Arouca vs Refojos de Basto: which Norte town suits you?
Arouca has warmer winters and fewer frosts; Refojos de Basto has more cafés on foot.
Arouca
21,146 peopleChoose Arouca if you want
- Warmer winters (12°C January highs, against 11°C)
- Fewer frosts (6 frost days a year, against 13)
Refojos de Basto
5,037 peopleChoose Refojos de Basto if you want
- People who dislike heat: 27°C July highs and 3 days a year above 35°C
- More cafés within a 15-minute walk (10, against 6)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Arouca | Refojos de Basto |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 12°C | 11°C |
| January low | 4°C | 3°C |
| July high | 28°C | 27°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 4 | 3 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 11 | 6 |
| Frost days a year | 6 | 13 |
| Days with rain a year | 132 | 130 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 14 min | 9 h 10 min |
| Sea in August | – | – |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Arouca | Refojos de Basto |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 4 | 4 |
| Pharmacies | 2 | 2 |
| Doctors and clinics | 1 | 2 |
| Cafés | 6 | 10 |
| Restaurants | 14 | 17 |
Getting around
| Measure | Arouca | Refojos de Basto |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 21 km | 26 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.8 km | 0.7 km |
| Nearest hospital | 0.1 km | 16 km |
| Nearest beach | 34 km | – |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 38 km | 35 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Arouca | Refojos de Basto |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €5.03/m² | €4.23/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €1,051/m² | €889/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +55% | +54% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 19.3 | 22.0 |
People
| Measure | Arouca | Refojos de Basto |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,146 | 5,037 |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.5% | 18.8% |
| Under 15 | 13.1% | 14.7% |
| Born in another country | 6.3% | 5.5% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Arouca | Refojos de Basto |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 0 | 0 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arouca | 12° | 13° | 16° | 18° | 21° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 25° | 20° | 15° | 13° |
| Refojos de Basto | 11° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 20° | 24° | 27° | 27° | 24° | 19° | 14° | 12° |
Arouca is warmer by 1°C or more in 3 months; in the other months the highs are within 1°C. Arouca in November · Refojos de Basto in November
Arouca or Refojos de Basto: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Arouca or Refojos de Basto?
Arouca, with an average January high of 12.2°C against 11.1°C.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Both have 4 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre.
Which is closer to an airport?
Arouca is 38 km from Aerodromo Goncalves Lobato (Viseu Airport) (VSE); Refojos de Basto is 35 km from Vila Real Airport (VRL), in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Arouca vs Refojos de Basto: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/arouca-vs-refojos-de-basto/