Portugal in January

Quiet and cheap; rain on some days in Lisbon and Porto, spring-like in Madeira.

• Lisbon and the centre · Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos, Coimbrarainy

  Mild winters with rainy spells; hot, dry summers cooled by Atlantic wind. Sintra is often foggy and 5 °C cooler.

• Porto and the north · Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Douro Valley, Peneda-Gerêsrainy

  The wettest region; green and mild. The Douro Valley bakes in summer and harvest is late September.

• Alentejo · Évora, Monsaraz, Alentejo coastfine

  The interior plain reaches 40 °C+ in summer; spring wildflowers are the high point.

• Algarve · Faro, Lagos, Tavira, Sagresfine

  Most sunshine in the country; the sea stays cool (18–22 °C). August is packed and pricey.

• Madeira · Funchal and the islandbest weather

  Spring-like all year on the south coast; the north and mountains are wetter. Levadas can close after storms.

• Azores · São Miguel, Pico, Faial, Terceirarainy

  Mild and changeable — four seasons in a day. Whale watching best April–October; winter storms cancel inter-island flights.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Shops closed; Madeira's fireworks the night before.

Crowds · Portugal

Low

Prices · Portugal

Low

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Madeira

  Best weather of the year (Funchal and the island)

• Lisbon

  Mild and often wet; short queues.