LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
When to Go
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Portugal’s high season runs from mid-June to mid-September, when temperatures across the country average around 27°C. In July and August, it gets hot, particularly in the Algarve, the Alentejo and the upper Douro valley, where the mercury can climb to over 45°C.
If you’d rather skip the crowds (and the heat), consider a trip in spring, when the countryside is at its most verdant, or in the autumn, when it’s still warm but the summer crowds have dispersed. During the winter (November to March), the rains arrive, falling heaviest in the north, and lightest in the south (the Algarve gets near year-round sunshine), with a handful of places closing down. Travelling then, however, will net you substantial savings at many hotels, and you’ll see the country’s most traditional side.
It’s worth making a beeline for a Portuguese festival, particularly Carnaval in February or March, and Holy Week (the week before Easter) in March or April. Dates vary annually, so check with a turismo.
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