Labor Day

Where to go for Labor Day

Labour Day on 1 May is a national holiday and gives a three-day weekend when it falls on a Friday or Monday. Late spring suits the Algarve coast, the Douro valley, the Azores and city breaks in Lisbon and Porto.

Budget-friendly

• Faro

  Faro's walled old town faces the Ria Formosa lagoon, where boats run to sandy barrier islands such as Culatra and Deserta. Late spring is comfortable for walking and birdwatching, and seafood is a staple of local menus.

  Typically around 1 May: high 21°C (69°F), low 14°C (57°F), rain on 17% of days.

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• Vila Real

  Vila Real sits at the edge of the Douro wine region, with the Baroque Mateus Palace and its gardens on the outskirts. Wine estates (quintas) and the riverside at Peso da Régua are within a short drive.

  Typically around 1 May: high 18°C (65°F), low 6°C (44°F), rain on 33% of days.

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Mid-range

• Lisbon · Lisboa

  Lisbon's hills offer the lanes and viewpoints of Alfama, Belém with the Jerónimos Monastery and its tower, and pastéis de nata. Sintra's palaces and the Cascais coast are a short train ride away.

  Typically around 1 May: high 18°C (65°F), low 14°C (57°F), rain on 16% of days.

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• Porto

  The Ribeira riverside, tiled churches and the port wine cellars across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia fill a weekend, and trains run up the Douro valley through terraced vineyards. The francesinha sandwich is a local speciality.

  Typically around 1 May: high 18°C (65°F), low 12°C (53°F), rain on 36% of days.

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• Portimão · Faro

  Praia da Rocha and the cliffs and coves of the western Algarve are close to Portimão, with boat trips to sea caves along the coast. The town has a long tradition of grilled sardines served near the harbour.

  Typically around 1 May: high 19°C (66°F), low 15°C (58°F), rain on 20% of days.

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Splurge

• Ponta Delgada · Azores

  On São Miguel island, Ponta Delgada is the base for the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and the hot springs of Furnas, where cozido stew is slow-cooked in the volcanic ground. Spring keeps the island green for hiking.

  Typically around 1 May: high 17°C (63°F), low 16°C (60°F), rain on 40% of days.

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Trip ideas chosen by Public Holidays World, not sponsored. “Typically” lines are past averages, not forecasts; when the date is within about 9 days, a forecast is shown too.