Portugal in May

Among the best months: warm, long days, beaches not yet full.

• Lisbon and the centre · Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos, Coimbrabest weather

  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-Gerêsbest weather

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

• Alentejo · Évora, Monsaraz, Alentejo coastbest weather

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

• Algarve · Faro, Lagos, Tavira, Sagresbest weather

  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, Terceirafine

  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.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

Crowds · Portugal

Medium

Prices · Portugal

Medium

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Lisbon and the centre

  Best weather of the year (Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos, Coimbra)

• Porto and the north

  Best weather of the year (Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Douro Valley, Peneda-Gerês)

• Alentejo

  Best weather of the year (Évora, Monsaraz, Alentejo coast)

• Algarve

  Best weather of the year (Faro, Lagos, Tavira, Sagres)

• Madeira

  Best weather of the year (Funchal and the island)

• Lisbon

  Warm, long days; good month.