Portugal in September: Weather, Travel Tips & More
With fall settling in as September begins, the high tourist season of summer is officially over. Leaves turn color with the arrival of autumn, the sun becomes gentler and the crowd recedes. Portugal calms down and grows quieter, yet it offers all summer perks at shoulder-season rates. A trip to Portugal in September means that you can concoct the perfect country cocktail with a bit of everything thrown in. Leisurely beach days in the warm Algarve, scrumptious wine harvest in the Douro Valley, a historical exploration of Lisbon and Porto, or hiking in the northeast, in Serra da Estrela. Safe to say, there won't be any shortage of things to do on your tour of Portugal.
Portugal Weather in September
After scorching summer months, September brings back pleasant sunny days that are warm and refreshing. Chances of rain are really slim as only 34 mm of rain is recorded countrywide during this month, with only six days of showers on average. The residual heat from the just-concluded summer keeps the seawater warm with an average temperature of 20ºC, suitable for a long, uninterrupted swimming session. The country's capital, Lisbon, sees an average high of 26ºC during this time of year, while the average low stands at 17ºC.
In the north, Porto scores an average high of 24ºC, with lows dipping to around 15ºC. Since the summer grace of dry weather has passed, rains return to Porto and hit it for at least eleven days in September. Down south, the Algarve is mild with sunny and dry days. Here, the maximum temperature hovers at around 26ºC and the minimum temperature is in the range of 19ºC.
For a seasonal overview, check out our travel guide on the best time to visit Portugal.
Weather in Portugal in September - Rainfall and Temperatures
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Daily (°C) | 15 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 |
| Avg Nightly (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 |
| Avg Daily (°F) | 59 | 60.8 | 66.2 | 68 | 71.6 | 78.8 | 82.4 | 82.4 | 80.6 | 73.4 | 64.4 | 59 |
| Avg Nightly (°F) | 46.4 | 48.2 | 51.8 | 53.6 | 57.2 | 62.6 | 64.4 | 66.2 | 64.4 | 59 | 53.6 | 48.2 |
| Avg Rainfall (mm) | 100 | 85 | 53 | 68 | 54 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 101 | 128 | 127 |
Why Visit Portugal in September
Out of all the shoulder-season months, September, in our book, is a clear winner to visit Portugal—both the mainland and the islands. Many factors work in favor of September. Some of them are listed below.
- Better rates: Budget travelers can breathe easy with September. As resorts do not shut shop till the end of October, they have no choice but to throw in good deals to attract customers as footfall drops. Use this opportunity to bag your ultimate budget trip while Portugal’s weather is at its best.
- Fewer crowds: With school holidays and the annual European vacation finally over, September sees the crowd thinning out significantly. Resort towns are still in full swing, but the tourist age group increases as raucous college kids leave and older travelers troop in. For all these reasons, myriad activities like sunbathing and sightseeing become a relaxing affair rather than rushed and hectic.
- Warm sea: Unlike during the spring shoulder season when the sea is too cold to swim, seawater still retains the summer heat through September. Make your way to Madeira or explore the Azores, both destinations featuring sea temperatures that hover between 23 and 25°C. On the mainland, make sure to visit the Algarve where the water temperatures of up to 23°C.
- Festivals: The annual autumnal wine-harvesting season starts in September. Attend the Madeira Wine Festival to sample some regional vino as you do a booth crawl in Funchal. For a more traditional ending-of-the-harvest-season festival, go to Ponte de Lima in the country’s north. Participate in Feiras Novas in this charming medieval town. This festivity is a continuation of a celebration that started in 1826.
- Vino tours: With the ongoing harvest season, make sure to visit the Douro Valley as it becomes the epicenter of all harvest-related activities. Wine lovers can revel in the vine-to-bottle journey of their favorite beverage. Visit Quintas to pick your own grapes or cycle through the gorgeous vineyards of the valley. Fall colors will add dollops of drama to every frame of your
Where to go and what to do
September packs plenty of punch. Whether you want to experience popular tourist sites like Porto and Lisbon or the offbeat and obscure side of Portugal like the Beira region or Lamego, the weather in Portugal in September is suitable to discover any part of the country. For nature lovers and thrill-seekers, attending Madeira's Nature Festival is a must. Filled with adrenaline-spiking activities like mountain biking, canyoning, hiking, and surfing, this is a unique way of experiencing the archipelago through outdoor challenges.
Make the most of the dry and sunny climate with some paradisiacal coastal time for yourself. Chill by the beach with a cocktail in your hand at a picturesque Algarve beach or pursue outdoor activities like cycling, golfing, kayaking and hiking. Plan a Porto holiday with trips to Braga, the Douro Valley, and Guimaraes. Explore Lisbon and its many beautiful beach towns like Cascais, Ericeira, and Sesimbra, some of which you might want to explore. For a day trip out of Lisbon, consider the Unesco World Heritage site of Sintra, known for its colorful castles, or Obidos, the Unesco City of Literature.
Looking forward to a stellar autumn holiday on the Iberian Peninsula? Check out our travel guide on how many days to spend in Portugal if you need ideas for your trip to Portugal tour. A 10-day trip would provide you with an extensive tour of the country. If you have fewer days in your itinerary, a 7-day trip would give you a good glimpse of the country. Reach out to our local travel experts for a customized trip to Portugal.
So, book your trip to Portugal in September without hesitation!
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