Why September and October Are Ideal for a Portuguese Escape

Early autumn retains Portugal’s appeal for outdoor travel, with mainland temperatures typically remaining mild to warm. According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), average highs range from around 26°C to 28°C in September and 22°C to 24°C in October, with warmer conditions often persisting in the Algarve and Lower Alentejo. Madeira and the Azores also benefit from mild conditions influenced by their subtropical Atlantic climate.

As you explore the area, Turismo de Portugal’s Climate Shelters offer convenient places to pause and recharge. Open to residents and visitors alike, they provide comfortable spaces and access to drinking water throughout the day. Information on locations can be found here.

Experience Portugal’s harvest season

Autumn is an especially compelling time to discover Portugal’s wine regions, as vineyards across the country enter harvest season. In the Douro Valley, visitors can combine vineyard tours and tastings with river cruises and scenic drives, experiencing one of Portugal’s most spectacular wine landscapes at a particularly atmospheric time of year.

The harvest season is also celebrated through local traditions and festivals. In Madeira, the Madeira Wine Festival brings the island’s wine heritage to life, while in Lamego, the Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios combines religious traditions with celebrations deeply connected to the Douro’s harvest season.

The best time to explore Portugal outdoors

September and October are ideal months for discovering Portugal’s great outdoors, when the shoulder-season weather is particularly pleasant for walking, hiking and exploring nature.

In the Algarve, the Sagres Birdwatching & Nature Activities Festival offers an opportunity to discover the region’s remarkable birdlife and natural landscapes, while providing a gateway to the Rota Vicentina, one of Portugal’s most spectacular long-distance walking routes along the Alentejo and Algarve coast.

Further north, the Schist Villages of Central Portugal combine walking and nature with historic architecture, local crafts and traditional gastronomy. In the Azores, volcanic landscapes, coastal trails and abundant wildlife offer another compelling option for travellers looking to experience Portugal in the open air.

Taste the flavours of autumn

Portugal’s autumn calendar is also a celebration of seasonal produce and gastronomy. The harvest season brings chestnuts, mushrooms, wine and other local ingredients to tables across the country, while events provide opportunities to experience Portuguese food culture first-hand.

In Cascais, Chefs on Fire brings chefs, live fire cooking and gastronomy together in an outdoor celebration of food. Later in the season, São Martinho is celebrated throughout Portugal, with traditional magustos centred around roasted chestnuts and the year’s new wine, offering visitors an authentic taste of Portuguese autumn.

Autumn traditions beyond the usual hotspots

Portugal’s autumn calendar offers plenty of reasons to explore beyond the country’s best-known destinations.

Ponte de Lima: Visit during Feiras Novas, one of Portugal’s biggest traditional folk festivals, where horse riding, regional gastronomy, music and colourful marching bands bring the historic northern town to life.

Alentejo: October and November mark the region’s olive harvest season, when visitors can take part in olive picking, visit olive mills and discover the production process before tasting the region’s exceptional extra virgin olive oils alongside its renowned cuisine.

Coimbra: As students return to the city for the new academic year, Coimbra’s historic streets come alive with student serenades and the distinctive sounds of Coimbra Fado, a musical tradition deeply connected to the city’s university culture.

Lisbon and Setúbal: Combine a city break in Lisbon with the Setúbal Peninsula, where the Arrábida Natural Park offers hiking, dramatic coastal scenery and secluded beaches. Food lovers can sample the region’s famous Azeitão cheese paired with Setúbal Moscatel, while a boat trip into the Sado Estuary offers the chance to spot the resident population of bottlenose dolphins.

For those looking for a late-summer getaway or an autumn escape, Portugal offers far more than sunshine. September and October provide an opportunity to experience the country through its harvests, landscapes, food, wine and living traditions – often when Portugal is at its most authentic and rewarding.

ENDS