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Sea temperature in Portugal

Live water temperatures and swimming conditions across 204 beaches on the Portugal coast.

Best time to swim in Portugal

The sea in Portugal peaks in August, when the water averages around 21°C.

The main swimming season runs from July – September, when surface temperatures stay comfortable for extended sessions.

On average, 3 months a year sit above 20°C — the threshold most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.

Shoulder months like June and October are noticeably cooler but often quieter, with fewer crowds and steadier weather.

Outside peak season the water drops toward 14°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable.

The coldest month is typically February at around 14°C, when cold-water swimmers dominate the coast.

Portugal sea temperature history

Long-term climatology for Portugal shows an annual mean sea temperature of 18°C, ranging from 14°C in winter to 21°C at the summer peak.

The seasonal swing is roughly 7°C between the coldest and warmest month — a useful yardstick when comparing years or checking whether the current sea is running above or below average.

Recent decades have trended slightly warmer at Portugal, in line with regional sea-surface temperature records for the wider basin.

Monthly averages below are drawn from multi-decadal climatology and are updated as new observations arrive.

Jan
15°C
Feb
14°C
Mar
15°C
Apr
16°C
May
17°C
Jun
19°C
Jul
20°C
Aug
21°C
Sep
21°C
Oct
19°C
Nov
18°C
Dec
16°C

Values are area averages; individual beaches vary by exposure and depth.

Portugal sea temperature: frequently asked questions

What is the warmest month to swim in Portugal?

August is the warmest month in Portugal, when the sea averages about 21°C. Late-season warmth often persists a few weeks after peak.

When is the sea coldest in Portugal?

The coldest month in Portugal is typically February, when the water averages around 14°C. Cold-water swimmers and surfers dominate this period.

When can you swim in Portugal without a wetsuit?

The main swimming season in Portugal runs from July – September — about 3 months a year when the sea sits above 20°C, the level most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.

Do I need a wetsuit in Portugal?

Outside peak summer the water in Portugal drops toward 14°C, so a 3/2mm shorty or full wetsuit makes long swims much more comfortable. In peak months most swimmers go without.

What is the average sea temperature in Portugal?

The long-term annual mean sea temperature in Portugal is about 18°C, based on multi-decadal climatology of the surrounding waters.

How do I check the current sea temperature in Portugal?

The live reading at the top of this page shows the current sea temperature in Portugal, updated hourly from marine buoy and satellite data. The 7-day forecast covers water, air, waves, wind and UV for the week ahead.

Portugal sea temperature by month

Average sea temperatures around Portugal for every month of the year, based on long-term Open-Meteo marine climatology.

Monthly average sea temperature in Portugal
MonthAverage sea
January15.0°C
February14.0°C
March15.0°C
April16.0°C
May17.0°C
June19.0°C
July20.0°C
August ⭐21.0°C
September21.0°C
October19.0°C
November18.0°C
December16.0°C

Monthly figures are modelled climatology averages, not live readings. How accurate is our data?

Coastal regions of Portugal

Region hubs with live sea temperatures, swim conditions and a beach directory.

Warmest beaches in Portugal right now

BeachRegionSea
Praia Grande GraciosaAzores21.7°C
Praia do PinhaoAlgarve21.7°C
Praia do ZavialAlgarve21.7°C
Praia do Farol MilfontesAlentejo21.7°C
Praia do Senhor da PedraCosta Verde21.7°C
Praia da LuzAlgarve21.6°C
Praia do GuinchoLisbon Coast21.6°C
Praia da Faja GrandeAzores21.6°C
Burgau BeachAlgarve21.6°C
Praia da CordoamaAlgarve21.6°C
Praia da OuraAlgarve21.6°C
Praia da Aberta NovaAlentejo21.6°C
Praia do MagoitoLisbon Coast21.6°C
Praia de SesimbraLisbon Coast21.6°C
Praia da Figueira da FozSilver Coast21.6°C
Praia de Sao LourenoSilver Coast21.6°C
Praia de EspinhoCosta Verde21.6°C
Praia de Vila Praia de AncoraCosta Verde21.6°C
Praia da CalhetaMadeira21.6°C
Praia do AlemaoAlgarve21.5°C
Praia do Porto de MosAlgarve21.5°C
Praia do TrafalAlgarve21.5°C
Praia do AncaoAlgarve21.5°C
Praia de Monte GordoAlgarve21.5°C
Praia da AlagoaAlgarve21.5°C
Praia dos AlteirinhosAlentejo21.5°C
Praia de Vila Nova de MilfontesAlentejo21.5°C
Praia de SinesAlentejo21.5°C
Praia da Foz do ArelhoSilver Coast21.5°C
Praia da FofaSilver Coast21.5°C
Praia da Cova GalaSilver Coast21.5°C
Praia de Sao JacintoSilver Coast21.5°C
Praia de MindeloCosta Verde21.5°C
Praia Formosa Santa MariaAzores21.5°C
Praia do AmadoAlgarve21.4°C
Praia FormosaMadeira21.4°C
Seixal Natural PoolsMadeira21.4°C
Praia da Vinha da AreiaAzores21.4°C
Praia de São LourençoAzores21.4°C
Praia da GaleAlgarve21.4°C
Praia dos Olhos de AguaAlgarve21.4°C
Praia da Falesia VilamouraAlgarve21.4°C
Praia VerdeAlgarve21.4°C
Praia do MalhaoAlentejo21.4°C
Praia do Guincho PenicheSilver Coast21.4°C
Praia da MadalenaCosta Verde21.4°C
Praia de MatosinhosCosta Verde21.4°C
Praia do Norte VianaCosta Verde21.4°C
Prainha MadeiraMadeira21.4°C
Praia de TaviraAlgarve21.3°C
Praia da AmoreiraAlgarve21.3°C
Praia de CarcavelosLisbon Coast21.3°C
Praia da AdragaLisbon Coast21.3°C
Praia de NazaréSilver Coast21.3°C
Porto Santo BeachMadeira21.3°C
Praia do Porto MonizMadeira21.3°C
Praia do GarajauMadeira21.3°C
Praia do CamiloAlgarve21.3°C
Praia dos EstudantesAlgarve21.3°C
Praia da AssentaSilver Coast21.3°C
Praia da EriceiraSilver Coast21.3°C
Praia de Ribeira dIlhasSilver Coast21.3°C
Praia Dona AnaAlgarve21.2°C
Meia PraiaAlgarve21.2°C
Praia de Santa BárbaraAzores21.2°C
Praia do MartinhalAlgarve21.2°C
Praia dos PescadoresAlgarve21.2°C
Praia da BalaiaAlgarve21.2°C
Praia de Vale de CenteanesAlgarve21.2°C
Praia do ParaisoAlgarve21.2°C
Praia da Manta RotaAlgarve21.2°C
Praia de FaroAlgarve21.2°C
Praia da Ilha do PessegueiroAlentejo21.2°C
Praia do PegoAlentejo21.2°C
Praia de Troia MarAlentejo21.2°C
Praia da ConsolacaoSilver Coast21.2°C
Praia da Areia BrancaSilver Coast21.2°C
Praia da RedondaCosta Verde21.2°C
Praia de MachicoMadeira21.2°C
Praia das MaçãsLisbon Coast21.1°C
Praia da ZambujeiraAlentejo Coast21.1°C
Praia da ArrifanaAlgarve21.1°C
Praia Grande FerragudoAlgarve21.1°C
Praia Grande ArmacaoAlgarve21.1°C
Praia de Vale CovoAlgarve21.1°C
Praia do BarrilAlgarve21.1°C
Ilha da CulatraAlgarve21.1°C
Praia da UrsaLisbon Coast21.1°C
Praia da Costa da CaparicaLisbon Coast21.1°C
Praia de Sao Joao CaparicaLisbon Coast21.1°C
Praia do SupertubosSilver Coast21.1°C
Praia da GranjaCosta Verde21.1°C
Praia da AgudaCosta Verde21.1°C
Praia de LecaCosta Verde21.1°C
Praia de Porto PimAzores21.1°C
Praia da RochaAlgarve21.0°C
Praia de BenagilAlgarve21.0°C
Praia da MarinhaAlgarve21.0°C
Praia de OdeceixeAlgarve21.0°C
Praia da GaléAlentejo Coast21.0°C
Praia do VauAlgarve21.0°C
Praia da CoelhaAlgarve21.0°C
Praia de Sao RafaelAlgarve21.0°C
Praia do CasteloAlgarve21.0°C
Praia de Santa EulaliaAlgarve21.0°C
Praia dos CaneirosAlgarve21.0°C
Praia da Rocha BaixinhaAlgarve21.0°C
Praia de MelidesAlentejo21.0°C
Praia do Malhao CavaleiroAlentejo21.0°C
Praia da RainhaLisbon Coast21.0°C
Praia dos CarneirosCosta Verde21.0°C
Praia de FaoCosta Verde21.0°C
Praia de MoledoCosta Verde21.0°C
Praia de QuarteiraAlgarve20.9°C
Praia de Monte ClérigoAlgarve20.9°C
Praia do CarvalhoAlgarve20.9°C
Praia da SalemaAlgarve20.9°C
Praia do TonelAlgarve20.9°C
Praia do Vale FigueiraAlgarve20.9°C
Praia de Santo AmaroLisbon Coast20.9°C
Praia do Ribeiro do CavaloLisbon Coast20.9°C
Praia do Molhe LesteSilver Coast20.9°C
Praia de Porto NovoSilver Coast20.9°C
Praia de MiraSilver Coast20.9°C
Praia da AngeirasCosta Verde20.9°C
Praia dos Reis MagosMadeira20.9°C
Praia do CarvoeiroAlgarve20.8°C
Praia de AlvorAlgarve20.8°C
Praia da BatataAlgarve20.8°C
Praia dos SalgadosAlgarve20.8°C
Praia do Forte NovoAlgarve20.8°C
Praia do GarraoAlgarve20.8°C
Praia do Homem NuAlgarve20.8°C
Praia de Porto CovoAlentejo20.8°C
Praia de Sao JuliaoLisbon Coast20.8°C
Praia da FigueirinhaLisbon Coast20.8°C
Praia da TorreLisbon Coast20.8°C
Praia da CaliforniaLisbon Coast20.8°C
Praia de Salir do PortoSilver Coast20.8°C
Praia de PedrogaoSilver Coast20.8°C
Praia de AfifeCosta Verde20.8°C
Praia da Ribeira BravaMadeira20.8°C
Praia do BalealSilver Coast20.7°C
Porto Moniz PoolsMadeira20.7°C
Praia de AlmograveAlentejo20.7°C
Praia dos GalapinhosLisbon Coast20.7°C
Praia do CDSLisbon Coast20.7°C
Praia da VagueiraSilver Coast20.7°C
Praia de MiramarCosta Verde20.7°C
Praia de OfirCosta Verde20.7°C
Praia GrandeLisbon Coast20.6°C
Praia do PópuloAzores20.6°C
Praia da Fonte da TelhaLisbon Coast20.6°C
Praia de Santa CruzSilver Coast20.6°C
Praia do Cabedelo FigueiraSilver Coast20.6°C
Praia do Homem do LemeCosta Verde20.6°C
Praia do PopuloAzores20.6°C
Praia do TamarizLisbon Coast20.5°C
Praia de PenicheSilver Coast20.5°C
Praia da Ribeira do NatalMadeira20.5°C
Praia da FigueiraAlgarve20.5°C
Ilha do FarolAlgarve20.5°C
Praia da ConceicaoLisbon Coast20.5°C
Praia de Sao Martinho do PortoSilver Coast20.5°C
Praia dos NavegantesSilver Coast20.5°C
Praia da Costa NovaSilver Coast20.5°C
Praia do Cabedelo Vila do CondeCosta Verde20.5°C
Praia de PovoaCosta Verde20.5°C
Praia de Cabedelo VianaCosta Verde20.5°C
Praia das MiliciasAzores20.5°C
Praia do AlmoxarifeAzores20.5°C
Praia da FalésiaAlgarve20.4°C
Praia da BordeiraAlgarve20.4°C
Praia dos Tres CastelosAlgarve20.4°C
Praia do BelicheAlgarve20.4°C
Praia da MaretaAlgarve20.4°C
Praia do CastelejoAlgarve20.4°C
Praia dos AveirosAlgarve20.4°C
Praia do EvaristoAlgarve20.4°C
Praia do BarrancoAlgarve20.4°C
Praia Armacao de PeraAlgarve20.4°C
Praia da Marina VilamouraAlgarve20.4°C
Praia de CabanasAlgarve20.4°C
Ilha da ArmonaAlgarve20.4°C
Praia das FurnasAlentejo20.4°C
Praia de Sao TorpesAlentejo20.4°C
Praia da ComportaAlentejo20.4°C
Praia do MecoLisbon Coast20.4°C
Praia de Sao Pedro MoelSilver Coast20.4°C
Praia de Osso da BaleiaSilver Coast20.4°C
Praia da BarraSilver Coast20.4°C
Praia de BuarcosSilver Coast20.4°C
Praia dos CoxosSilver Coast20.4°C
Praia dos MoinhosAzores20.4°C
Praia do CarvalhalAlentejo Coast20.3°C
Praia do NorteSilver Coast20.3°C
Prainha do CaniçalMadeira20.3°C
Doca do CavacasMadeira20.3°C
Praia dos CareanosAlgarve20.3°C
Praia da Marinha RicaAlgarve20.3°C
Praia do Portinho da ArrabidaLisbon Coast20.3°C
Praia da VieiraSilver Coast20.3°C
Praia dos InglesesCosta Verde20.3°C
Praia de Vila ChaCosta Verde20.3°C

Sea temperature in Portugal — FAQ

How warm is the sea in Portugal in September?

The sea off Portugal averages about 21.0°C in September, based on long-term monthly averages for this coast.

When is the best time to swim in Portugal?

Portugal is warmest in August (around 21.0°C) and coldest in February (around 14.0°C). There are typically 0 months a year when the water sits above 22°C.

What is the average yearly sea temperature in Portugal?

Across all twelve months, the sea in Portugal averages about 17.6°C.

Do you need a wetsuit to swim in Portugal?

The sea in Portugal stays below 22°C even at its warmest (~21.0°C in August), so a 3/2mm or thicker wetsuit is recommended for longer swims year-round.