Winter
Dec → Feb16 to 17°
nights 9 to 11°
- 6 rainy days · 45 mm
- 8.4 h of sun
- sea 16°
When is the best time to visit the Algarve?
- Jan16°not recommended
- Feb17°not recommended
- Mar19°not recommended
- Apr21°fair
- May25°recommended
- Jun27°recommended
- Jul31°fair
- Aug32°fair
- Sep28°recommended
- Oct24°recommended
- Nov20°fair
- Dec17°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Algarve, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 9° | 8.3 h | 39 mm | 5 d | 16° | |
| February | 17° | 10° | 9.1 h | 40 mm | 6 d | 16° | |
| March | 19° | 11° | 10 h | 74 mm | 9 d | 16° | |
| April | 21° | 13° | 11.5 h | 40 mm | 8 d | 16° | |
| May | 25° | 15° | 12.6 h | 24 mm | 4 d | 16° | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 18° | 13.5 h | 9 mm | 2 d | 18° | ✓ |
| July | 31° | 19° | 13.6 h | 1 mm | 0 d | 17° | |
| August | 32° | 20° | 12.8 h | 1 mm | 0 d | 17° | |
| September | 28° | 18° | 11.3 h | 16 mm | 3 d | 17° | ✓ |
| October | 24° | 16° | 9.5 h | 65 mm | 8 d | 19° | ✓ |
| November | 20° | 13° | 8.5 h | 54 mm | 8 d | 18° | |
| December | 17° | 11° | 7.7 h | 55 mm | 6 d | 17° |
The four seasons in the Algarve, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Benagil Beach) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May19 to 25°
nights 11 to 15°
- 7 rainy days · 46 mm
- 11.4 h of sun
- sea 16°
Summer
Jun → Aug27 to 32°
nights 18 to 20°
- 1 rainy days · 4 mm
- 13.3 h of sun
- sea 17°
Autumn
Sep → Nov20 to 28°
nights 13 to 18°
- 6 rainy days · 45 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 18°
Book early for May to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Algarve, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h42 of daylight, in December 9h37, a difference of 5h04.
9h53Jan
10h46Feb
11h51Mar
13h06Apr
14h08May
14h42Jun
14h28Jul
13h34Aug
12h22Sep
11h10Oct
10h07Nov
9h37Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Benagil Beach" (37.09°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Algarve, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
EventsAlmond blossomJanuary to FebruaryLoulé CarnivalFebruaryMED FestivalJunePortimão Sardine FestivalAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Algarve, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryAlmond blossom
The almond trees of the hinterland, around Loulé and Tavira, turn white in the depths of winter, before the villages fill up.
- FebruaryLoulé Carnival
Portugal's oldest carnival brings its satirical floats out onto the streets of Loulé for the three days before Lent.
- JuneMED Festival
In late June, Loulé's old town fills with world music stages spread across courtyards, squares and ramparts.
- AugustPortimão Sardine Festival big crowds
On the Portimão quayside, in August, sardines are grilled non-stop over charcoal, with free concerts until late at night.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended16°9° at night
- 39 mm · 5 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended17°10° at night
- 40 mm · 6 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended19°11° at night
- 74 mm · 9 d
- 10 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair21°13° at night
- 40 mm · 8 d
- 11.5 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended25°15° at night
- 24 mm · 4 d
- 12.6 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended27°18° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
- 13.5 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair31°19° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 13.6 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair32°20° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 12.8 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
September
Recommended28°18° at night
- 16 mm · 3 d
- 11.3 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended24°16° at night
- 65 mm · 8 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair20°13° at night
- 54 mm · 8 d
- 8.5 h
- sea 18°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended17°11° at night
- 55 mm · 6 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 17°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Rain stays light: 39 mm over 5 days. Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Rain stays light: 40 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (74 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (40 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 25 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Rain stays light: 24 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.6 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.5 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.6 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 20 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.8 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (16 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (65 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (54 mm). Expect 8.5 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 17 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Rain stays light: 55 mm over 6 days. Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Algarve?
May to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 24 to 28 °C, with 4 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Benagil Beach).
Which month should you avoid in the Algarve?
March: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 74 mm over 9 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Benagil Beach).
What is the hottest month in the Algarve?
August, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Benagil Beach).
What is the coldest month in the Algarve?
January, with 16 °C at best during the day and 9 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Benagil Beach).
What is the driest month in the Algarve?
July: 1 mm over 0 days of rain, against 74 mm in March, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Algarve?
July, with 13.6 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in the Algarve?
The gap between day and night reaches 12 °C in July: 31 °C in the afternoon, 19 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in the Algarve?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 19 °C in October, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Benagil Beach): swimming is for the brave.
When is the best time to hike in the Algarve?
January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Benagil Beach), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Algarve guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Portugal: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Christian David / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · SlimMars 13 / Pexels · Mo Eid / Pexels