Good Time to Visit

Weather

Portugal has a maritime climate, with increased variation between winter and summer temperatures inland. In the south, summers (March to October) are warm with very little rain except in early spring and autumn. The northeast has hot summers and long winters. The northwest has fairly short summers and mild winters with high levels of rainfall. the west coast is relatively cool in summer; there is most rainfall in winter.

More information about the Portuguese weather may be found in Climate in Portugal.

Festivals

On January 6, Epiphany is celebrated, especially in the North, where families gather to eat 'Bolo-Rei' (literally, King Cake, a cake made with crystallized fruits); this is also the time for the traditional street songs - 'As Janeiras' (The January ones).

Carnival is widely celebrated in Portugal, some traditional carnivals date back several centuries. Lisbon, Loulé, Alcobaça, Mealhada and Ovar hold several days of festivities, with parades, music and dancing.

During the month of June, festivities dedicated to three saints known as Santos Populares (Saint Anthony, Saint John and Saint Peter) take place all over Portugal. Common fare in these festivities are wine, água-pé (mostly grape juice), and traditional bread along with sardines. During the festivities are many weddings, traditional street dances and fireworks.

Saint Anthony is celebrated on the night of 12th-13th of June, especially in Lisbon (where he was born and lived most of his life), with Marchas Populares (a street carnival) and other festivities. Saint John is celebrated in many cities and towns throughout the country on the night of the 23rd-24th, especially in Porto and Braga where people hit each other over the head in the streets with plastic hammers for luck, and enjoy food such as sardines and Caldo Verde (traditional soup). The final saint is Saint Peter, celebrated in the night of 28th-29th, especially in Povoa de Varzim and Barcelos, the festivities are similar to the others, but more dedicated to the sea and with an extensive use of fire (fogueiras). In Povoa de Varzim, there is the Rusgas in the night, another sort of street carnival. Each festivity is a municipal holiday in the cities and towns where it occurs.

City events also run in June as part of the Festas da Lisboa. The Estoril Festival takes place in July and August, and Estoril also hosts a Handicrafts Fair during the same months. Regattas and parades are put on in Lisbon during August as part of the Oceans Festival.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Portugal: