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Best time to visit Sintra: month by month
Short answer
April to June and September to October are the best months, with highs of about 18–24°C. Sintra is cooler, greener and often mistier than Lisbon, even in summer; July and August are the busiest, with long queues, and winter is mild, wet and quiet.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 7°C | 8 | low |
| Feb | 16°C | 9°C | 9 | low |
| Mar | 17°C | 10°C | 10 | medium |
| Apr | 18°C | 11°C | 8 | high |
| May | 21°C | 13°C | 7 | high |
| Jun | 22°C | 15°C | 9 | high |
| Jul | 25°C | 16°C | 1 | very high |
| Aug | 25°C | 17°C | 1 | very high |
| Sep | 24°C | 16°C | 10 | high |
| Oct | 23°C | 16°C | 12 | medium |
| Nov | 17°C | 11°C | 11 | low |
| Dec | 16°C | 10°C | 15 | low |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs of about 17–21°C, with 7–10 rainy days a month; gardens at their greenest.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Highs of about 22–25°C, dry in July and August but often misty; peak crowds and queues.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September (about 24°C) and October (about 23°C) are pleasant, with rain increasing; November cools to about 17°C.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Mild, with highs of about 14–16°C and 8–15 rainy days; quiet, with shorter palace hours.
Events worth planning around
- Portuguese public holidays such as 25 April, 10 June and 15 August bring extra visitors from Lisbon
- Easter week and summer weekends, when Pena time slots sell out
When to avoid
July and August weekends are the most crowded, with Pena tickets selling out by midday. Midwinter is wet and some days are very misty.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Sintra?
May, June or September: about 21–24°C and fewer queues than July–August.
Is Sintra misty?
Often, even in summer, because of its hills and Atlantic air; bring a light jacket.
Is Sintra worth visiting in winter?
Yes for quiet visits, with highs of about 14–16°C, but expect rain and shorter palace hours.