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Is Portugal worth visiting in May?

Lovely sunny weather makes May an ideal time to visit, especially if you're hitting a long-distance trail like the Via Algarviana or the Rota Vicentina. The crowds are beginning to arrive in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, though it's still a fairly relaxed scene compared to the summertime high season.



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Lovely sunny weather makes May an ideal time to visit, especially if you're hitting a long-distance trail like the Via Algarviana or the Rota Vicentina. The crowds are beginning to arrive in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, though it's still a fairly relaxed scene compared to the summertime high season.

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The best month to visit Portugal, specifically the Algarve, is during the shoulder season. I personally love visiting in May-June or late Sept-October. If you're looking to make the most of the Algarve, the sweet spot lies in the shoulder season — May-June and September-October.

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This one is a close call with both destinations seeing temperatures sitting in the balmy mid- to late-twenties during the summer months. Out of the peak season, the Greek island of Crete warms up as early as May hitting around 25C, while the Algarve isn't far behind at around 22C.

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May is the perfect month to travel to The Algarve if you love the warm Algarve sun but want to avoid the hot 30+ temperatures in summer. It's warm enough for activities like exploring beaches, eating out, and swimming, but still mild enough to enjoy activities like hiking, horse riding, bird watching, and climbing!

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How Often Does It Rain in May? During May, Lisbon will feature about 17 mostly sunny, 4 partly sunny, and about 10 mostly cloudy days. You can also expect that 9-10 days will record some rainfall. However, only about 5 days record at least 1 mm (0.04 inches) or more, and only 2 days will see 10 mm (0.4 inches) or more.

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In nine to 12 days, you can expect to see a generous chunk of all that Portugal has to offer, from its most sensational cities to sublime vineyards and beaches, on a north-to-south trip.

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Rainfall. In Lisbon rainiest months of the year are December and November during which monthly rainfall average reaches 128 mm. On the other side, driest months are August and July when the average rainfall is reduced to 4 mm per month.

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The cost of living in Portugal is generally considered about 46 percent cheaper than in the United States. This, coupled with the country's excellent quality of life, beautiful beaches, stunning mountain ranges, reliable public transport, and rich history and culture, make it very easy to fall in love with Portugal.

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On the coast and especially in the tourist resorts of the Algarve, dress is far more casual. Shorts, t-shirts and camisoles are perfectly acceptable. In the summer wear plenty of sunscreen (we love the Riemann P20 range for 10 hour protection) and a sunhat. Pack sunglasses whatever time of year you go.

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You'll find noticeably fewer crowds during these shoulder seasons, and you can save as much as 30% on lodging rates compared to the high season. April and May are also good months to see wildflowers dotting the hillsides, fields and coastal areas of the Algarve.

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