Want to know when is the best time to visit Porto? Then check out this article to get all the tips you need to plan your trip at the right time.
What are the high season months in Porto?
As in any tourist city, Porto has months with a high flow of tourists, which are the high season, and months with a low flow of visitors, considered the low season.
In the Portuguese city, these months with large numbers of tourists are June, July and August, which comprise the summer season. The holiday season, between December and January, is also on the list.
And during this period, everything gets more expensive. In other words, airline tickets and hotels are more expensive all over Europe, as the season also includes the school vacations.
Important tip: To make the most of your trip is to stay in the best region. If you want, see our article here that explains the best area, hotels and how to save a lot on accommodation.
Events and holidays that take place during high season in Porto:
January
- 01/01: New Year (public holiday).
June
- 10/06: Portugal Day (public holiday).
- 11/06: Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter Sunday).
- 23 a 24/06: São João do Porto (in the same style as St. Anthony’s Festival).
- Serralves em Festa: Portugal’s contemporary art festival which takes place at the beginning of June.
- NOS Primavera Sound: a music festival attended by young people, bringing together rock, pop, dance, etc. artists for an entire weekend.
- Festival Ritmos do Mundo: held in the city of Gaia, the festival pays homage to Portuguese and Brazilian culture through workshops, music, circus shows, exhibitions and gastronomy, among other events.
July
- Porto Pride: a very important event in Porto’s calendar, with several days of LGBTQIAPN events in Portugal. The event has some very exciting moments and a beautiful parade on the last day of the event.
August
- 15/08: Assumption of Our Lady (public holiday).
December
- 01/12: Restoration of Independence (public holiday).
- 08/12: Immaculate Conception (public holiday).
- 25/12: Christmas (public holiday).
What are the low season months in Porto?
Unlike the high season, the low season months are marked, as the name suggests, by a low flow of tourists. As a result, prices are also lower in the city and the queues for tourist attractions are shorter.
In Porto, these months comprise the winter season, in December, January and February, with the exception of the end-of-year festivities. There is also the mid-season, which takes place in spring and fall. These months are May, September and October.
- Want to travel but don’t know where to stay in Porto? So click here and check out our tips.
Events and holidays that take place in the low season in Porto:
February
- Fantasporto: a film festival that takes place in southern Europe and focuses on the world of fantasy, science, fiction and horror, showing cinematographic works in these genres for two weeks.
April
- 07/04: Good Friday (before Easter Sunday).
- 09/04: Easter (first Sunday after the full moon that occurs after the vernal equinox).
- 25/04: Freedom Day.
May
- Queima das Fitas: celebrating the city’s university, the festival takes place every May.
- 01/05: Labor Day.
- Festa do Senhor de Matosinhos: the festival is considered one of the highlights of religious pilgrimages in the district and throughout the country. For three weeks the city hosts recreational, cultural and sporting events. In addition to various decorative lamps for the church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos.
September
- Port Wine Day: an annual celebration that promotes talks and events about the drink, this is a great opportunity to taste variations of this wine.
- Porto Book Fair: the fair is held every year and brings together thousands of literature lovers.
- Porto International Puppet Festival: the event features a variety of puppets and performances throughout the festival. A great opportunity to take the family and have lots of fun.
- Red Bull Air Races: at this event, pilots fly their planes in real aerobatics shows.
- Porto Blue Jazz: jazz concerts that take place in the Crystal Palace Gardens and feature some of the biggest names in jazz.
October
- 05/10: Implantation of the Republic.
- Francesinha Festival: an event created to pay homage to this delicacy of Portuguese cuisine. Several restaurants reinvent this Porto delicacy.
November
- 01/11: All Saints’ Day.
Save money on your trip to Porto:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Porto cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Porto tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Porto. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
