Portugal in March: Weather, Wildflowers and Easter

March is when spring arrives in Portugal: green hills, wildflowers, longer days and mild temperatures, with far fewer visitors than later in the year. It can still be showery, but it’s a lovely, good-value time for cities, walking and road trips. Here’s what to expect.

Quick answer: expect highs of about 18°C in Lisbon and the Algarve, with some rain. Highlights: wildflowers on the Rota Vicentina, the Óbidos Chocolate Festival (March weekends), Easter at the end of March in 2027 (28 March), and the last of the big-wave season at Nazaré. The sea is still cold (about 15°C).

Why go in March

March gives you spring scenery without summer crowds or prices. The countryside is at its greenest after the winter rain, the last almond blossom and the first wildflowers are out in the south, and the days are long enough for full days of sightseeing. Clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March (28 March in 2027, the same day as Easter Sunday), so evenings suddenly feel longer. It’s a month for walking, wandering cities and long lunches rather than beach holidays.

Weather

• Lisbon: highs around 18–19°C, with showers and cool evenings.
• Porto: around 16–17°C, still fairly wet.
• The Algarve: around 18–19°C, with plenty of sunshine.
• Inland: the Alentejo warms up nicely by day but nights are chilly, and Serra da Estrela can still have snow.
• Madeira: around 20°C.
• The Azores: mild but changeable, with wind and rain showers common.
• The sea: about 14–16°C, fine for a quick dip but too cold for most swimmers.

Weather can swing from sunny, T-shirt days to a run of wet ones, so keep your plans flexible and have an indoor option ready. See the best time to visit Portugal.

What’s on

• Óbidos Chocolate Festival: usually held over several weekends in March, with chocolate sculptures, stalls and workshops inside the walled town. In 2026 it ran from 6 to 22 March, Friday to Sunday, from 10am to 9pm. Dates move each year (in 2025 it ran from 21 March into early April), and 2027 dates had not been announced at the time of writing. See Óbidos.
• Easter week: Holy Week processions in Braga are the most famous in the country, with the Ecce Homo procession on the Thursday night. Easter Sunday is 28 March in 2027, so Holy Week falls entirely in March. Good Friday, 26 March in 2027, is a public holiday. See Braga.
• Lisbon Half Marathon: usually held on a Sunday in early March (8 March in 2026), starting on the 25 de Abril bridge. Expect road closures that morning.
• Nazaré’s big waves: the big-wave season usually runs from about October to March, so early March can still bring huge swells. Watch from the lighthouse at the fort above Praia do Norte. See Nazaré’s big waves.
• Attractions reopen: some seasonal parks and boat trips restart around March or Easter. Check dates before you go.

What to eat in March

• Lamprey: the season for arroz de lampreia (lamprey rice) runs through the late winter and spring in the north and centre. It’s a local favourite, though not for everyone.
• Easter treats: look for folar, a sweet or savoury Easter bread that varies by region, and sugared almonds in bakery windows.
• Comfort food: on cooler evenings, try caldo verde, bean stews and roast kid or lamb, a classic Easter meal.

Crowds and prices

Outside Easter week, March is quiet. Hotels in the Algarve and Lisbon are often cheaper than in summer, and you can visit places like Sintra and Belém without long queues. Easter week is different: Portuguese families travel, and prices rise. Pena Palace tickets are still sold for a set date and time, so book ahead even in quieter months.

Where to go

• The Costa Vicentina: wildflowers and perfect walking weather. See Costa Vicentina.
• Lisbon, Sintra and Porto: mild and uncrowded. See Sintra in one day.
• The Alentejo: green fields before the summer heat. See Évora.
• The Douro Valley: quiet before the busy summer and harvest seasons. See the Douro Valley itinerary.
• Madeira: spring flowers and levadas. Remember that official trails need a booked slot. See levada walks.
• The Algarve for walkers: the cliffs are green and the trails are cool enough for long days. See Algarve hikes.

A week in March

• Days 1 to 3: Lisbon, with a day trip to Sintra.
• Day 4: Óbidos for the chocolate festival on a weekend, then Nazaré to check the waves.
• Days 5 to 7: drive south to walk a section of the Rota Vicentina and finish in the western Algarve.

Without a car, swap the coast for the train: Lisbon, then Coimbra and Porto, with a day in Aveiro. Fast trains stop at Coimbra-B, where the Metrobus runs into the centre. See Portugal by train.

For Óbidos without a car, take the Rodotejo Rápida Verde express bus from Lisbon’s Campo Grande. The Oeste railway line through Óbidos has been closed since storm damage in January 2026, with replacement buses, and reopening is planned in stages from late 2026.

Rainy-day ideas

• Lisbon: the Gulbenkian, the Oceanário and LX Factory’s shops and cafés. Note that the National Tile Museum is closed for restoration, so check before you plan around it. See Lisbon on a rainy day.
• Porto: port wine cellars in Gaia, the Palácio da Bolsa and the city’s food markets. See Porto on a rainy day.
• Anywhere: a long lunch is a perfectly Portuguese way to wait out a shower.

Tips

• Pack layers and a rain jacket, plus shoes that cope with wet paths.
• Easter week gets busy and pricier, so book early if you travel then.
• Check opening times: some beach restaurants and seasonal sights in the Algarve are still closed.
• Older buildings can be chilly: look for rooms with heating, especially in the north and inland.
• Great for road trips: the Algarve’s A22 motorway has been toll-free since 2025. See the Portugal road trip.

FAQ

Is March a good time to visit Portugal?

Yes, for cities, walking and road trips. It’s mild, green and quiet outside Easter week, with lower hotel prices than summer, though you should expect some rain.

Is it warm enough to swim in March?

Not for most people. The sea is about 14–16°C, so a quick dip is possible on a sunny day, but it’s not beach-holiday weather.

Where is warmest in Portugal in March?

Madeira, at around 20°C, followed by the Algarve and Lisbon at about 18–19°C.

When is Easter in 2027?

Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, so Holy Week and the Good Friday holiday on 26 March both fall in March. Book early if you’re travelling that week.

More: February, April and Portugal in spring.

See also: Easter in Portugal.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.