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What would you say is the best time to visit Porto/Douro? I have been in Porto 3 times. What time of the year would you say is the best time to visit Porto & Douro? and why?

Any time between Sunday and Saturday.

flash_uk wrote: ↑22:49 Fri 29 Jun 2018 Any time between Sunday and Saturday.

Is that Sunday 1st January and Sunday 31st December?

Anytime except when Europeans are on their holiday there LOL.


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Andy Velebil wrote:Anytime except when Europeans are on their holiday there LOL.

:O Am imagining the response if I replied to the same question posted on ftlop with "anytime the Americans are not there" ;p

PhilW wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:Anytime except when Europeans are on their holiday there LOL.

:O Am imagining the response if I replied to the same question posted on ftlop with "anytime the Americans are not there" ;p

It’s a bit of a joke and also serious. The Douro and Porto are overrun by tourists now, mostly Europeans. For those of us who’ve been going there a long time, it’s a blessing and a curse. That’s just a fact.


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While I agree 100% with Andy that Porto is completely overrun with tourists, I don't feel this yet so much in the Douro Valley... I think the real tourism wave comes in a few years and the place will turn into something Tuscany-like.
But JB Vintage, with regards to your question: If I would have to pick a time, I would always chose the second half of September to travel to the Douro. It's the time of the harvest - which means that most of the important names of the Port trade are during that time. However, they are normally stressed because of their huge responsibilities - and I admire them that they still find the time to guide tourists around and to explain to them everything with a lot of patience and passion. You also have the best photo opportunities, beautiful motives all around. A lot of other Port fanatics are crawling all over the Douro Valley and it's easy to get into contact with each other, to discuss and often to open a few interesting bottles together. You will for sure find a place to tread grapes... While some days might still be pretty hot, the temperature is much more reasonable than in July or August. Just writing these lines make me already want to go there right now... The whole valley has a great vibe; especially if the harvest goes well. And you get very quickly a feeling for the quality of the specific vintage...

Porto as a destination is easier - it's great all year around... but also here I like September. The summer heat is retreating, the school holidays are over, therefore less tourism. Still warm enough that you can sit outside in the evenings.

It's well worth visiting Oporto at least once in a lifetime for the São João festivities but book a long way ahead if you want a choice of hotel rooms. If you avoid the São João weekend, June is a reasonably quiet month to visit. September is usually a very busy month since that's when the grapes are being picked and people are passing through Oporto to get to the vineyards.

June is a fantastic month to visit Porto. Just avoid São João as Alex said and you'll have a great time. The weather is more reliable in June than in May.

The only thing I remind people is the Douro Valley in the summer can be unbearably hot at times. Especially if you come from a country/area that is relatively cool climate and aren't used to it. Though even for me, who lives in a desert area, it wouldn't be fun. Hard to drink Port or wine when it's 40-45 Celsius outside.

I'd avoid July and August. September is more variable, but the first week or so can still be quite hot depending on the year.

For Porto it really doesn't matter as much, weather wise. Even if it's warm during the day in summer it tends to cool down at night due to the proximity to the ocean. The humidity is higher though as a result.