BEST MONTHS TO GET MARRIED IN PORTUGAL: A MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE
Choosing the month is one of the first decisions you make for a wedding in Portugal, and it shapes almost everything after it: the time of the ceremony, how your guests feel at dinner, how much daylight you have for portraits, and how easy it is to find rooms. This guide goes month by month using official weather data and 2027 sunset times, then covers the months that need more planning.
We are Rui and Savannah of The Lopes Photography, a husband-and-wife studio based in the Algarve. Published in Vogue Arabia and Vogue Australia Weddings. Seen in Tatler and British Vogue.
The Short Answer
For most couples, May, June, and September give the best balance of warm days, little rain, and long evening light. In Lisbon, those three months average between two and six rainy days each, with average highs from 74°F (23°C) in May to 80°F (27°C) in September.
July and August are the warmest and driest months, and they work well with a later ceremony and a plan for the heat. October can still be lovely, but it is a different month from September: Lisbon averages 3.8 rain days in September and 8.7 in October, so an October wedding needs an indoor plan.
All weather figures in this guide are the official 1991 to 2020 averages from IPMA, Portugal's national weather institute. Sunset times are for 2027.
Portugal Is Not One Climate
The country is small, but the regions behave differently, and the difference matters more than the month on its own.
Lisbon
Lisbon has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. August averages a high of 84°F (29°C), and November is the city's wettest month, with 9.9 rain days on average.
Sintra and the Atlantic coast
On the exposed coast west of Sintra, the IPMA station at Cabo da Roca averages a high of 71°F (22°C) in August, against 84°F (29°C) in central Lisbon. The palaces and gardens inland sit in a different setting from that cape, so treat the coast figure as a sign of how much cooler the Atlantic edge can be, not as a forecast for every Sintra venue.
Porto and the north
Porto is cooler and wetter than Lisbon. July averages 76°F (24°C), and from October to January the city averages 11 to 13 rain days a month. Inland, the Douro valley is a different climate again: the station at Vila Real averages 84°F (29°C) in August.
The Algarve
The Algarve is the driest region of the three. Faro averages a high of 85°F (29°C) in July with almost no rain, and even in November it averages 6.6 rain days, against 9.9 in Lisbon.
For venues in each region, see our guides to wedding venues in Portugal, Lisbon, Porto and the north, and the Algarve.
Month by Month
Figures are for Lisbon unless noted. Sunset times are for the 15th of each month in 2027, and the low-sun window is the time between the sun dropping below six degrees and sunset, when the light is at its softest.
January and February
Cool and wet, with the shortest days of the year. January averages 10 rainy days and February 7.9. On January 15, the sun sets at 5:38 pm. A winter wedding works best with an indoor venue and a ceremony in the early afternoon.
March
A changeable month: 7.6 rain days on average and highs of 66°F (19°C). In 2027, Easter falls on March 28, the same day the clocks move forward, so sunset jumps from 6:43 pm on March 15 to around 8:00 pm in early April.
April
Spring is properly underway: highs of 69°F (20°C), still with 7.9 rain days on average. On April 15, sunset is at 8:13 pm. April 25 is a national holiday (a Sunday in 2027).
May
One of our favorite months for a destination wedding. Highs average 74°F (23°C) and rain drops to 5.8 days. On May 15, the low-sun window runs from 8:04 pm to sunset at 8:41 pm. May 1 (a Saturday in 2027) and Corpus Christi (Thursday, May 27) are national holidays.
June
Warm, with 2 rain days on average and the longest evenings of the year. On June 15, the low-sun window runs from 8:23 pm to sunset at 9:02 pm. June is also festival month: Lisbon celebrates Santo António on June 13, Porto celebrates São João on the night of June 23 to 24, and June 10 is a national holiday. If your date is close to one of these, book your guests' rooms early.
July
Hot and dry: 83°F (28°C) on average, with 8.5 days a month above 86°F (30°C) and almost no rain. On July 15, sunset is at 9:00 pm, so dinner often starts after dark. A later ceremony keeps your guests out of the strongest sun.
August
The hottest month in Lisbon, at 84°F (29°C), with 10.2 days above 86°F (30°C). August is also the busiest month of the year for tourism: INE, Portugal's statistics office, counted 10.7 million overnight stays in August 2025. August 15 is a national holiday. See the section on the months that need more planning below.
September
Still warm, at 80°F (27°C), with 3.8 rain days on average. On September 15, the low-sun window runs from 7:10 pm to sunset at 7:45 pm, so the light arrives earlier in the evening than in June, which makes for a relaxed pace between the ceremony, portraits, and dinner.
October
Pleasant highs of 73°F (23°C), but rain days more than double from September to 8.7. On October 15, sunset is at 6:58 pm. The clocks go back on October 31, 2027, and from then on sunset is before 5:40 pm. October 5 is a national holiday.
November and December
The wettest stretch of the year. November averages 9.9 rain days and December 10, with highs of 65°F (18°C) and 60°F (15°C). Sunset on December 15 is at 5:15 pm. November 1, December 1, December 8, and December 25 are national holidays.
The Months That Need More Planning
No month is wrong for a wedding in Portugal, but some ask more of your plan.
August
August combines the highest temperatures with the peak of the tourist season. Your guests' flights and rooms are in high demand, and the afternoon sun is strong. In summer, IPMA also publishes a daily rural fire danger class for each municipality, and some activities, such as fireworks and open flames, are restricted at the higher classes. If you are planning a rural venue, fireworks or an open-air dinner by fire, ask your planner and your venue what applies on your date.
November
November is Lisbon's wettest month, and after the clocks change, sunset arrives before 5:40 pm. A November wedding can be beautiful, but only with a venue that works fully indoors and a ceremony early enough to leave daylight for portraits.
December and January
These are the shortest days of the year, with sunset between about 5:15 pm and 5:40 pm and around 10 rain days a month in Lisbon. The Algarve is drier, with 6 to 7 rain days a month in Faro, but the daylight is just as short.
Festival and event dates in 2027
Lisbon celebrates Santo António on June 13, and Porto celebrates São João on the night of June 23 to 24. In 2027, Porto also hosts Primavera Sound from June 10 to 13, and Lisbon hosts NOS Alive from July 8 to 10. In the Algarve, Festival MED runs in Loulé from June 24 to 27 and Festival F in Faro from September 2 to 4. Web Summit returns to Lisbon from November 8 to 11. None of these rules out a date, but book your guests' rooms as soon as your date is fixed.
How the Month Shapes Your Photographs
The month decides when the light is at its best, and that decides your timeline. In June, the softest light arrives after 8:20 pm in Lisbon; in October, it arrives before 6:30 pm. A ceremony at the same hour in both months gives you completely different portraits.
This is why we always visit your venue before the wedding, including venues we know well, ideally with your planner or with you. We look at the ceremony, cocktail hour, and portrait spots at the hour you will use them, tell you what the light will be doing at that time, and build our own photography timeline around it. Both of us, Rui and Savannah, photograph every wedding, so one of us can stay with you during the best light while the other is with your guests.
For a full planning sequence, from booking the venue to the wedding weekend, see our destination wedding timeline for Portugal.
For Couples from the US
Nonstop flights from the US change with the season, which matters if most of your guests are flying in.
Lisbon has the most choice all year. Delta flies daily from New York JFK year-round, American flies from Philadelphia year-round, and TAP Air Portugal flies nonstop from several US cities. Delta's Boston flight is seasonal.
Porto has a year-round TAP flight from Boston.
Faro, the Algarve's airport, has a summer nonstop from Newark on United. Outside summer, plan on a connection.
Our collections start at €10,000, VAT included. Travel within Portugal is included, so the starting price is the same whichever month and region you choose. For the full budget, see our guide to destination wedding costs in Portugal. If you plan to marry legally in Portugal, the paperwork has its own timing; see the legal requirements to get married in Portugal.
Questions About the Best Time to Get Married in Portugal
What is the best month to get married in Portugal?
For most couples, May, June, and September have warm days, little rain, and long evening light. July and August are warmer and drier and work well with a later ceremony and a heat plan.
What is the best time of year for a wedding in Lisbon?
Late spring and early autumn. In Lisbon, May averages 74°F (23°C) with 5.8 rain days, and September averages 80°F (27°C) with 3.8 rain days.
Is it a good idea to get married in Lisbon in spring?
Yes, from May especially. March and April are greener and milder, but still average close to 8 rainy days a month, so keep an indoor plan.
What is it like to get married in Lisbon in summer?
Hot and dry, with the longest evenings of the year. July and August average 83°F to 84°F (28°C to 29°C), and sunset is around 9:00 pm in July, so ceremonies are usually held later in the day.
What is it like to get married in Lisbon in autumn?
September is one of the best months of the year. October is still mild, at 73°F (23°C), but Lisbon averages 8.7 rainy days, and November is the wettest month of the year.
Can you get married in Lisbon in winter?
Yes, with an indoor venue and an early ceremony. Highs are around 60°F (15°C), Lisbon averages about 10 rainy days a month from December to January, and the sun sets between 5:15 pm and 5:40 pm.
What is the worst month to get married in Portugal?
There is no single worst month, but August, November, and the short days of December and January ask the most of your plan: August for heat and crowds, November for rain, and midwinter for daylight.
Does Sintra have different weather from Lisbon?
The Atlantic coast near Sintra is noticeably cooler in summer: Cabo da Roca averages 71°F (22°C) in August, against 84°F (29°C) in Lisbon. Ask your venue how its own spaces handle wind and evening temperatures.
Are there wildfire concerns for a summer wedding in Portugal?
In summer, IPMA publishes a daily rural fire danger class for each municipality, and some activities, including fireworks, are restricted at the higher classes. Your planner and your venue can tell you what applies on your date.
Choosing Your Date
Once you have a month in mind, check three things before you fix the date: national holidays and city festivals, your guests' flights, and the sunset time on the day. We are happy to review a date with you; you can see what our collections include on our services page or contact us through our inquiry page. We respond within 24 hours.
The Lopes Photography
Editorial wedding photography, film & Super 8 in Portugal, Italy & France (and beyond).
