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April looks like spring on paper and surprises visitors with its rain. Porto weather april brings more sunshine than any month since September, and more rain than March. The trick is to plan around showers rather than hope for a dry week. At 18.1 °C by day and 9.1 °C at night, it is mild enough for long walks between the showers, and 217 hours of sunshine give plenty of bright spells to use.
The river and the valley, for the drier days of the month.
Our pickPorto: Six Bridges Cruise
About 50 minutes on the river under the six bridges
A first look at the city from the water
Porto: Douro Valley with Lunch (Optional), Tastings & Cruise
A full day in the valley with tastings and a cruise; lunch optional
A dry day for the Douro
More sun and more rain
If you want to know what is the weather like in Porto in April, the short answer is changeable. Days average 18.1 °C (64.6 °F), nights 9.1 °C (48.4 °F), and rain rises to 117.6 mm (4.6 in), more than March's 95.6 mm (3.8 in).
Sunshine climbs at the same time to 217 hours. The two together mean bright spells and passing showers rather than long grey days. The IPMA forecast a few days ahead is the best guide to which afternoon to keep for the river.
April is the month where Porto's two seasons overlap most visibly. Sunshine reaches 217 hours, more than March and roughly 75 hours more than November, while rainfall at 117.6 mm is higher than in any spring or summer month. Temperatures sit in between: a high of 18.1 °C and a low of 9.1 °C.
The result is a month of bright spells and passing showers, which suits travellers who can move a plan by an hour or a day.
April averages 18.1 °C by day and rising rain.Towards May
Porto weather end of April starts to lean towards May, the month when rain drops sharply to 89.6 mm (3.5 in) and highs reach 20.1 °C (68.2 °F). Taken together, the weather in Porto in April and May is the spring transition: April the showery half, May the settled one.
For a trip that needs dry days, late May is the safer bet. Compare March, May and every other month on the Porto weather page.
A good April plan mixes one outdoor outing with one indoor visit each day and lets the weather decide the order. A river cruise, the riverside walk and the viewpoints are best on a bright afternoon, and the cellars in Gaia and the museums on a wet one. Booking tours that allow free cancellation makes this easy.
For clothes, pack light layers, a waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes with grip. Evenings average 9.1 °C, so a warm layer for dinner is still sensible. The contrast with May is worth knowing: rain falls by about a quarter from April to May, so late-April travellers are close to the drier half of the year.
April against the months either side
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) | 7.8 °C (46.0 °F) | 95.6 mm | 192 h |
| April | 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) | 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) | 117.6 mm | 217 h |
| May | 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) | 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) | 89.6 mm | 258 h |
- Average high
- 17.4 °C (63.3 °F)
- Average low
- 7.8 °C (46.0 °F)
- Rainfall
- 95.6 mm
- Sunshine
- 192 h
- Average high
- 18.1 °C (64.6 °F)
- Average low
- 9.1 °C (48.4 °F)
- Rainfall
- 117.6 mm
- Sunshine
- 217 h
- Average high
- 20.1 °C (68.2 °F)
- Average low
- 11.6 °C (52.9 °F)
- Rainfall
- 89.6 mm
- Sunshine
- 258 h
Common questions
Does it rain a lot in Porto in April?
April averages 117.6 mm of rain, more than March and May, but with 217 hours of sunshine the showers are often short.
How warm is Porto in April?
Average highs are 18.1 °C and lows 9.1 °C.
Is April good for a river cruise?
Yes on a dry afternoon; keep the booking flexible where the operator offers free cancellation.