Portuguese Culture: Winter in Portugal
Most visitors to Portugal arrive in the summer but winter (inverno) is also a great time to visit the country.
In summer many sun-seekers head for the beaches of the Algarve in Faro, Lagos, Tavira and Albufeira.
Spring and autumn when the weather is usually good, tourists come for weekend city breaks in the capital Lisbon.
The second city of Porto in the north with its UNESCO World Heritage listed old center of Ribeira is now increasingly popular with visitors from France and northern Europe.
Escape to Madeira
In winter, the story is different and those in search of sunshine are best making for the island of Madeira where daytime temperatures can be as high as 25° Centigrade falling to a reasonable 15° Centigrade at night.
There is much to see and do in the lively and fun Madeiran capital of Funchal or head for the beaches of Porto Santo reached by plane or ferry from the main island.
For visitors who enjoy hiking the winter months on Madeira are a great time to walk the network of mountain trails that often run alongside the island's levadas - irrigation channels to funnel and transport water.
The 37-km long Levada do Caldeirão Verde which becomes the Levada Caldeirão do Inferno, the 5 km Levada do Rei and the 7 km-long Levada do Caniçal are popular hikes. The Levada do Alecrim has great views of the Paul da Serra plateau at around 1,200 meters.
The Levada do Furado is a popular walk and descends to the village of Portelo. There are views of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed laurel forest (laurissilva) on this hike. The Levada do Risco is a path to the Risco waterfall and another walk from Rabaçal on the Levada das 25 Fontes leads to 25 Fontes ("25 Springs") a serene pool fed by several falls. The walks often pass close to some of Madeira's spectacular waterfalls including the Cascata dos Anjos.
Also worth visiting on Madeira are the tradional Palheiros houses of Santana the volcanic rock pools of Porto Moniz and Europe's highest cliff at Cabo Girão on the southern coast.
Winter Sports
It very rarely snows in most of Portugal over the winter. The high mountains of Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are better places to head for if you seek the piste.
The ski resort of Serra da Estrela is, though, the best location to find snow in Portugal. Mainland Portugal's highest peak is here, the 1,993-meter Torre and this is one of the few regions in Portugal where snow falls reliably in winter.
The ski season here runs from mid-November to April with the best conditions most likely in February. There are ski-lifts and around 6 km of slopes to suit mainly beginners. Accommodation is centred on the village of Penhas da Saúde.
See here for a listing of hotels and ski chalets in Penhas da Saúde.
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
The Serra da Estrela is an area of outstanding natural beauty in itself and lies within the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela.
Portugal's two longest rivers that have their sources in Portugal, not neighboring Spain, the Zêzere and Mondego begin their flows here. Guarda and Covilhã are the two nearest towns of any size to the park.
Skiparque in Manteigas has dry slopes for skiers and snow-boarders. There's a camping site, bars and restaurants here, too, and a nice artificial beach on the River Mondego for the summer. The surrounding area offers trails for hiking and mountain-biking, as well as cliff faces for rock climbing. For further details visit skiparque.pt
Artificial ice rinks can also be found now in several places around Portugal too including Porto.
Why Visit Portugal in Winter
Why should you visit Portugal in winter? Well if you are coming from the north of Europe it will probably be a fair, few degrees warmer than home.
In January, temperatures in Lisbon can reach 20°+ Centigrade on warm days, Porto is generally cooler whereas the weather on the Algarve can be mixed, though usually fairly dry.
Prices are lower than in the peak summer season and hotels will be less crowded. Winter is also a great time for hiking and cycling holidays in Portugal. For surfers, the waves at Ericeira and along the Silver Coast are at their highest.
The weather may be colder but visitors to Portugal in winter are always assured a warm welcome!
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