What's the Weather Like in Porto in August
August is definitely the peak season in Porto, bustling with people from all over the world but also bursting with sunshine and excellent temperatures both for beach time and for swimming. This is the second driest month of the year and all you can expect from it is an endless blue sky and an occasional early morning or late afternoon shower closer towards the fourth week, when September is just around the corner.
Temperature
The average temperature drops by one degree, steady at 19°C (66°F), but it is barely felt with the low humidity of 72% on average and mellow wind speeds of just 4m/s. Ultimately, the high average is strong at cca 24°C, and the nights are cool and pleasant with a low average of 14°C. While this is less warm than July, August maintains the hot spirit of summer particularly in the daytime, when the peak temperatures are best felt out by the ocean.
Rainfall
And speaking of dryness, rainfall is at an all-time low again with a volume of 20mm, with only 17% chances of rainy days spread over a cumulated 7 days throughout the entire month. This literally translates to nothing but a warm summer rain here and there, as the sunlight will quickly make it vaporize and seem like nothing even happened an hour ago.
Clouds and Sunshine Hours
Chances of cloudy days drop to 11%, while chances of sunny days stay high at 36% on average, with up to 11 hours of glorious sunshine to enjoy.
Wind
Chances of windy days drop to a new low, at an average of just 3%, best felt out by the ocean. While it's not the strongest of breezes, the motion of currents certainly favors surfing and sailing around the coast.
Sea Temperature
Most importantly, the water temperature goes up by a degree, nice and pleasant at an average of 18°C, excellent for swimming. The deep waters are cool and great for escaping the midday heat, and we recommend packing some SPF lotion to make sure you get nothing but the best out of your beach experience.
If you're looking for a weather forecast for Porto, you are advised to visit this page.
Hotels for Porto in August
Hotel Infante de Sagres
The splendid Hotel Infante de Sagres Small Luxury Hotels of the World is a 5-star complex offering beautiful suites from £102 per night for couples this month. It's a wonderful hotel in the heart of the city, minutes' walk from the popular Avenida dos Aliados, and features a lush spa center with massage facilities and the Boca de Lobo Restaurant which offers a fine dining experience and a broad list of Douro and Port wines. The soundproof rooms are decorated with neo-baroque and custom-made furnishings, antique chandeliers and come fitted with flat screen TVs and air conditioning.
Hotel Teatro - Design Hotels
The stunning Hotel Teatro Design Hotels is a 4-star accommodation in the Ribeira District, minutes away from the iconic Clerigos Tower and Oporto Coliseum. This is a contemporary style hotel, each suite sporting an individual and modern design with earthy tones, bathrooms with chic and modern fittings, including free standing tubs and bidets, all for just £70 per night. Teatro's Palco Restaurant offers a wonderful selection of International and Portuguese dishes, with an appealing wine list and additional exotic refreshments which can also be served at the posh Plateia Bar.
Look at Me - Loft & Studios
For a more cozy and intimate solution, you should book yourself into a wonderful studio at Look at Me Loft & Studios, for just £44 per night. This is a restored townhouse in an excellent location, just 150 yards away from Avenida dos Aliados, and comprises of modern studios and lofts with exclusive décor, open-plan living rooms, queen size beds and dining areas, and all of them come fitted with free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs and fully equipped kitchenette for the pleasure of a self-catering apartment. The surrounding area is packed with breakfast and dining options as well, if you're not too keen on cooking on your holiday, and you'll also be very close to the buzzing Bolhao Market, as well as other historic landmarks of the Ribeira District.
Beaches for August for Porto
Foz de Douro
Foz de Douro is where you'll want to go this August in order to fully enjoy the wonders of the Portuguese coastline. Splendid stretches of golden sand such as Praia da Luz, Praia do Molhe and Praia de Gondarem all spread along the Avenida Brasil, on the mouth of the Douro River. Foz is the more sophisticated part of town and thus it sports a wide array of luxurious residential buildings and privates estates, which perfectly match the trendy esplanades along the beach.
Sea Life
The sand is smooth and warm throughout the summer, and the shallow water entrance allows for excellent swimming or just splashing around if you're not too fond of the deep waters. You can also visit Sea Life, Porto's oceanarium, which encompasses 30 aquariums hosting over 5600 marine creatures, a wondrous and fascinating sight to behold if you want to take a break from swimming and surfing and simply see what wonderful life is in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Restaurants and Bars for Porto in August
Casa da Horta
Casa da Horta is a culinary tribute to vegetarians worldwide, situated within a cultural center complete with bookshops and serigraphy workshops. This place is usually reserved for dinner only, and rarely makes an exception for daytime lunches or brunches. However the wait is always worth it, as all of Casa da Horta's meat-free dishes are simply spectacular, sourced only from local and organic farms, with extra attention to detail and the mandatory insertion of traditional Portuguese flavors and spices. The fun part about this restaurant is that it offers its customers the chance to suggest dishes and changes to the menu, and even physically partake in the actual cooking of their choice of meal.
Chez Lapin
Another great option for Portuguese food is the fancy Chez Lapin, best known for its lovely terrace overlooking the Douro River. You can either sit outside and enjoy the city view reflected in the waters, or pick your table inside and admire rustic walls and classic Portuguese décor. Whichever you pick, the food will certainly not disappoint you. With a mid-range price, any of Chez Lapin's dishes will delight you, whether it's the baked octopus, the famous cod or the rabbit entrée. Just be advised, it will always be paired with Porto's world famous fortified wine, and deservedly so!
Vinologia - La Maison des Porto
Vinologia La Maison des Porto specializes in regional wines, and this fabulous cantina delights in welcoming its guests to all kinds of tastings on the side, complete with sumptuous cheese platters and tapas. All you have to do is simply sit down, relax and browse over the extensive wine menu, while the background music takes you on a voyage down Portugal's memory lane. It's open every day until midnight and it certainly features an impressive collection of fortified Port wines.
Maus Habitos
For something chill and completely informal but certainly enjoyable and friendly, head down to the Maus Habitos. As its name states, it's a spot for "bad habits", where you can enjoy a drink or two, or more in a casual atmosphere, surrounded by artists and art connoisseurs, the young and hip crowd of Porto's youth and mature alike. The venue often hosts theatre, literature and fine arts events, and the price range is surprisingly friendly for this part of Porto.
Things to Do in Porto in August
August is the peak holiday season for most travelers, so expect a large number of small festivals and live music events to take place this month, not to mention football matches and other sporting events. Just keep an eye out on the local blogs for up to date information close to August.
Dom Luis Bridge
Porto has a ridiculous amount of landmarks and iconic building for you to visit, most notably the Dom Luis Bridge, designed by Eiffel in collaboration with Seyrig long before the Eiffel Tower was erected, or the Clerigos Bell Tower, Porto's postcard celebrity dating back to the Baroque period, or the stunning Sao Bento Station, another one of Seyrig's masterpieces.
Douro River Cruise
You can also take a cruise down the Douro River, exploring this UNESCO World Heritage wonder one yard at a time, and let yourself be drawn into the architectural beauty of 18th and 19th century buildings towering over the tranquil riverside, watching the world go by at cafes and terraces or simply admiring the undisturbed patches of natural landscape that emerge once you leave Porto and head for the hills. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience which we recommend to anyone who wants to take away the best parts that Porto has to offer.
Helicopter Tour
You should definitely embark on a helicopter tour and let a professionally certified pilot take you on a dazzling journey above the bell towers and roofs of Porto, getting a unique view of its mélange of antique and modern architecture clustered together around the ever flowing river and riddled with narrow cobblestone alleyways. But if that feels a bit too much, you're better off just enjoying your afternoons in the beautiful Ribeira District, engaging in extensive shopping sprees on Avenida dos Aliados.
