November can be a grey, and dreary month, however a trip to Portugal can provide an invigorating dose of winter sun and an exciting holiday.

This is the best time of year to experience authentic Portugal, to discover a deserted beach in the Algarve, or to explore the many wonderous sights free from tourists.

Visiting Portugal in November does need a bit of planning and some flexibility - as there can be poor weather - but the many positives easily outweigh the unpredictable weather. Being the low tourist season, November is the time of year to bag a bargain flight and a heavily discounted luxury hotel.

The pretty town of Obidos will be completely free of tourists in November

For your trip to Portugal in November, it is best to visit Lisbon, the east of the country or the Algarve coastline. The Algarve lies along the southern coastline of Portugal and always has the driest and warmest winter weather.

November is a fantastic month for activity focused holiday in southern Portugal; this could be a round of golf in Vilamoura, hiking along the Rota Vicentina coastline trails, cycling in the eastern Algarve or surfing at Sagres. November is one of the best times of the year for a touring or campervan holiday of southern and eastern Portugal. The roads will be empty, vehicle rentals are at their cheapest, and there is lots of space in hotels or at campsites.

 

 

One of the unique sights in November are the massive waves of the Nazaré coastline. These colossal waves attract daredevil surfers, who surf the 30-meter-high waves, while the town of Nazaré is buzzing with the many spectators who come to watch.

During the winter, the towns along the Algarve coastline have a calm and relaxed atmosphere, and are popular with retirees, long-stay visitors and remote workers. For more exciting holidays, head to the big cities (Lisbon, Porto or Coimbra) with their younger populations and lively year-round nightlife.

This article will provide a guide to Portugal in November and help you get the most from your holiday.

The Algarve will be peaceful and relaxing such as the little village of Ferragudo near Portimão

The weather in Portugal in November is best described as unpredictable, but it will undoubtedly be better than the majority of mainland Europe.

Portugal has three distinct weather regions during November; the wet and cooler north, the dry and pleasant Algarve coastline, and the central region (which includes Lisbon) will have a mix of both.

The Algarve will always have the best weather in November, with the majority of days dry and warm (reaching a maximum of 18C). The weather is not really hot enough for sunbathing or lounging by the pool, and you will need a jacket for the evenings.

Porto and the Douro Valley can be very wet during November – we would not recommend a holiday to north Portugal during November.

November is a fantastic time of the year for a touring holiday of Portugal. The weather is not to hot for exploring, the popular tourist destinations will be free for tourists, and there can be amazing bargains for accommodation.
Some of the best routes in November include:
1 week in Lisbon - Three days exploring Lisbon and day trips to Sintra, Setubal, Cascais, Evora and Obidos.
Lisbon and the Algarve - Three days in Lisbon, then four days relaxing at Albufeira or Lagos.
Lisbon to Porto - Two days in Lisbon, Sintra day trip, the central region for two days (Nazare, Obidos, Tomar and Coimbra) and two days in Porto
Castles and history of Eastern Portugal - Evora, Elvas, Marvão, Castelo Branco, Monsanto, Almeida, Trancoso (this route needs a car)
Tour of the Algarve - One night in Faro, two in Tavira, two nights in Albufeira and three in Lagos.
Madeira – One week based in Funchal with day trips around the island

Below is an interactive map showing the suggested tours and best locations in Portugal for November. The yellow line marks the Lisbon to Porto tour, the green line is the 1 week in Lisbon, the red line is the tour of the Algarve, and the blue line is the tour of eastern Portugal.

Lisbon 1 week (green) 1) Lisbon 2) Sintra 3) Cascais 4) Setubal 5) Sesimbra 6) Obidos
Lisbon to Porto (yellow) 1) Lisbon 2) Nazare 3) Tomar 4) Coimbra 5) Porto
East Portugal (blue) 1) Evora 2) Elvas 3) Marvão 4) Castelo Branco 5) Monsanto 6) Almeida 7) Trancoso
The Algarve (red) 1) Faro 2) Tavira 3) Albufeira 4) Lagos

The areas to truly avoid are the Douro valley, Serra da Estrela mountains and the northern resort towns.

The Douro Valley can be very wet in November, and even though there may be bargains for the boat cruises, the (possibly wet) weather makes them not enjoyable.

The northern coastal towns (north of Costa Nova and Aveiro) experience strong winds, possible rain and are mostly closed down for winter. They can appear rather gloomy and bleak in November.
Driving in the Serra da Estrela mountains is treacherous in November, and is before the snow falls in late December when it is possible to ski.

Insight: Portugal is a relatively small country and has an excellent express train network. It takes only 2.5 hours to travel from Lisbon to the Algarve if the weather becomes poor, or is 3 hours from Lisbon to Porto if the weather is dry and sunny. Flexible plans are the best way to get the most from a holiday to Portugal in November.

Lisbon is a good option for a city break or holiday during November, and this is in part to the huge variety that the city can offer. For inclement days there are numerous museums and in-door activities along with hundreds of trendy bars and stylish restaurants.

If the sun does show itself, hop on the train to the magical town of Sintra with the whimsical Pena Palace and the ruins of the Moors castle. If it is warm head to the characterful resort town of Cascais or the traditional beach town of Sesimbra.

If the sun shines head to the Pena palace, which is magical with few tourists about

If it does rain, there is the wonderous oceanarium, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Calouste Gulbenkian art museum or a ride on the number 28 tram. If it stays wet, head to the artisan area of Lxfactory, then taste Portugal’s finest foods in the Timeout Market, before ending the day in trendy underground bars of the Bairro Alto district.

In the low season, there will be no queues for the major tourist attractions and your experience won’t be ruined by selfie-taking want-be influencers or coach loads of Chinese tourists.
Lisbon is fantastic in November, and is our recommended destination.
Related articles: Our Lisbon guide

The Algarve is a fantastic destination in November, so long as that you accept that the resort towns will be very quiet, and the beaches are not warm enough for all-day sunbathing.

Our advice is to stick to the larger resort towns, such as Albufeira, Lagos, or Vilamoura, which have large permanent populations and will have a decent selection of restaurant and bars open. To experience some Portuguese culture in your holiday, consider adding the charming town of Tavira and the city of Faro to your trip.

November in the Algarve is the time to find a bargain hotel; search the hotel comparison websites to find last minute 5star luxury for the price of 3star mediocre. We would strongly advise hiring a car so that you can explore the region, and are not just tied to your deserted hotel complex or quiet town.

The western Algarve has lively resort towns and golden cliffs

November is the surfing season in the western Algarve, and the town of Sagres has a great surfing vibe along with some amazing surfing beaches.

Some good ideas for activities in November include the stunning Praia do Vale de Centeanes hiking trail, a coastline boat tour from Albufeira or Vilamoura, cycling the quiet roads around Burgau or Tavira

November is a popular season for golfing holidays in the Algarve, there is bright dry weather but without the intense summer heat. Vilamoura is always a good base for a golfing holiday.

Porto is difficult to predict, the weather could be good, or it can be very wet. And if it is wet, the city has significantly less indoor activities and sights than Lisbon. The main unique in-door experience is Port tasting in the vast cellars that line the banks of Douro river, and with over 14 different cellars there’s a lot of Porto tasting!

If it is dry head to pretty Guimarães, which is regarded as the birthplace of Portugal, or hire a car and venture up the Douro valley.

Our advice: If you are thinking about visiting Porto in November, leave the planning to the last minute, and base your decision on the long-term weather forecast. If it seems wet, head to Lisbon or the Algarve, if its dry book Porto and get yourself a bargain trip!
Related articles: Porto guide