Weather
Portugal has fairly mild winters by European standards. However, it can get very wet and chilly, and bracing winds along the coast make it feel much colder. In the north of the country, around Porto and the Douro wine country, expect average daily temperatures of around 52°F (11°C) and highs of 57°F (14°C) when the sun is shining. Average daytime temperatures in Lisbon are a shade warmer, hovering around the 55°F (13°C) mark, while the Algarve is warmer still, averaging 61°F (16°C). On average, January sees around nine days of rainfall.
When you're out and about in the cities, you'll want to pack a few layers, a light coat, waterproof boots, and an umbrella at the very least.
Crowds & Costs
After the Christmas and New Year festivities have fizzled out, Portugal falls into something of a winter slumber. Locals are also more relaxed this time of year, so you may see a more authentic side to the country.
It's a quiet time to visit, but in many ways, that's a bonus—the otherwise crowded big-hitters and UNESCO-protected sites in Lisbon and Porto receive just a trickle from the usual visitors. It's a great opportunity to avoid the heat and squeeze in some days exploring galleries, museums, cafés, and patisseries in the cities. Opening hours, however, may be restricted, and some sights only open for the summer season (roughly April through October).
On the plus side, you'll be able to take advantage of low-season deals and often significantly cheaper flights and room rates.
Where to Go
January is a wonderfully peaceful time to explore the capital, Lisbon, with its castle-topped historic center on the River Tagus. Though a tad cooler and wetter, Porto is another terrific choice, with a maze of medieval alleys to wander, beautiful Baroque churches to discover, and an exciting food and drink scene. Don't limit your travels here, however: medieval Coimbra in central Portugal, home to the country's oldest university (founded in 1290), is a delight, as are walled towns like Évora in the south-central Alentejo region.
It's worth bearing in mind that many of the beach resorts in the south (the Algarve) and on the western Atlantic coast close entirely because of the weather. You might be able to secure a room, but don't expect a great deal else to be open.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
What to Do
Rain doesn't necessarily dampen a visit to Lisbon in January. There are plenty of excellent museums and art galleries to browse, as well as café-patisseries where you can happily while away the hours. You'll also sidestep the crowds at much-loved sights like the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Jerónimos, which gets swamped in summer.
Riverside Porto has its own charm, and January is ideal for taking a food-focused spin of the city and hooking onto guided tours and tastings in its world-famous port wine lodges without having to jostle with the crowds. Coimbra still has a buzz thanks to a lively student population, with bars, cafés, and fado (traditional folk song) clubs tucked away in the labyrinthine alleys of its hilltop historic center.
Mild temperatures still mean a visit to the Algarve in January can have its own appeal. Come here for coastal hiking and back-country exploring in the whitewashed towns that pepper the hilly interior instead of beach days.
You might not necessarily associate Portugal with snow, but there's moderate skiing in the mountainous Serra da Estrela, just east of Coimbra, when the flakes fall.
Events in January
O Dia de Reis, Nationwide (January 6). The Christmas fun is wrapped up for another year with Three Kings' Day (Epiphany), with family celebrations across the country. Children leave their shoes out for the Three Kings on January 5, and in return, their shoes are filled with sweets and cakes. Patisseries sell the traditional bolo rei, a ring-shaped cake stuffed with candied fruit and nuts and dusted with icing sugar (traditionally, it also contained a baked fava bean for luck). Janeiras or Cantares de Reis go from door to door singing songs about the birth of Christ, and are offered sweets and wine.
Festa das Chouriças, Querença. Grills are fired up in the small, prettily whitewashed hamlet of Querença in the Algarve for a festival devoted to smoked pork sausages. On the third weekend in January, locals celebrate their farming traditions, calling on São Luís (St Louis) to protect their pigs and livestock in return for an offering of chouriça. The day features parades, tastings, and a sausage auction.
Festa das Fogaceiras, Santa Maria da Feira (January 20). Held each year in this historic town in northern Portugal, this religious festival traces its origins to the 16th century. Legend has it that São Sebastião (St Sebastian) saved the town from the plague when he was made offerings of fogaça (a sweet bread made from wheat, cinnamon, and lemon zest). Today, girls in white dresses with bright sashes parade through the streets bearing the castle-shaped loaves (each with two paper flags) on their heads.
Traveling to Portugal in January? Check out this great itinerary
Portugal Food, Wine & Castles: Lisbon, Douro Valley & Porto - 12 Days. Immerse yourself in Portuguese history and food on this comprehensive tour that can be done in the winter months. Start in the hilly capital of Lisbon to explore local markets, see numerous medieval castles, and catch more than one breathtaking sunset. Then, head north to Porto and the Douro Valley, where rolling hills and glistening rivers will greet you as you drink your way through wineries and visit some of Portugal's oldest towns.
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