Weather
The heat is on, with temperatures often reaching a scorching point during the day, 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 as opposed to sweltering, with average temperatures hovering around 77°F (25°C). Lisbon is hot and dry, with highs of 82°F (28°C) and barely a drop of rain. 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 your beach towel.
Bring sunscreen and a sunhat to protect from the strong rays (especially on the coast), and stay well hydrated.
Crowds & Costs
The sunshine is naturally great for lazy beach days, but less so when jostling with huge crowds in the cities. Many schools are now closed, and this sends flight prices and room rates soaring (in some cases, they're double or even triple what they would be in the low season).
You'll also have to book well in advance to secure your first choice, as the best places are snapped up quickly. Bear in mind that top restaurants and activities may need to be pre-booked, too, as demand rises. If you're heading south, make sure your room comes with air-conditioning.
Where to Go
This is weather for the coast, and even the Portuguese decamp en masse to the nearest beach at weekends. If the southern Algarve is too busy for you, turn your gaze elsewhere—to the north and west Atlantic coast, say, where there's still plenty of breathing room and sandy, dune-flanked beaches.
Crowds and hotel beds are at a premium in the big cities, so this might be a good time to set your sights further afield if you're craving a culture fix. Northern Coimbra is a beauty, with its hilltop medieval center, historic university, and fado (folk music) heritage. Or you could explore alley-woven Braga in the Minho, a highly spiritual city topped off by an incredible Romanesque cathedral (the country's oldest, dating to 1070).
Otherwise, head for the mountains, where temperatures are not overly hot and crowds are few. The Beiras region is sprinkled with pretty stone-built villages and laced with excellent walking trails. It's comparatively cool, too, at around 66°F (19°C). Sidling up to 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
July is ideal if you just want to relax or make the most of watersports on the beach. 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.
With their low-key vibe, higher elevations, and cooler climes, the northern Minho and Beiras appeal at this time of year. Come for backcountry walks or road trips 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, with top billing going to the granite peaks, hidden lakes, and thick forests of Serra da Estrela and Peneda-Gerês.
Events in July
Festival ao Largo, Lisbon. For this free three-week festival, orchestras and ballet troupes take to the open-air stage at Lisbon's Teatro Nacional São Carlos. It's a fabulous way to spend a hot summer evening.
Festival Internacional de Folclore, Porto. Porto is a feast of folk music, dancing, and elaborate traditional costumes. This festival is held in the last week of July and attracts acts from all over the country.
MEO Marés Vivas, Porto. Vila Nova de Gaia in Porto is the backdrop for this raucous three-day rock and pop festival in the third week of July. Headliners in recent years have included Sting and Keane.
NOS Alive, Algés. On Lisbon's western fringes is the host of this mammoth rock, indie, and alternative music festival. In previous years, Pearl Jam and Taylor Swift have been featured on the lineup.
Traveling to Portugal in July? Check out these great itineraries
Explore Portugal: The North & Douro Valley - 10 Days. This getaway immerses you in the drama, romance, and flavor of northern Portugal, avoiding the throngs of summer visitors in the south. Bookend your trip with time in Porto, where you'll embark on delicious culinary tours and sample the city's famed port wine. Then it's off to a number of incredible villages, heritage sites, and natural wonders like Viana do Castelo, Braga, and Peneda-Gerês. You'll also delve deep into the Douro Valley, where you'll go wine tasting and enjoy a riverboat cruise.
Portugal From North to South: Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, Évora & Coimbra - 14 Days. If you can handle the crowds, this trip takes you into the buzz of the Algarve coast, in between exploring cities and the countryside. Start in Porto and visit the Douro Valley before heading south to colorful Lisbon via Nazaré and Óbidos. Visit the village of Sintra, then continue to the sunkissed beaches of the Algarve. Return north via a relaxed inland route, stopping at ancient Évora, charming Coimbra, and coastal Aveiro.
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