The success of a trip to Porto in March often hinges on a single, unpredictable factor: the weather.

While the chill of winter recedes and temperatures become milder, the city's position on the Atlantic coast means it catches moisture-laden winds that frequently bring heavy rain. While you might be fortunate enough to experience a string of bright, clear days, it is far more realistic to expect wet weather for a significant portion of your trip. A successful visit, therefore, relies on a flexible itinerary that plans for both rainy days and the sunny spells that can break through unexpectedly.

The rewards for braving the rain are substantial. March is your final opportunity to take advantage of rock-bottom, off-season prices for flights and accommodation before rates begin their steady climb towards Easter and the summer peak. This exceptional value is matched by an even greater prize: having the magnificent city of Porto almost to yourself. This is a time when you can secure a last-minute spot on a Port cellar tour, capture the perfect photo in the Livraria Lello bookshop without jostling for position, and get a table at a riverside restaurant without a reservation.

You'll experience the city as residents know it, where the pace is slower and the atmosphere is entirely authentic. This guide will show you how to navigate Porto’s unpredictable weather in March, balancing its world-class indoor attractions with strategic adventures for when the sun inevitably breaks through

 

 

March signals the slow retreat of winter and the unpredictable arrival of spring. The weather is notoriously changeable, capable of offering brilliantly sunny days followed by periods of rain blown in from the Atlantic.

On average, the daytime high in March reaches a mild 16C (61F), while nighttime temperatures drop to a chilly 8C (46F). The city sees around 6 hours of sunshine per day, but you should also be prepared for rain. Porto averages 14 days with some rainfall during March, contributing to around 96mm of precipitation for the month. Daylight hours increase noticeably throughout March; the sun sets around 6:30 PM at the start of the month and extends to nearly 8:00 PM by the end of March, following the start of daylight saving time.

While you may be lucky and enjoy a spell of clear, spring-like weather, it is wise to have an itinerary that includes plenty of indoor attractions. When the sun does shine, it feels genuinely warm, and you'll see locals flocking to the riverside cafés to soak it in.

Insight: While wetter than Lisbon, Porto's weather in March is often significantly milder and sunnier than most of Northern Europe, making it a fantastic choice for a characterful city break to escape the last of winter.

With fewer tourists, March is a wonderful time to explore Porto's main sights at a more relaxed pace.

• Ribeira District: Lose yourself in the UNESCO World Heritage labyrinth of medieval streets along the Douro riverfront. With fewer crowds, you can appreciate the charmingly dilapidated buildings and local life without the summer hustle. Find a café, order a coffee, and watch the traditional rabelo boats bob on the water.

• Port Wine Cellars: An essential Porto experience and perfect for any weather. Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia and take a tour of one of the famous Port lodges like Taylor's, Graham's, or Sandeman. The tours end with a tasting of this famous fortified wine.

• Livraria Lello: Visiting one of the world's most beautiful bookshops is a much more pleasant experience in the quieter off-season. While you'll still likely need to book in advance, the queues are shorter, allowing you to better appreciate the stunning neo-Gothic interior and its famous red staircase.

• Climb the Clérigos Tower: On a clear March day, the panoramic views from the top of this baroque bell tower are breathtaking. The 240-step climb is rewarded with a 360-degree vista of the city's terracotta roofs, the winding Douro, and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.

• São Bento Train Station: Step inside one of the world's most beautiful train stations to admire its magnificent main hall. Over 20,000 blue and white azulejo tiles depict scenes from Portuguese history, creating a stunning, free-to-visit art gallery that offers a perfect escape from a sudden shower.

• Historic Tram Ride: Take a scenic journey on one of Porto’s charming historic trams. The most popular route, Line 1, rattles along the banks of the Douro River out to the Foz district, where the river meets the ocean.

• Dom Luís I Bridge: Take a walk across the upper deck of this iconic two-level bridge, designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel. The views of both Porto and Gaia are spectacular, especially as the sun begins to set on a clear evening.

• Day Trip to Guimarães (for a dry day): A trip to Guimarães is a journey to the birthplace of Portugal and is one of the best day trips from Porto. Its exceptionally well-preserved historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, filled with charming medieval squares, Gothic churches, and traditional houses.

The Foz district as seen from the air, with the Douro River to the left of the image

The inevitable March showers are the perfect excuse to discover some of Porto's most captivating indoor attractions.

• Palácio da Bolsa: The former Stock Exchange Palace is a 19th-century marvel. A guided tour is the only way to see the interior, culminating in the jaw-dropping Arab Room, a gilded, octagonal hall inspired by the Alhambra.

• Igreja de São Francisco: Next door to the Palácio da Bolsa, this Gothic church has one of the most astonishingly opulent interiors in Europe. Almost every surface is covered in more than 100kg of gold leaf, a spectacular sight to behold as you shelter from the rain.

• World of Wine (WOW): Located in Gaia, this vast cultural complex is a fantastic rainy-day destination. With seven different museums dedicated to everything from wine and cork to chocolate and fashion, plus numerous restaurants and shops, you can easily spend an entire afternoon here.

• Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis: Housed in a former royal palace, this is Portugal's premier museum of fine arts, showcasing Portuguese painting and sculpture from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

• Soak in a Historic Café: Take refuge from a downpour in the stunning Belle Époque surroundings of the Café Majestic on Rua Santa Catarina, or enjoy the classic atmosphere of A Brasileira near São Bento Station.

• Mercado do Bolhão: Explore the historic city market, it’s a bustling hub where you can browse stalls of fresh produce, fish, flowers, and cheeses, or grab lunch from one of the small restaurants inside.

The stunning interior of the Livraria Lello bookshop

The following is a suggested 4-day itinerary for a stay in Porto during March. Each day is planned with the changeable March weather in mind, suggesting a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions.

Day 1: The Historic Core of Porto
The first day is an immersion in Porto's historic centre, a dense and atmospheric district of major monuments and narrow, winding streets.

The morning could begin at the Mercado do Bolhão, the city's grand traditional market. Housed within a beautifully restored 19th-century iron structure, it serves as a vibrant centre of local life. The ground floor is a bustling space where you can see vendors selling fresh fish, colourful produce, flowers, and regional cheeses.

Just a short walk away is São Bento Station, a landmark that is as much a public art gallery as it is a transport hub. Its main hall is famous for the vast murals made from over 20,000 azulejo tiles. These impressive blue and white panels depict scenes from Portugal's history and traditional rural life.

Dominating the skyline of the old town is the Sé Cathedral, Porto's most historic and commanding structure. This fortress-like Romanesque building dates back to the 12th century, and its terrace offers some of the finest views across the Douro River. Inside, the serene Gothic cloister is a highlight, its walls decorated with beautiful tile panels.

The afternoon offers a chance to explore a cluster of Porto’s most famous landmarks. The soaring Baroque Clérigos Tower is an icon of the city, and on a clear day, the climb to its summit is rewarded with an exceptional 360-degree perspective. Nearby is the celebrated Livraria Lello, known for its remarkable neo-Gothic interior. A short distance away, the Igreja do Carmo presents one of Porto’s finest exteriors, with a magnificent side wall completely covered in traditional tiles. Should the March weather turn, the Igreja de São Francisco provides a remarkable indoor alternative, where a simple Gothic exterior hides a breathtakingly ornate, gilded interior.

The day culminates in the Ribeira district, the city's historic riverfront and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the city’s classic postcard view: a vibrant riverfront where medieval alleys and tall, pastel-coloured houses meet the water's edge.

Day 2: Vila Nova de Gaia
The second day is devoted to exploring Vila Nova de Gaia, the city across the river that is intrinsically linked to the history of Port wine. This is where Port has been aged, blended, and shipped for centuries, and its riverside is lined with the famous cellars of historic producers.

Crossing the river to Gaia is an experience in itself, thanks to the Dom Luís I Bridge. This twin-levelled metal arch is the city's most recognisable landmark, and a walk along its upper deck provides spectacular views of the Ribeira district and the rooftops of Gaia.

The main draw of Gaia is the opportunity to visit one of the historic Port cellars, with many located conveniently along the riverfront promenade. Among these, Caves Ferreira stands out as one of the great Portuguese-owned Port houses, with tours that highlight its deep national heritage. The iconic Sandeman cellar offers atmospheric tours led by guides in its signature black capes, while Caves Cálem features a popular and engaging interactive museum.

A walk further up the hill brings you to Taylor's, one of the oldest houses. It offers an excellent self-guided audio tour through its extensive cellars, culminating in a tasting in its beautiful garden courtyard.

Continuing uphill leads to the World of Wine (WOW), a modern cultural district that offers an excellent alternative to a traditional cellar tour, especially on a rainy day. This impressive complex contains a range of immersive museums focused on subjects from the history of wine and cork to Porto's textile industry and the story of chocolate.

For a different perspective of the river and the Ribeira skyline, a ride on the Teleférico de Gaia is highly recommended. The cable car provides a short but scenic journey, connecting the lower waterfront with the Jardim do Morro gardens and the magnificent viewpoint at the Miradouro da Serra do Pilar.

Day 3: A Day Trip to the Birthplace of Portugal
A day trip to Guimarães offers a journey into the origins of the Portuguese nation. Known as the "Cradle City," this is where Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born, and its historical importance is felt throughout the town. Its entire old town is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, reachable by a scenic and straightforward train ride from Porto’s São Bento station. The trip is best saved for a day with a favourable weather forecast to fully appreciate its medieval character.

The heart of the town is its remarkably well-preserved centre. A walk down the historic Rua de Santa Maria, lined with traditional houses, connects the upper castle district with the lower town’s charming plazas. The most famous of these is the Largo da Oliveira, a beautiful medieval square that contains two of the town's most important landmarks: the ancient Oliveira Church and the Padrão do Salado, a unique Gothic shrine built to commemorate a 14th-century battle.

At the town's highest point stands the 10th-century Guimarães Castle, a potent symbol of the nation's origins with its seven imposing square towers. A visit allows you to walk along the narrow battlements and climb the central keep, which offers commanding views over the historic rooftops and the surrounding countryside.

Just below the castle is the grand Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, a 15th-century manor with striking architecture and distinctive cylindrical brick chimneys. Today it functions as a museum, and its well-preserved interior, with vast banquet halls and a private chapel, effectively conveys the power and wealth of Portugal’s most important noble family. The rooms are filled with impressive collections of Persian tapestries, period furniture, and armour.

Day 4: Palaces, a Riverside Tram, and the Atlantic Coast
The final day offers a wonderful contrast, beginning with the rich history of Porto's commercial heart before journeying out to the bracing air of the Atlantic coast.

The morning is an ideal time to visit the Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), one of the city's most impressive historic buildings. A guided tour leads through a sequence of incredibly ornate 19th-century rooms, culminating in the magnificent Salão Árabe (Arab Room). This dazzling ballroom was inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Spain and is decorated with intricate Moorish-style stucco and gilded surfaces.

From the area near the palace, you can begin the afternoon's journey to the coast aboard Porto's historic tram. Taking the scenic Line 1 is an experience in itself, as the vintage carriage rattles along the northern bank of the Douro, offering wonderful views as the river widens to meet the sea.

The tram line terminates at Foz do Douro, the district where the river opens out into the Atlantic. The character here is entirely different from the city centre, defined by sandy beaches like the Praia dos Ingleses, a long seaside promenade, and the powerful waves of the ocean. It is a wonderful place for a walk along the seafront path out to the Felgueiras Lighthouse, which stands at the mouth of the river.

Depending on the March weather, you can add another stop to your day. If the weather is clear, the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace Gardens) are a highly recommended visit. These beautifully landscaped gardens are set on a high point overlooking the city and offer some of the best panoramic perspectives in Porto. Alternatively, should the weather be poor, the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis offers a rewarding cultural experience. Housed in an elegant palace, it is Portugal's first national museum and holds the country's finest collection of 19th-century Portuguese art.

Packing for Porto in March is all about smart preparation for its changeable character. The key is versatility, with an emphasis on layers that can be added or removed as the day unfolds. Prioritising comfort and protection from the rain will ensure you can explore the city’s steep, cobbled streets happily, regardless of what the Atlantic weather decides to do.

Here is a practical list of what to pack:

• A Waterproof Jacket: This is the single most important item you will pack. Choose a jacket that is genuinely waterproof, not just water-resistant, and ideally windproof too. A classic trench coat with a hood or a reliable shell jacket will be your best friend when navigating the city during a sudden downpour.

• Multiple Layers: Instead of a single heavy winter coat, bring several lighter layers. Think thin sweaters (wool or fleece are excellent), long-sleeved tops, and t-shirts. This allows you to adapt to the conditions, staying warm in the chilly mornings and evenings while being able to shed a layer if the sun makes a warm appearance in the afternoon.

• Comfortable, Water-Resistant Footwear: Porto is a city of steep hills and charming but uneven cobblestones, which can become slippery when wet. A pair of comfortable, broken-in shoes with good grip is essential. Waterproof or water-resistant ankle boots or sturdy trainers are ideal choices. Leave summer shoes like sandals or espadrilles at home.

• A Sturdy Umbrella: While a jacket is your first line of defence, a compact, wind-resistant umbrella is invaluable for keeping you dry as you walk between attractions. The winds blowing in from the coast can be strong, so a cheap, flimsy model may not survive the trip.

• A Mix of Trousers/Jeans: Jeans are perfectly suitable for the city’s relaxed atmosphere, but be aware that they take a very long time to dry if they get soaked in the rain. Packing a pair of quicker-drying trousers (such as chinos) can be a wise move.