Sintra weather – best time to visit Sintra, Portugal
The dreamlike town of Sintra, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Lisbon, is a mandatory stop for tourists who would like to get to know the most emblematic sights of Portugal.
Only half an hour away from the Portuguese capital, Sintra, inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites easily makes for an entire day of sightseeing.
The ancient place of worship of the moon gods, home to many intriguing monuments and, if you are not into history, just an incredibly picturesque location with delicious pastries, Sintra can, however, surprise the unwary visitors with weather conditions, often drastically different to the ones you may experience on the same day in Lisbon.
Sintra is cool (and humid!)
Due to the high elevation and the abundance of thick forests, the Sintra Mountains have their own microclimate. It is always slightly cooler in Sintra, than in the nearby Lisbon and the difference in temperature is the most evident in the summer. The winds blowing from the Atlantic bring moist air and Sintra’s green areas retain it so do expect high humidity. It is less of a problem in the summer, when relative humidity is at a fairly ‘low’ level of 50%.
View the temperature chart for Sintra, Portugal.
Due to those properties, Sintra was in the past sought after as a summer retreat for Lisbon nobility and royals and nowadays it is still a great place to escape the oppressive heat of Lisbon summer.
Although the temperatures here will be typically some 2-4 degrees lower than in the capital and the ever-present forests provide plenty of shade, be aware however that during the hottest days you should take precautions when visiting Sintra. Sunscreens and hats are highly recommended as once out of the shadow you will be more exposed to the sun, due to the altitude.
Also, staying hydrated is crucial, especially if you plan to walk between Sintra’s monuments, which are scattered across the mountain slopes, with quite steep hikes in between. Taking a taxi or one of the organized tours between the Sintra palaces might be a better solution for those not in the best of shapes and bringing a bottle of water along is a must.
If you are visiting Sintra at the peak of the summer season, try to plan your activities starting early in the morning and ‘wait out’ the most intense heat, for example in many of excellent restaurants and cafés, to continue later in the afternoon. In the summer, most of Sintra’s sites open as early as at 9.30, to accommodate for the large inflow of tourists.
Lots of rain in the winter
During the winter months, the temperature in Sintra averages 10 degrees Celsius, which for visitors from northern Europe may seem just about comfortable at this time of the year.
Be prepared, however, once again for high humidity and plenty of rainy days. Look out for sunny winter days to visit Sintra, otherwise you risk to get soaking wet or, as the best outcome, to find the charming town covered in heavy fog, making it impossible to take good photos, of this otherwise, extremely picturesque place.
A word of warning for hikers: during the rainy season, hiking in Sintra mountains anywhere outside of the main, paved trails is unadvisable.
Also, watch out for strong winds. Sintra is a very windy area, in the winter however, the wind becomes particularly strong, especially at the most elevated sections of the mountain range, such as Palácio da Pena or the Peninha vantage point.
Sintra – visit in spring and autumn
Much like anywhere else in Portugal, in Sintra a visit in the spring or early autumn is a great way to avoid the worse of the tourists crowds and still benefit from pleasant, warm weather.
The average temperatures felt in Sintra throughout April and May and then again, in October and November are more than enough to make for a comfortable visit, despite the risk of rain. Given the particularities of the local climate, one should never assume that a cloudless sky in Lisbon is a guarantee of rain-free day in Sintra. Whenever possible, check current Sintra weather reports.
