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Sintra Climate and When to Go?
There is plenty to see and do in and around Sintra at any time of the year. In July and August, the main attractions can become very crowded, particularly between 10am and 4am when coachloads of visitors from Lisbon and further afield descend on the town’s three palaces. June and September are probably the best times to visit, not just to escape the crowds, but because the heat is less intense, making a hike in the hills and forests of the Serra de Sintra an altogether pleasanter experience.
Sintra in Spring
Temperatures in March range from around 5ᵒC (41ᵒF) to around 17ᵒC (63ᵒF). By May expect a range of between 10ᵒC (50ᵒF) and 25ᵒC (77ᵒF) accompanied by around 300 hours of sunshine. The month of April can see some quite heavy showers, with averages of around 60mm of rainfall. Rainfall decreases steadily through May and June with an average of around 4 or 5 days with rainfall in the month of June.
Sintra in Summer
Although Sintra is only 15 kilometres from Lisbon, the altitude combined with winds from the Atlantic ensure that the temperatures here are usually a couple of degrees below those in Lisbon. No wonder the wealthy chose to build their summer retreats and palaces here. Forests in the palace estates and on the Serra de Sintra provide walkers with some shelter from the sun, but it is still hot here in summer. Very little rain is seen during July and August, and during the peak summer season temperatures usually hover around 25ᵒC (77ᵒF), although they can reach over 30ᵒC (86ᵒF). July is the driest and hottest month.
Sintra in Autumn
September can be the best time to visit Sintra. The town and its palaces tend to be less crowded than in July and August, but temperatures are still likely to hover around 25ᵒC (77ᵒF) and the month of September usually sees only a handful of rainy days. Not surprisingly, rainfall increases and temperatures fall as the season moves into late October and November, but even in October, daytime temperatures in the low 20s (around 70ᵒF) are not uncommon.
Sintra in Winter
From November through to the end of February, Sintra sees quite a lot of rainfall, with an average of around 15 days of rain in each month. But temperatures remain milder than most destinations in northern Europe and it is rare for them to remain in single figures for long. January and December usually see the heaviest rainfall, although these months do experience some bright, sunny days too.