Portugal in March: Weather, Wildflowers and Easter

March is when spring arrives in Portugal: green hills, wildflowers, longer days and mild temperatures, with far fewer visitors than later in the year. It can still be showery, but it’s a lovely, good-value time for cities, walking and road trips. Here’s what to expect.

Quick answer: expect highs of about 18°C in Lisbon and the Algarve, with some rain. Highlights: wildflowers on the Rota Vicentina, the Óbidos Chocolate Festival (March weekends), Easter at the end of March in 2027 (28 March), and the last of the big-wave season at Nazaré. The sea is still cold (about 15°C).

Weather

• Lisbon: highs around 18°C, with showers.
• Porto: around 16–17°C, still fairly wet.
• The Algarve: around 18–19°C, with plenty of sunshine.
• Madeira: around 20°C.

What’s on

• Óbidos Chocolate Festival on March weekends. See Óbidos.
• Easter week (Holy Week processions in Braga; Easter Sunday is 28 March in 2027). See Braga.
• Nazaré’s big waves until the end of March.
• Attractions reopen: Zoomarine reopened in mid-March in 2026.

Where to go

• The Costa Vicentina: wildflowers and perfect walking weather. See Costa Vicentina.
• Lisbon, Sintra and Porto: mild and uncrowded. See Sintra in one day.
• The Alentejo: green fields before the summer heat. See Évora.
• Madeira: spring flowers and levadas. See levada walks.

Tips

• Pack layers and a rain jacket.
• Easter week gets busy and pricier.
• Great for road trips: see the Portugal road trip.

More: February, April and Portugal in spring.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.