Porto in January: a seasonal travel plan
Porto, Portugal. In january, the average daytime high is 13.5 °C and the night-time low is 8.1 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Porto
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 13.5 °C
- Nighttime low
- 8.1 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 125.4 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.4
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 13.4 | 7.9 | 4.1 |
| Days 11–20 | 13.1 | 7.7 | 4.1 |
| From day 21 | 14.1 | 8.6 | 4.2 |
What this month is like
Porto, Portugal. In january, the average daytime high is 13.5 °C and the night-time low is 8.1 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 12.4 wet days on average, with about 125.4 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 9.6 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 14.8 °C, January — 13.5 °C, next month — 14.4 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 14.4, 12.4 and 10.7.
Things to do
Porto steps down to the Douro: Ribeira with its coloured houses at the water, Sé and Baixa above, Vila Nova de Gaia on the far bank. The Luís I bridge joins the two sides, the metro runs from the airport into the centre, and the river is easiest reached on foot.
Ribeira and the Luís I bridge
Walk the Ribeira waterfront under the arcades of the old warehouses, then cross the Luís I bridge on the lower deck. From the upper deck the tiled roofs and the port lodges of Gaia open below.
The port lodges of Gaia
In Vila Nova de Gaia the port wine lodges line the river with tours and tastings. Cross the bridge, choose one lodge and keep time for the quay with its view back to Porto.
Clérigos and Lello
The Clérigos tower and the Lello bookshop stand close together in the Sé area. Climb the tower for the view, then walk down to the Bolhão market and have lunch in a tasca.
Where to stay
Ribeira
Ribeira suits anyone who wants to live by the river among narrow houses and restaurants. Bars keep it noisy at night, but the climb into the city takes about ten minutes and the bridge fills the windows.
Baixa and Sé
Baixa and Sé work for a first visit, with São Bento station, the Clérigos tower and the market nearby. The streets are busy by day and calmer at night, and the river is a fifteen-minute walk downhill.
Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro draws people for the Atlantic beaches and quiet streets at the river mouth. The centre is a tram or bus ride away, though evenings pass without crowds and there is space to walk by the water.
Getting to and around Porto
The metro runs from Porto airport to Trindade in the centre, a journey of about half an hour. In the city the metro, buses and the historic trams link Baixa, Ribeira and Foz, with tickets on an Andante card. Walking down to the river is easy, and the funicular brings you back up.
Three days in Porto
Ribeira and Gaia
Walk the Ribeira quay in the morning and cross the Luís I bridge. In the afternoon go over to Gaia, visit one lodge and return to the Douro bank for sunset.
Sé and Baixa
Start at the cathedral and walk down to the Clérigos tower, then look into the Lello bookshop. After lunch cross the Bolhão market and rest in a café on the square.
Foz and the ocean
Take the tram to Foz do Douro and walk the waterfront to the river mouth. Come back through Boavista after lunch and end the day at Ribeira.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.5 | 8.1 | 125.4 | 12.4 | 9.6 |
| February | 14.4 | 8.7 | 97.5 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| March | 15.4 | 9.3 | 113.2 | 12.5 | 11.9 |
| April | 17.5 | 11.1 | 100.6 | 12.3 | 13.3 |
| May | 20.1 | 13.1 | 65.6 | 9.8 | 14.5 |
| June | 21.8 | 14.9 | 42.4 | 8.0 | 15.1 |
| July | 24.5 | 16.2 | 10.4 | 2.6 | 14.8 |
| August | 24.8 | 16.3 | 13.8 | 2.5 | 13.8 |
| September | 23.5 | 15.8 | 56.9 | 7.0 | 12.5 |
| October | 20.9 | 14.5 | 138.8 | 13.5 | 11.1 |
| November | 16.8 | 11.6 | 141.4 | 14.6 | 9.9 |
| December | 14.8 | 9.9 | 122.7 | 14.4 | 9.3 |
Frequently asked questions
Porto: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is 13.5 °C and the night-time low is 8.1 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 12.4 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 125.4 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in January?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 13.4 °C; 11–20 — 13.1 °C; 21 to month-end — 14.1 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 9.6 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Porto worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 13.5 °C and nights around 8.1 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Porto on a wet day in January?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Porto in January?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 9.6 hours.