Weather
It's sure feeling hot now, with plentiful dry, sunny days, and balmy evenings perfect for sundowners by the sea, open-air cafés, and al fresco dining. In the north of the country, in Porto, it's warm instead of sweltering, with average temperatures hovering around 77°F (25°C). Lisbon is hot and dry, with highs of 82°F (28°C) and no rain to speak of. Down south in the Algarve, there are highs of around 86°F (30°C), and it's often as much as you can do to move from one beach to the next.
Bring sunscreen and a sunhat to protect from the strong rays (especially on the coast), and be sure to stay well hydrated.
Crowds & Costs
If all you want to do is lounge on the beach, you'll love the heat of August, but it's less appealing when you're jostling with huge crowds in the cities. All schools are now on vacation, which sends flight prices through the roof and room rates soaring (in some cases, costs are double or even triple what they would be in the low season). Be sure to book well in advance to snag your first choice, as the best places are snapped up quickly. It's worth considering that top restaurants and activities may also need to be pre-booked as demand rises. If you're heading south, make sure your room comes with aircon—you'll need it.
Where to Go
If you're thinking beach, you're not alone. The beach resorts are heaving in August. But if the southern Algarve is too packed, turn your gaze elsewhere—to the north and west Atlantic coast, where there's still plenty of breathing room and some wonderful sandy, dune-flanked beaches.
As the big cities are at their most crowded and rooms are at a premium, this might be a good time to set your sights farther afield for a culture fix. Go north to Coimbra, for instance, where a hilltop medieval center, a historic university, and rich fado (folk music) heritage await. Or explore alley-woven Braga in the Minho, a highly spiritual city crowned by an incredible Romanesque cathedral (the country's oldest, dating to 1070).
Or slip away from the masses entirely and make for the mountains, where temperatures are cooler and crowds are fewer. The Beiras region is sprinkled with pretty stone-built villages and interwoven with hiking trails. It's comparatively cool, too, at around 66°F (19°C). Nudging the Spanish border in the north, the Minho is another good off-the-radar bet.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
What to Do
Beach days and watersports have never seemed so appealing. That said, popular beaches can get jam-packed. For instance, if you're heading to the Algarve, you might want to venture to more off-the-radar west-coast beaches, such as cliff-backed, wave-pummeled Praia do Amado and Praia da Arrifana, both surfing meccas. Or head farther north to the Costa Verde in the Minho, where Viana do Castelo combines a medieval center with long, golden, dune-fringed sands.
The northern Minho and Beiras are terrific in August with their low-key vibe, higher elevations, and cooler climes. Come for backcountry walks or to road trip from one gloriously sleepy village to the next. Both regions keep a tight grip on shepherding traditions, with farmsteads nestling among meadows and forests of pine and cork oak. Hiking is best in the national parks and nature reserves, and never better than when exploring the granite peaks, hidden lakes, and thick forests of Serra da Estrela and Peneda-Gerês.
Events in August
Noites Ritual Rock, Porto. Porto gets its groove on in late August for one of the country's biggest rock festival weekends, with up-and-coming Portuguese bands entertaining the crowds at the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal. Best of all, it's free!
Festival do Marisco, Olhão. You'll love this gigantic six-day feast in Olhão, the Algarve's biggest fishing port, if you like seafood. Besides deliciously fresh fish and seafood cooked in various guises on grills and in stews, there's a party vibe and a line-up of live gigs.
Feira de São Mateus, Viseu. Viseu in the Beiras plays host to this massive, month-long fair and festival in honor of St Matthew. There are stalls selling crafts and food, fairground rides, fireworks, folk music, and big-name concerts.
Traveling to Portugal in August? Check out these great itineraries
Taste, Cook & Experience the Real Algarve - 7 Days. This food-inspired itinerary is designed for travelers passionate about learning the history and culture of Portuguese gastronomy, all set in quaint Olhão. Experience the real Algarve as you eat, cook, and drink your way around Olhão and its neighboring villages.
Relaxed Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto & Lagos - 9 Days. Forget timetables and logistics—on this nine-day itinerary, you can sit back and focus on the beauty of Portugal's cities, countryside, and coast. With a private driver to whisk you between locations, you'll get lost in Lisbon's authentic alleys, spend a night among the romantic palaces of Sintra, tour Porto's riverside wine cellars, escape to the cork forests of Peneda-Gerês, and finish up on the golden beaches of the Algarve.
Immersive Portugal: Porto & the North - 12 Day. Get to the heart of Porto and northern Portugal on this special itinerary that combines history, gastronomy, and beautiful countryside, ideal for an August trip that skips the buzzy southern coast. You'll explore Porto's historic city center, sample the best local cuisine, and cruise the Douro River through spectacular wine country. On day six, you'll shift to a more independent itinerary, self-driving your way south through Coimbra, Nazaré, and Óbidos as you explore the rest of the region's highlights at your own pace.
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