MyPortugalHoliday.com
The best independent guide to Portugal
MyPortugalHoliday.com
The best independent guide to Portugal
January in Portugal: Is it a good month to visit?
If you are tired of the cold and gloomy depths of a Northern European winter, Portugal in January is worth serious consideration. It will not offer outstanding weather, but it will be significantly warmer and more pleasant than wherever you have come from, and that counts for a great deal in the middle of winter.
The key is knowing where to go and staying flexible. The Algarve is the obvious answer for winter sun, considerably drier and warmer than the rest of the country, though at an average of 16°C this is not beach or sunbathing weather. Lisbon and Porto are both fully open and vibrant, with enough culture and city life to fill several days comfortably. Northern Portugal is best avoided in January, particularly the northwestern coastline which can be persistently wet.
Flexibility is everything in January. If I wake up to bright skies, I change my plans immediately and head to Sintra for the first visit of the year. If a long wet spell is settling over Lisbon I start looking for last-minute hotel deals in the Algarve, where a week of winter luxury will often cost less than a week's rent in my chilly Lisbon flat.
January is also one of the finest months for sightseeing. The major attractions are as close to deserted as they ever get, with Pena Palace and the medieval streets of Óbidos offering an experience that is simply not possible in summer. For the more adventurous, the colossal Atlantic swells at Nazaré draw the world's best big wave surfers. The eastern border region, dotted with castles and fortified towns, is cool but surprisingly dry and makes for a genuinely rewarding touring holiday.
I have been exploring Portugal with my Portuguese wife since 2001 and January remains one of the most underrated months to visit. Approach it with an open mind and flexible plans and it will surprise you.
The winter is the ideal season to explore the traditional villages of the Algarve coastline
The weather of Portugal in January
As with all of Europe, January in Portugal is firmly in the winter season. Although January is the coldest month of the year in Portugal, winters are mild compared to the rest of Europe due to its southern location.
Portugal has three distinct weather areas during January; the mild and pleasant Algarve region, the wet and chilly north, and the variable central region, which includes Lisbon.
Suggested Itineraries for January in Portugal
Suggested Itineraries for January in Portugal:
1) Tour of The Algarve. One night in Faro, two in Tavira, two nights in Albufeira and three in Lagos.
2) Lisbon and the Algarve. Three days Lisbon, then four days relaxing at Albufeira or Lagos.
3) 1 week in Lisbon. Three days exploring Lisbon and day trips to Sintra, Setubal, Cascais, Evora and Obidos.
4) 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
5) Castles and forts of Eastern Portugal. Evora, Elvas, Marvão, Castelo Branco, Monsanto, Almeida, Trancoso (this route needs a car)
6) Madeira – one week based in Funchal with day trips around the island when the weather is dry. (Madeira guide)
Advice: If you are considering the tours that include Lisbon and Porto, make sure that your plans are flexible in case there is poor weather.
Below is an interactive map the showing the suggested tours and best locations in Portugal for January. The red line is the tour of the Algarve (1), the green line is the 1 week in Lisbon (3), the yellow line is the Lisbon to Porto tour (4), and the blue line is the route visiting the east of Portugal (5).
Insight: Portugal has an excellent express train network and is a relatively small country. 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 during January.
Areas of Portugal to avoid in January
During January it is best to avoid the north of the country where it will be very wet and surprisingly chilly. A lot of rain falls around the Douro Valley while the northern resort towns close down for winter and can appear rather gloomy and bleak in January.
Skiing in Portugal
During the cold winter months, the Serra da Estrela mountains are cover in snow, and there is even a small ski resort at the Torre peak. The slopes are minor in comparison to the Alps, but if you have a longer stay in Portugal, this can be a fun seasonal activity. At Torre, all ski equipment can be hired.
The Algarve in January
The Algarve is the best destination to visit during January. An enjoyable holiday can be had here, so long as that you accept that the resort towns will be very quiet, and the weather is not warm enough for sunbathing.
This is a great season for a touring holiday or holiday filled with activities. There are empty roads for cycling, challenging coastal hiking trails, kayak trips, beaches for surfing, dolphin watching boat tours, deep-sea fishing trips and world-class golf courses. It may be winter and the closed season but there is a lot to do.
Insight: Over the last couple of years the Algarve regional government has been trying to market and push the Algarve as a year-round destination, and there has been an active drive to ensure the best activities and sights are open year-round.
When visiting the Algarve in January, we advise be based in 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.
January is also the season to find a bargain hotel; search the hotel comparison websites to find last minute 5-star luxury for the price of 3-star mediocre.
For you holiday we would strongly advise hiring a car so that you can explore the region, and are not just tied to your hotel or local town (which may be very quiet!).
The golden cliffs of the western Algarve (the Praia da Marinha beach)
Lisbon in January
Lisbon is a good option for a European city break during January, and this is due to the huge variety that this vibrant city has to offer. For inclement days, there are numerous museums and indoor activities to visit, along with hundreds of trendy bars and stylish restaurants to choose from.
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 the weather is good 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 wonderful oceanarium, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Calouste Gulbenkian art museum. If it stays wet, head to the artisan area of LX Factory, sample Portugal's finest foods in the Timeout Market and end the day in the trendy bars of the Bairro Alto district.
In the low season, there will be no queues for the major tourist attractions and hotel prices will be at rock bottom
Related articles: Our Lisbon guide
Porto in January
Porto in January could be very wet, but there is equally a chance it could be dry and pleasant. The city does have a range of indoor tourist attractions (not as many as Lisbon) and main unique in-door experience is Port tasting in the vast cellars that line the banks of Douro River.
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 January, 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
Discover the best of Portugal with our guides
Expert Insight: These guides are curated by Philip Giddings, a travel writer with over 25 years of local experience in Portugal. Since 2008, Phil has focused on providing verified, on-the-ground advice for the whole of Portugal, supported by deep cultural ties through his Portuguese family. Read the full story here.
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