasant, on the other hand, it is insulting, because their guidebooks are swallowed like books: it is interesting to read and you will learn everything you need about the city.
from Lisbon we started towards Porto - despite the fact that a small part of our company was initially against a trip to the North. to visit Portugal and not go to Porto for me would mean the pointlessness of the whole trip! the birthplace of the magical drink port, which we have not the best reputation, thanks to the Soviet-era swill called 777 and the like. but since I was taken to the Crimea since childhood, I tried Massandra wines and ports at some rather tender age. however, the city itself is also worthy of attention.
having visited Prague and London, I thought that I had seen the old cities, but after walking along the streets of Porto, I realized that they were combed and made for tourists under junk, behind which new plumbing and double-glazed windows are hidden. in Porto, as in all of Portugal, there are no problems with antiquity. on the central streets there are a huge number of uninhabited houses with rickety frames. dampness wafts from the cellars along the river, and it seems that the victims of the Inquisition are still languishing there.
in Porto, of course, you need to go to the ocean and dine in a restaurant where waves break against the walls. You definitely need to order oysters - they are the freshest, sushi to try - to evaluate how different they are from what is served here, and you can even have pasta with chicken. It will certainly be delicious and the surroundings are incredibly beautiful. after all, the winter sea, in which you can’t go naked and with a running start, is also very cool. just looking at it is enough!
oysters must be taken with your hands and taken out with a special spoon
2 days are enough in Porto, unless, of course, you arrived in the summer. then we went towards Lisbon, deciding on the way to look into the picturesque area of the town of Sintra, located in the westernmost point of continental Europe. further - only the islands, well, and America! trampled on the Cabo Da Roca cape, from where a great view of the rocks opens up. in winter it even seems that you are in some kind of Scotland. but still much warmer.
You can spend the night not in Sintra itself, where prices are higher, and the locals even speak good English, but in one of the villages on the ocean. In winter, however, this is a dubious pleasure. in most cases, the houses do not have central heating, and they stand unheated all the "winter". because of the close proximity of water, everything becomes damp, and it is unpleasant to sleep on a damp bed. but there is no problem with hot water! after the Lisbon apartment, where everything fell apart a little - this was one of the pleasant moments in the villa of the Englishwoman Suzanne. who met us with three huge dogs on a dark country road when we were already completely desperate to find her home.
dropping into the Lisbon airport a friend who was leaving for his homeland 3 days earlier than us, we figured out the opportunity to stay in the capital, do some shopping and visit the Belen area or rush south and also manage to catch a part of Spain bordering Portugal .. rummaging through the homelidays website .com, found an overnight stay for two for 35 euros in a summer resort and, without saying a word, packed their things into a rented Fiesta for another three days. The road was easy, in places it passed through the mountains. turns, as I already wrote, were smooth and insanely beautiful. did not want to stop. flying to Faro in a couple of hours, we rushed to the main square of the town to have lunch. having met the English with strollers and flip flops (they were in light coats), we came across some diner, where we were served a disgusting tour menu with stale tuna. it was only possible to compare this with what we ate in Porto.
after such a disappointment, having also found a parking ticket in such an unfriendly city, we were finally upset, deciding that the trip to the south was a mistake .. however, as soon as we found the destination - Perdas del Rei resort near the small town of Tavira - all doubts disappeared ! a separate bungalow with a kitchen and two rooms 100 meters from the beach (even in winter!) was like a message from heaven. having bought port wine in a local shop, we again enjoyed delicious food. however, trouble again overtook us when the air conditioner, which worked all day for heating, broke down. a gloomy worker came to us and, talking on the phone with someone for a long time, fixed it. we didn’t dare to turn it on at such power anymore, so we spent the nights in a rather dank room under three blankets each.
nevertheless, all these trifles could not overshadow the joy of 17 degrees of heat (in comparison with Moscow -25) and the infinitely warm sun. my girlfriend, it seems, even tanned! the neighboring fishing village of Santa Lucia, in addition to excellent photo sketches, gave a wonderful lunch and smiling faces of the owners of the restaurant. we were very pleased. Having decided that Natasha should still show up in Spain with her Spanish visa, we drove 50 km to the nearest border town - Huelba. where they made an indistinct shopping and hurried back to our village for souvenirs.
meanwhile, I had a fever with sensations close to poisoning. it is not clear whether the fish was too fresh, or on the way I ate something that Natasha did not eat, but I arrived at the plane with a persistent feeling of temperature at 38-39. I was in a fever all the way back. Considering that our flight eventually arrived in Helsinki 17 hours later, I don’t feel like writing in more detail about the services of the Portuguese airline. the forced landing in Bordeaux went like a blur for me. in the Finnish capital, we missed the minibus to St. Petersburg and, as a result, the plane to Moscow .. instead of a day at home, I spent an hour at the airport with my parents. The final chord of the trip was a meeting, while waiting for a Moscow flight, with her boss, who, without a jacket and luggage, ended up in St. Petersburg on the way from the Philippines. when we finally boarded the last plane this time, there were 8 hours left before the start of the working day ..
Or where to go to relax in winter, spring, summer and autumn?
Weather in Portugal allows you to have a great rest at any time of the year! Unless, of course, by rest we mean not only lying on the beach. For such entertainment, it is worth coming from June to the end of September. And if you are a lover of real travels and discoveries, appreciate nature, culture, history and go for new emotions and impressions, then you can safely plan a trip to Portugal in any of the twelve months.
Spring in the Douro Valley. North of Portugal
The weather, and in general, the climate (Mediterranean), is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.
Its waters wash more than eight hundred kilometers of coastline, the entire western and southern border of the country. The country has only two neighbors - the ocean and Spain ... And it is thanks to the currents of the ocean that the winter is warm, and the summer is not hot. But this applies to coastal areas. So, the air temperature Lisbon Riviera, for example, in the hottest months it will be 3-7 degrees lower than +25 +30 C than near the border with Spain, where +30 +37 C. And in winter, on the contrary, it will be warmer on the Riviera. I have not seen a more comfortable summer and pleasant weather anywhere else!
Summer in Cascais. Lisbon Riviera. City Beach
Exactly climate puts most of the country's guests in first place, answering the question why they liked it here. Or why from year to year they have a rest in this country or buy real estate here.
Porto city in early January
Although Portugal is a small country, the climate and weather in different regions has its own characteristics. For convenience, we divide it into three, approximately identical, parts. coastal parts. And we will discuss each of them. Let's call these parts:
Let's divide the map of Portugal from top to bottom into three parts
– Central Portugal
- South of Portugal, or the Algarve region
– North of Portugal
Weather in Central Portugal. Lisbon, Setubal, Sesimbra, Sintra, Lisbon Riviera - Cascais, Estoril, Carcavelos, etc.
The average annual temperature is +16.9 C
The hottest months are July and August, the air during the day is +22 +28 C, and at night from +15 +22 C, that is, there is an opportunity to relax overnight.
From October to March +12 +22 In the daytime, at night from +8 to +15 C. During these months it can rain, especially in December, January and February. But the right clothes and shoes make all the difference.
Central Portugal, Nazare. Ocean in November
April, May, June, September in Central Portugal will warm up to +18 +25 C during the day, +15 +20 C at night
Summary:
beach holiday- June July August September
Weather for active travelers fits all twelve months. Comfortable climate, magnificent landscapes, an abundance of attractions and excursion programs, the opportunity to get acquainted with cuisine, winemaking, culture will make your vacation unforgettable.
Lisbon in November Time for excursions...
Weather in the North of Portugal. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Espinho, Viano do Castelo, Aveiro etc.
The average annual temperature in Porto is + 14.4 C
North of Portugal. Aveiro city - Portuguese Venice
It's colder and wetter here. This is especially true for the autumn and winter months.
From June to September + 20 + 25 C - during the day, at night + 15 + 20 C
In spring and autumn +10 +18 Happy day, +5 +13 Happy night
December, January and February +8 +16 C during the day, +5 +10 C at night
Espinho beach in the north of Portugal in summer, near Porto
Summary:
beach holiday June, July, August, first half of September
For active travelers, the weather of the Northern part is suitable for all twelve months. The history of Portugal began from here, so I recommend paying special attention. And the nature of the North is simply mesmerizing. The fabulous banks of the Douro River, vineyards, ancient cities and villages, and the city of Porto itself are on the first lines in all tourism charts.
Porto is the leader of the tourist charts
Weather in the South, Algarve region. Faro, Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimao, Lagos etc.
The average annual temperature in Faro is +17.2 C
In summer, the weather is dry and rather hot, during the day +22 +28 C, at night +18 +25 C
In autumn and spring during the day +15 +25 C, at night +13 +18 C
In winter daytime +13 + 17 C, at night +8 +13 C, rainy
Winter in the Algarve. Absolute freedom…
The Algarve is a resort region. There are sights, cities, must-see. But not as many as in the North and Central Portugal. But the Algarve boasts an abundance of amazing beaches. There is everything for entertainment - casinos, discos, water parks, dolphinarium, excellent opportunities for fishing, golf, water sports. A lot of vacationers in the summer. And in winter it becomes empty, and life stops until May.
Algarve. City of Portimão, Rocha beach in the evening at the end of September
Summary:
Beach holidays in the Algarve are great from May to September. Water warms up to 26 C in the second half of summer. While in the north and central Portugal in August the water temperature is only 22 C
For active travelers, the weather in the Algarve is not suitable in winter, if only to look here for a couple of days. Visit the main attractions in Faro, Silves, Sagres and stroll along the beaches, for example, in the city of Portimão.
Roller coaster in the Algarve water park, in the south of Portugal
The sun in Portugal shines very brightly all year round. In summer, during the daytime, you need to beware of its direct rays. You can seriously damage your health. And in winter it warms so well that even in February some people manage to sunbathe on the beach or take a nap on the warm sand for an hour or two to the sound of the surf. Starting from September, the sun hides quite early, and without it, it immediately becomes more than fresh. Therefore, when packing your suitcase, remember about pullovers, scarves, jackets and socks ...
Portuguese country road in winter
About snow. You have to go specifically for him. For example, from Porto about 200 km to the southeast. In the Serra da Estrela mountains. This is the only place where you can see it. And only in winter. And sometimes in the north of the country there are snowfalls. But the snow melts quickly. And by lunchtime, there is no trace of him ...
Snow in winter in the Serra da Estrela mountains
A nuance to which I would like to draw your attention. During the summer months, there are a lot of tourists in the country. Mostly from Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil. More than 10 million people visited us in 2015. So much is the entire population of the country! On the beaches, of course, there is enough space for everyone. But to take a picture calmly, with your company, without “extras”, for example, on Cape Roca next to the cross, at the Belen Tower in Lisbon or in the well on Quinta Da Regaleira in Sintra - this will not work. People are everywhere. In cafes and restaurants, too. And to whom this may be somewhat annoying, the advice is - come from October to May. It is at this time that it is much more pleasant to wander the streets of the city, stare at monuments, palaces and castles, listen to a guide during an excursion and the surf of ocean waves ...
Algerve in summer. Dos Caneiros beach
When planning your trip, do not stop at one city or region! Even if you are a passionate admirer of the beach, the sun and the sea, believe that glorious Lisbon, the mysterious Sintra, the Templar Tomar, the medieval Obidos, the second capital of Portugal, Porto, the cradle of the country of Guimarães, are worth seeing. Moreover, it is so compact, only 561 km from south to north, and from west to east - 218. The road from the cities of the Algarve to Lisbon will take no more than three hours by car, bus or train. From Lisbon to Porto - about the same. And how many impressions, emotions and photos!
October. Neighborhood of Lisbon, Keluzh Palace. And I, with its lovely inhabitants
Come visit us in winter, spring, summer and autumn! Ignoring weather forecasts. The main thing: a good mood, a desire to relax to the fullest, a passion for travel and the right clothes ...
.About the author portugaletta
Dear friends! Welcome to Portugal! I will help you organize your vacation in this wonderful country. You can contact me for a transfer, an excursion in any city in the country, for advice on which hotel to stay in or where to eat deliciously, and for all other issues related to Portugal.- Where to stay: With an eye on the "excursion" - of course, in numerous hotels and boarding houses, guest houses and hostels of the capital of Portugal, the many-sided Lisbon - here you can find an option for every taste and budget. Sun worshipers are invited to the resorts of the Lisbon Riviera - they are located just 15-30 minutes drive from the capital, so historical monuments and nightclubs are not far away. Holidays in Sintra are relaxed and unhurried, surrounded by excellent beaches and ancient sights. It is easier for surfers to immediately stop in Nazar.
- What to watch: In Lisbon - the historical center and the castle of St. George, the oldest district of Alfama, the facades of houses in which are decorated with azulejos tiles, the Cathedral, the Carmo monastery, the port, the statue of Christ (a copy of the Brazilian one) and majestic palaces. From the Lisbon Riviera, it is worth going on an excursion to Cape Roca, to the Catholic shrine of Fatima, the ancient towns of Obidos, Coimbra and Evora. Nazaré is a must-see for surfers. Here it is worth climbing to the top of Cape Cityu - the views are breathtaking. Must-see Sintra - Royal residence and Pena castle, private palaces, botanical garden, as well as several interesting museums and galleries.
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