Portuguese Culture: Spring in Portugal
Spring (Primavera) is a great time to visit Portugal. The season "officially" begins around March 20 or 21 but after the Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade) national holiday on April 25, the weather is getting warmer and it's wonderful to be outside.
Spring is the perfect time to admire the blossoms and flowering plants in the Lisbon's many fine parks and gardens and the country's nature parks (Parque Natural).
Crowds are thinner before the summer rush in August and you will find prices for hotels are lower. People are welcoming and staff have more time to chat in bars and cafes.
Spring Weather
Temperatures in Lisbon will be around 22-24 °C, warmer on the Algarve but 5-8°C cooler in Porto. Expect some rainy days too and the temperatures to drop in the evening when a jacket or coat will be necessary. It is too cold to swim for most people but a great time to stroll the beaches on the Algarve.
Admire the many trees and plants in blossom at this time including almond, cherry and wild orchids.
The cherry blossoms in Fundão just north of Castelo Branco are especially beautiful at this time of year. Similarly Vila Nova de Foz Coa is known for its rows of almond trees and Serra De Aire e Candeeiros for its orchids. The Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros is a chalk and limestone massif south of Leiria also known for its caves, grottoes and ancient rock salt mines.
Spring Celebrations
Spring is also a time for several fun festivals around the country. The Iberian Mask Festival (Festival Internacional da Mascára Ibérica FIMI) in the capital takes place over four days in May. It brings together the best in Spanish and Portuguese handicrafts and popular culture. Begun in 2006 the festival includes processions, music workshops and fairs.
The Fatima romarias (pilgrimage) is held in Fatima to commemorate the anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary on May 12-13.
The lively Festas das Cruzes is held over a week in Barcelos with a procession and handicraft fair.
Faro hosts an international music festival through May/June. Early May sees the civic festival of Santa Joanna, held in honor of the royal princess Joana, who retired to Aveiro's convent (now a museum) in the 15th century.
The Queima das Fitas is a drink-filled festival in Coimbra when the town's students go mad with parades, fado and the burning of gowns. At the end of May or early June is the Corpus Christi Vaca das Cordas "bull running" ceremony in Ponte de Lima.
Spring Foods
Cherries
As mentioned Fundão is the place to come to sample the region's cherries at their best in June.
It is not just the fruit itself but try Fundão's cherry jam, cherry liqueur, and even cherry-flavored chocolate.
Seafood
Spring is the ideal time to eat seafood on the coast and sip the local wine outside. Cockles, mackerel, sea bass and sea urchins and are at their best in this season. There's an old Portuguese saying refrain from eating shellfish in the months without the letter 'r', so between May and August. So April is best for cockles and oysters.
Vegetables
Summer is the best time to experience the full range of vegetables and fruit in Portugal but spring has its treats, too. Try beetroot, cabbage, chard, parsnip and spinach.
Spring Activities
The football season is coming to a climax in May so that usually means one of the "Big Three" - Benfica, Porto or Sporting will be winning the Portuguese League (Primeira Liga) or lifting the Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal).
Walking and hiking in Portugal is best done in spring or autumn to avoid the heat of the summer. The Via Algarviana is a long-distance walking route in the Algarve region. It connects Cabo de São Vicente (Cape of Saint Vincent) in the southwest with Alcoutim in the northeast of the region. The Via Algarviana is suitable for both walking or cycling. There are also trails branching off the main route from Aljezur to Marmelete.
MOGA Festival Caparica is an electronic music festival in Caparica. In 2022 the festival switched to a May or early June date from October. There are beach parties, biking, hiking, surfing, and yoga in addition to the music.
facebook.com/mogafestival
If you are thinking of a walking holiday in Portugal a good guide book is essential we believe. Try Walking in Portugal: 40 graded short and multi-day walks throughout the country or The Camino Portugues: From Lisbon and Porto to Santiago - Central, Coastal and Spiritual caminos (International Walking) both by specialist publisher Cicerone.
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