Cheapest Time to Fly to Portugal (and the Most Expensive)
The cheapest time to fly to Portugal is usually late January–March and select fall weeks—while summer, late December, and peak event weeks in Lisbon and Porto are often the priciest.
Portugal flights can look “all over the place” depending on the season—because Lisbon and Porto get slammed in summer, and the Algarve pulls heavy demand once the beach-season calendar kicks in. If you’re flexible, you can usually find way better airfare by dodging peak weeks.
Quick Take
- Cheapest time to fly to Portugal: late January–March, late April (some weeks), September, and November–early December
- Most expensive time to fly to Portugal: June–August, late December–early January, and peak spring/summer event weeks
Not A Member? ✈️
Save 40%-95% with Jetsetter Alerts - Airline Mistake Fare & Flash Sales Alerts!
Cheapest Time to Fly to Portugal
The best deal windows usually happen when you’re outside summer demand and outside the big holiday travel weeks.
Late January to March (Winter deals)
After New Year travel ends, Portugal pricing often cools down. This is one of the most reliable stretches for cheaper flights into Lisbon (LIS)—and you’ll sometimes see good pricing to Porto (OPO) too.
Money-saving tip: Midweek departures: Tuesday–Thursday flights often price better than weekend-heavy dates.
Heads-up: February weekends: can run higher if they line up with school breaks or popular long weekends.
Late April (Shoulder-season weeks)
Late April can be a sweet spot—spring timing, fewer summer crowds, and better odds of snagging a deal compared with May and June.
Money-saving tip: Avoid holiday weekends: price-check the weeks that don’t include a big US travel weekend.
Heads-up: Spring surge: some late-April and early-May weeks can climb if demand ramps early.
September (Post-summer cooldown)
September is often one of the best months for Portugal flights—summer crowds thin out, but it still feels like Portugal is wide open and alive.
Money-saving tip: Target early-to-mid September: it often prices better than late September.
Heads-up: Event spillover: certain weekends in Lisbon and Porto can still price higher than the rest of the month.
November to Early December (Pre-holiday lull)
This is a classic deal window. Airlines often have more open seats, and you’re ahead of the Christmas and New Year price surge.
Money-saving tip: Return before mid-December: it can keep you out of the holiday run-up.
Heads-up: Thanksgiving week: can run higher for US travelers than the weeks around it.
Most Expensive Time to Fly to Portugal
Portugal gets pricey when demand stacks—especially summer travel, year-end holidays, and popular peak-event weeks.
June to August (Summer peak travel)
This is the toughest season for cheap flights to Portugal—especially for Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve. Prices often stay elevated for weeks at a time.
Peak within peak: Late June through early August is often the most expensive stretch.
Late December to Early January (Holiday travel)
Holiday travel can push prices to the highest levels of the year—especially on peak departure and return days.
Peak within peak: Late-December departures + early-January returns.
Late May to Early June (Demand ramp before true summer)
This is when pricing often starts climbing hard—before summer even officially hits. The weather is nice, days are long, and demand spikes.
Peak within peak: Long-weekend patterns (Friday departures, Sunday returns) tend to price worst.
Looking for Ideas For Your Visit?
Want Better Weather Without Peak Flight Prices?
If you want comfortable trip timing without paying summer-level fares, these windows are usually your best “value weather” picks:
- Late April to May (non-holiday weeks): spring timing with better deal odds than summer
- September: one of the best blends of pricing and trip timing
- Early December: cooler days, solid pricing before holiday surges
Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Portugal
Portugal is popular, but it’s also competitive out of many US gateways—which helps deal chances if you track early.
- Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 2–5 months ahead
- Peak seasons (summer, late December): start tracking 5–8+ months ahead
Extra tip: Compare Lisbon vs. Porto: Lisbon often has the most competition, but Porto can be a better total-trip move if you’re focusing on northern Portugal.
Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Portugal
Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.
| Month | Demand Level | Price Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Medium → Low | Medium → Low | Drops after early January travel |
| Feb | Low | Low | Often strong deal month |
| Mar | Low → Medium | Low → Medium | Good pricing in many weeks |
| Apr | Medium | Medium | Shoulder pricing; varies by week |
| May | Medium → High | Medium → High | Demand builds into summer |
| Jun | High | High | Summer peak begins |
| Jul | High | High | Peak summer pricing |
| Aug | High | High | Summer demand stays elevated |
| Sep | Medium → Low | Medium → Low | Post-summer dip (deal-friendly) |
| Oct | Medium | Medium | Steady pricing in many weeks |
| Nov | Low → Medium | Low → Medium | Strong deal month |
| Dec | Medium → Very High | Medium → Very High | Early deals, then holiday surge |
Other Popular Articles
Jetsetter Alerts