Portugal in Autumn: Harvest, Big Waves and Warm Seas

Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Portugal: the sea is at its warmest, the summer crowds have gone, the Douro is busy with the grape harvest, and in late October the giant waves start rolling into Nazaré. Here’s what to expect from September to November.

Quick answer: September is still summer, with warm seas and the Douro harvest. October brings golden light, big surf and the start of Nazaré’s big-wave season. November is cooler and wetter, with São Martinho chestnut feasts on 11 November. Prices drop and the beaches empty.

Why go in autumn

Autumn gives you most of the good things about summer without the heat, queues and peak prices. Cities are pleasant for walking, the countryside turns gold, and it’s harvest time for grapes, chestnuts and olives. It also suits a mixed trip: beach days in the south, wine in the north and city breaks in between.

The weather

• September: warm and sunny (often 25–28°C), with the warmest sea of the year.
• October: mild (around 22°C), mostly sunny, with the first rains later in the month.
• November: cooler (around 17°C) and wetter, though the Algarve stays mild.

Region by region

• The Algarve: the driest and warmest region, with beach weather often lasting into October.
• Lisbon and the coast: warm in September and mild in October, with more rain from late October.
• Porto and the north: cooler and wetter, especially from mid-October. The Minho turns very green.
• Madeira: mild all autumn, with sea temperatures still pleasant into November.
• The Azores: changeable and windier as autumn goes on.

Autumn highlights

• The Douro harvest (September to early October): grape picking, treading and festivals at the quintas. In 2026 it started one to two weeks earlier than usual, with some picking already under way in August, so ask your quinta what is still happening before you book. See Douro wine tours and Douro hotels. See harvest experiences.
• Nazaré’s big waves (October to March): watch the world’s best big-wave surfers on the biggest days. See Nazaré.
• Surf contests: the World Surf League event at Peniche’s Supertubos in October (16 to 25 October in 2026), and Carcavelos’ Capítulo Perfeito, which waits for the right swell from November (1 November to 15 December in 2026). See surfing in Portugal.
• Lisbon Marathon (October): a scenic route along the coast from Carcavelos to Praça do Comércio (10 October in 2026). The marathon runs on the Saturday and the half marathon on the Sunday, so expect road closures both days.
• Golegã Horse Fair (November): Portugal’s great horse fair (6–15 November in 2026).
• Web Summit and LEFFEST (November): Lisbon’s big tech conference (9 to 12 November in 2026) and film festival. Book hotels early that week.
• MotoGP (November): the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve circuit near Portimão (20 to 22 November in 2026, a week later than first planned). See Portimão.
• São Martinho (11 November): roasted chestnuts, água-pé (young wine) and jeropiga, and often a spell of warm “São Martinho summer” weather.
• Chestnut fairs: Marvão in the Alentejo holds a well-known chestnut fair in November, and Curral das Freiras in Madeira has its chestnut festival around 1 November.
• Aljezur’s sweet potato festival in late November (usually the last weekend of the month; 2026 dates not yet announced).

Best things to do in autumn

• Beach days in September and early October with warm water and fewer people. See the best beaches in Portugal.
• Wine tasting across the country. See Portugal’s wine regions.
• Hiking in cooler temperatures, from Peneda-Gerês to the Costa Vicentina.
• City breaks without the summer heat. See 2 days in Lisbon.
• Road trips through the Alentejo and the Douro, when the light is soft and the roads are quiet.

Autumn food

Autumn is a great season to eat in Portugal. Look for roast chestnuts sold from street carts in the cities, new-season olive oil, wild mushrooms in the north and game dishes in the Alentejo. In the Algarve, sweet potatoes from Aljezur appear in markets and on menus. In the wine regions, the new wine is ready to taste by São Martinho.

A sample 10-day autumn trip

• Days 1 to 3: Porto, with a day in the Douro during the harvest.
• Days 4 to 6: Lisbon, with a day trip to Sintra or the coast.
• Days 7 to 10: the Algarve, for the last warm beach days.

Doing it this way round means you end in the warmest region as the weather cools.

Month by month

For more detail, see Portugal in September, Portugal in October and Portugal in November.

Tips

• Pack layers and a light rain jacket from October.
• Boat trips can be cancelled more often as the swell picks up, so stay flexible.
• Some beach businesses close after mid-October.
• Clocks go back on the last Sunday of October (25 October in 2026), so evenings get dark much earlier.
• Public holidays: 5 October (Republic Day) and 1 November (All Saints’ Day) are national holidays, so some offices close and Portuguese families travel.
• Shoulder-season prices: hotel rates usually fall from late September, and November is one of the cheapest months outside the big event weeks.
• Sea swimming: the water stays warm into October in the Algarve, but the Atlantic coast north of Lisbon gets rough and most lifeguards finish in September, so only swim where it’s calm.
• Book big weeks early: Web Summit week in Lisbon and MotoGP weekend in the Algarve fill hotels.

FAQ

Is the sea warm enough to swim in October?

In the Algarve and Madeira, usually yes, as the sea keeps its summer warmth into October. North of Lisbon the Atlantic is cooler and rougher, so pick calm days.

Is November a good time to visit Portugal?

Yes for city breaks, food and low prices. Expect more rain, especially in the north, and short evenings after the clocks go back.

When does Nazaré’s big-wave season start?

Big swells can arrive from about October and carry on to March. The biggest days depend on Atlantic storms, so watch the forecasts and go at short notice.

What is São Martinho?

St Martin’s Day on 11 November, celebrated with roast chestnuts and young wine. A spell of mild weather around then is called the São Martinho summer.

More seasons: spring, summer and winter, or see the best time to visit Portugal.

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