The Best Time to Visit the Algarve

The Algarve is one of Europe’s sunniest regions, with hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit depends on what you want: hot beach days, quiet hiking weather, golf or a winter escape. This guide covers every season and month.

Quick answer: for beaches, go from June to September, when the sea is warmest (around 20 to 23°C). For warm weather without the crowds, go in May or September to early October. For hiking and golf, October to April is ideal. Winter is mild (around 16°C by day), sunny and quiet, but too cold for most swimmers.

The Algarve at a glance

Season	Weather	Sea	Best for
Spring (Mar–May)	19–25°C, mostly sunny	16–18°C	Hiking, golf, wildflowers
Summer (Jun–Aug)	28–30°C, almost no rain	20–23°C	Beaches, boat trips, families
Autumn (Sep–Nov)	27°C in Sept, cooler later	Warmest in Sept	Beaches, golf, fewer crowds
Winter (Dec–Feb)	15–17°C, some rain	15–16°C	Winter sun, walking, low prices

Spring (March to May)

Spring is a beautiful season. Wildflowers cover the clifftops, almond and orange blossom scent the air, the days are warm and sunny, and the beaches are quiet.

• Weather: around 19°C in March, rising to 24 or 25°C in May, with occasional showers early in the season.
• Hiking: the best time for coastal walks. See the Seven Hanging Valleys and Algarve hikes.
• Golf: see Algarve golf courses.
• Boat trips: calmer seas from May. See Algarve boat trips.
• Swimming: bracing until late May, so choose a hotel with a heated pool.
• Easter: busy with Portuguese and Spanish holidaymakers.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is high season: guaranteed sunshine, the warmest seas, boat trips, beach bars and village festivals. It’s also the busiest and most expensive time, especially in August, the peak Portuguese holiday month.

• Weather: highs of 28 to 30°C, hotter inland, with warm nights around 20°C and almost no rain.
• The sea: warmest in the eastern Algarve, cooler on the west coast. See east vs west Algarve.
• Things to do: beaches, Benagil boat trips in the calm mornings, water parks and Zoomarine. See the best Algarve beaches and water parks.
• Festivals: village festas, medieval fairs and food festivals.
• Nightlife: see Algarve nightlife.
• Avoiding crowds: go to the beach early, head east to Tavira’s islands or west to the Costa Vicentina, or travel in June or September instead.
• Safety: avoid the midday sun, never sit beneath cliffs, and follow wildfire warnings inland.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn may be the Algarve’s best-kept secret. The sea is at its warmest in September, crowds and prices drop after the school holidays, and the weather stays warm well into October.

• Weather: around 27°C in September, 23°C in October with occasional rain, and milder and wetter in November.
• Beaches and kayaking: see kayaking in Portugal.
• Golf: peak golf season.
• Birdwatching: migrating birds of prey over Sagres in early autumn. See Sagres.
• Note: some beach bars and boat trips reduce their schedules from October.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is mild and often sunny, with very few crowds and low prices. It’s popular with golfers, walkers and long-stay visitors escaping northern winters. See the Algarve in winter, which includes rainy-day ideas.

Month by month

• January: mild, quiet, almond blossom starting late in the month.
• February: almond blossom and Carnival in Loulé. See Loulé.
• March and April: wildflowers, warm days and Easter.
• May: warm and quiet, one of the best months.
• June: summer weather with fewer crowds than July and August.
• July and August: peak heat, crowds and prices.
• September: the warmest sea and calmer beaches.
• October: still warm, ideal for golf and walking.
• November and December: quiet, mild and cheap.

Best time for...

• Swimming: July to September.
• Boat trips and Benagil: May to October, when the sea is calmer.
• Golf: spring and autumn.
• Families: June and September. See the Algarve with kids.
• Budget: November to March. See the Algarve on a budget.

Plan your trip

See how many days in the Algarve and where to stay in the Algarve. For the rest of the country, see the best time to visit Portugal.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.