Portugal in Spring: Weather, Festivals and Where to Go

Spring might be the best time to visit Portugal: green hills, wildflowers, warm sunny days without the summer crowds, and lower prices. From Easter processions to Madeira’s flower festival, here’s what to expect in Portugal from March to May.

Quick answer: expect highs of about 18°C in March to 24°C in May in Lisbon, a little warmer in the Algarve, with occasional rain early in the season. It’s perfect for city breaks, hiking (wildflowers on the Rota Vicentina) and road trips. The sea is still cool (about 15–17°C). Highlights: Easter in Braga, Madeira’s Flower Festival and Fátima on 12–13 May.

Why go in spring

After the winter rains, the countryside is at its greenest, and the Alentejo plains and Algarve cliffs are covered in wildflowers. Days are long and warm enough for sightseeing in a T-shirt, but not so hot that walking hills in Lisbon or Porto wears you out. Queues at Sintra, Belém and the Porto bookshops are shorter than in summer, and hotel prices are lower outside Easter week.

The clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March, so from April you get long, light evenings for dinner outside. Flights and car hire are usually cheaper than in July and August too, as long as you avoid the Easter school holidays.

The weather

• March: mild (around 18°C in Lisbon), with some showers. Almond blossom is over, but the countryside is green.
• April: warmer and brighter, with wildflowers everywhere. Some rain is still possible.
• May: sunny and warm (around 24°C), one of the best months of the year.
• The sea is still cool, around 15–17°C. Fine for brave swimmers.

By region

• Porto and the north: a few degrees cooler than Lisbon and noticeably wetter, especially in March. Pack a waterproof.
• The Algarve: the driest and sunniest region in spring. By May, beach days are realistic, even if the water is fresh.
• The Alentejo: warm by late spring, with inland temperatures climbing well above the coast in May.
• Madeira: mild all year, around the low 20s, with more cloud on the north side of the island.
• The Azores: cooler and changeable, with showers likely on any day.
• The mountains: Serra da Estrela can still have snow on the high ground in March, and nights in the interior stay cold into April.

For more detail month by month, see Portugal in March, Portugal in April and Portugal in May.

Spring festivals and events

• Easter (Semana Santa): Braga holds Portugal’s most impressive Holy Week processions (Easter is 28 March in 2027). See Braga and Guimarães.
• Freedom Day (25 April): a national holiday marking the 1974 Carnation Revolution, with parades in Lisbon. Some museums and shops close.
• Madeira Flower Festival: carpets of flowers and a flower parade in Funchal in late April and May. In 2027 the programme runs from 29 April to 30 May, with the allegorical flower parades on 2 and 16 May. See Funchal.
• Fátima pilgrimage: 12–13 May, with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. See Fátima.
• Queima das Fitas (Coimbra): the students’ end-of-year festival, held over about a week in May (in 2026 it opened with the midnight serenade at the Old Cathedral on 21 May), with a big parade through the city.
• Senhor Santo Cristo (Ponta Delgada): the Azores’ largest religious festival, held on the fifth Sunday after Easter, so usually in late April or May.
• Lisbon Book Fair: late May to mid-June in Parque Eduardo VII, free (26 May–13 June in 2027).

Around Easter, expect processions in many towns and special sweets such as folar, a sweet or savoury Easter bread. Good Friday is a public holiday, so check opening times that day. See Easter in Portugal and the festivals calendar.

Best things to do in spring

• Hike the Rota Vicentina: wildflowers and mild temperatures. See Costa Vicentina.
• Madeira’s levadas are at their greenest. See Madeira levada walks.
• The Douro Valley turns green with new leaves. See the Douro.
• Road trips through the Alentejo before the summer heat. See our Portugal road trip.
• The Azores: hydrangeas start to bloom in late spring. See Azores island hopping.
• Sintra’s gardens: camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas flower in the palace parks. Remember that Pena tickets are for a set date and time, so book ahead even in spring.

Spring is also the start of the whale-watching high season in the Azores, with migrating baleen whales passing the islands from about March to May. Check with local operators for current sightings.

Where to go for what

• City break: Lisbon and Porto are at their most comfortable for walking in April and May.
• Walking: the Rota Vicentina, Madeira and the Peneda-Gerês park in the north, before summer heat and fire risk.
• Beach and sun: the Algarve from May, when the weather is reliable even if the sea is fresh.
• Countryside: the Alentejo in April, when the plains are green and full of flowers.

What to eat

• Folar: the Easter bread, sweet in the south and filled with cured meats in the north.
• Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato: clams in garlic, olive oil and coriander, good with a glass of vinho verde on a warm evening.
• Early strawberries and the first cherries, which arrive at markets in late spring.
• Lamb and kid: roast lamb or kid (cabrito) is a traditional Easter Sunday lunch in many regions.

Tips

• Pack layers and a light rain jacket.
• Easter week is busy with Portuguese and Spanish holidaymakers, so book early.
• Prices are lower than summer, especially in March and April.
• Sun: the spring sun is stronger than it feels, so use sunscreen even on cool days.
• Opening hours: some beach bars and boat trips only start their full timetable around Easter or May.
• Public holidays: Good Friday, 25 April and 1 May are national holidays, so expect busy roads and some closures.

FAQ

Is spring a good time to visit Portugal?

Yes. March to May brings mild, mostly sunny weather, green countryside, fewer crowds and lower prices than summer. Expect some rain in March and early April, especially in the north.

Is it warm enough to swim in Portugal in spring?

The sea is cool, around 15 to 17°C, so most people only swim briefly. May in the Algarve is the best bet for beach days, and many hotels have heated pools.

When is Easter in Portugal in 2027?

Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, and Good Friday (26 March) is a public holiday. Braga has the biggest Holy Week processions.

Which is better, April or May?

May is usually warmer, drier and sunnier, while April is greener with more wildflowers and slightly lower prices outside Easter. Both are good months for sightseeing and walking.

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

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