Portugal is a compact country that is easy to love on a first visit: two characterful cities, wine country along the Douro, a sunny southern coast, and two Atlantic island groups that feel like separate destinations. The Atlantic shapes almost everything here, from the mild winters to the fresh fish, and the country keeps its own clock, an hour behind most of continental Europe.
Portugal for visitors
Lisbon is where most trips begin. The capital is built on hills above the wide Tagus estuary, with old tiled houses, yellow trams climbing steep streets, viewpoints over the river and the monuments of Belém, linked to the age of the great sea voyages. Sintra, with its palaces and wooded hills, and the beaches of Cascais are easy day trips by train.
Porto and the north
Porto, the second city, climbs steeply above the Douro river, and the port wine lodges are across the water in Vila Nova de Gaia. Upstream, the Douro Valley is lined with terraced vineyards, best seen from a river boat, the scenic railway or a car. Further north, the Minho is green and rural, and Coimbra, between Porto and Lisbon, has one of Europe's oldest universities.
The south
The Algarve, along the southern coast, is Portugal's main beach region: golden cliffs, sea caves and coves in the west around Lagos, and long sandy beaches and lagoons in the east. Faro has the region's airport. Between Lisbon and the Algarve, the Alentejo is a quiet land of plains, cork oaks, vineyards and whitewashed towns such as Évora.
Madeira and the Azores
Madeira, far out in the Atlantic, is a steep, green volcanic island known for walks along the levadas, old irrigation channels, and for its flowers and mild weather. The Azores, further west in the middle of the ocean, are a group of islands with crater lakes, hot springs, pastures and whale watching. Both are reached by air from Lisbon or Porto.
Getting around
Fast trains link Lisbon and Porto in a few hours, and long-distance buses reach most towns. A car is the easiest way to explore the Douro, the Alentejo and the Algarve beyond the main resorts.
Time in Portugal
Portugal uses 2 UTC offsets. The mainland and Madeira are on Western European Time, the same as the United Kingdom; the capital's zone is Europe/Lisbon, currently UTC±0. The Azores are one hour behind, currently UTC−1.
The whole country uses daylight saving time on the European Union rule: clocks go forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October. In Lisbon that means UTC±0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer. The next change to summer time is on 28 March 2027, and the next return to standard time is on 31 October 2027. The Azores change on the same dates, so the one-hour gap stays all year.
Right now Lisbon is the same time as London, 1 hour behind Madrid and 5 hours ahead of New York. If you cross the border into Spain, put your watch forward an hour. Portugal has used Central European Time before, most recently from September 1992 to March 1996, when it went back to Western European Time ([1]).
Climate and weather
Mainland Portugal has a Mediterranean climate, with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, moderated by the Atlantic along the coast. The north is the wettest and greenest part of the country, and the mountains there can see snow in winter. The interior, especially the Alentejo and the upper Douro Valley, gets much hotter in summer than the coast. The Algarve is the driest and sunniest region, with mild winters.
The table above shows the pattern in Lisbon: average highs range from 15°C in January to 28°C in August, with about 758 mm of rain a year. Almost all of it falls between autumn and spring: November is the wettest month in Lisbon, and July is the driest, with about 2.6 mm. The city gets about 2,867 hours of sunshine a year.
- Lisbon
- Madrid
Show the numbers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 14.9 | 16.1 | 18.6 | 20.1 | 22.6 | 25.8 | 27.8 | 28.4 | 26.2 | 22.5 | 17.9 | 15.3 |
| Madrid | 10.2 | 12.3 | 16.4 | 19.1 | 23.5 | 29.4 | 33.3 | 32.6 | 26.9 | 20.0 | 13.7 | 10.4 |
The chart compares Lisbon with Madrid, on Spain's inland plateau: the ocean gives Lisbon milder winters and less extreme summer heat.
The islands have their own climates. Madeira is mild all year, wetter and cooler in the mountains than on the sunny south coast around Funchal. The Azores are mild and damp, with changeable weather that can bring sun, wind and rain in the same day.
Best time to visit Portugal
Spring and early autumn are the best seasons for most trips: warm, mostly dry days for city walks in Lisbon and Porto, touring the Alentejo or hiking along the coast. Early autumn is also harvest time in the Douro vineyards.
Summer is beach season, and the Algarve is at its busiest in July and August, when Portuguese and other European families are on holiday. Inland it can be very hot. June brings the popular saints' festivals, with street parties in Lisbon and Porto.
Winter is the low season on the mainland: mild but often wet, with short days and few crowds, good for city breaks. Madeira works all year and is a winter-sun favourite. The Azores are best from late spring to early autumn, when the sea is calmer and the weather more settled.
Practical facts
- Capital: Lisbon.
- Population: about 10 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted, though some small cafés and shops prefer cash.
- Language: Portuguese. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. Many Portuguese understand Spanish, but it is more polite to start in English or with a few words of Portuguese: obrigado (said by men) or obrigada (by women) means thank you.
- Calling code: +351.
- Tipping: not expected. Rounding up or leaving small change in a restaurant is a common way to say thanks for good service.
- Driving: on the right. Some motorways have electronic tolls, so ask your rental company how they are paid.
- Emergency number: 112, free of charge, 24 hours a day ([2]).
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- The live weather and the month-by-month climate table for Lisbon are on this page. Many trips combine Portugal with Spain: the Madrid city guide has the climate and clock of the Spanish capital.
- World Clock: Lisbon and the Azores next to your own time.
- Weather: live conditions and the forecast for Porto, Faro, Funchal or any other town in Portugal.
- Europe: time zones and key facts for every country on the continent.
- Further reading: the best cities for remote work weather, which compares Lisbon with Madrid and Valencia.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Portugal in?
Mainland Portugal and Madeira use Western European Time, currently UTC±0, with the IANA identifier Europe/Lisbon. The Azores are one hour behind, on UTC−1 right now.
Is Portugal on the same time as Spain?
No. Mainland Portugal is one hour behind mainland Spain all year. Right now Lisbon is 1 hour behind Madrid.
Does Portugal have daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October, on the mainland and on both island groups. The next change to summer time is on 28 March 2027.
When is the rainy season in Portugal?
Most rain falls from autumn to spring, and summers are dry. In Lisbon, November is the wettest month. The north gets far more rain than the Algarve.
Is the sea warm in Portugal?
The Atlantic is cooler than the Mediterranean, even in summer. The south coast of the Algarve is usually the most comfortable for swimming.
Sources
- tz database, Europe file (Time::OlsonTZ::Data mirror): the Europe/Lisbon entry shows Central European time from 1966 to 1976 and again from 27 September 1992 to 31 March 1996, then Western European time.
- gov.pt: Emergency contacts in Portugal: 112, available 24 hours a day and free of charge.