Best Time to Visit the Algarve (2026)

The best time to visit the Algarve is May, June or September, when Faro averages highs of 23.5°C to 26.8°C with little rain and fewer crowds than in July and August. High summer is hot and almost rainless, and winter is mild, with a 16.3°C January high, but wetter and very quiet on the coast. The west coast is cooler and windier than the east all year.

May, June and September

May, June and September bring warm beach weather, long days and room to breathe on the cliffs and coves.

The Algarve is one of the sunniest corners of Europe, and the rain falls mostly between October and March. What changes through the summer is not the sunshine but the heat and the crowds, and that is what should decide when you go.

The Algarve month by month, with the numbers

These are the 1991-2020 climate normals for Faro, on the south coast, published by IPMA, the Portuguese meteorological institute. Rainy days count days with at least 1 mm.

Faro receives 455.1 mm of rain a year, falling on about 49 days, and averages about 115 days a year over 25°C. Almost all of that warmth comes between May and October.

Summer in the Algarve: hot, dry and busy

From late June to August comes the classic beach season, and the most expensive.

• July and August average highs of 29.4°C and 29.2°C in Faro, with almost no rain.
• Nearly every day in July and August reaches 25°C, about 28 days a month.
• Inland, around Silves and the hills, afternoons are hotter than on the coast.
• Beaches, boat trips to the Benagil cave and car parks are at their busiest; book rooms and cars well ahead.

The heat on the coast is usually tempered by a sea breeze, but the cliff walks have little shade. Walk in the morning, spend the middle of the day in the water or the shade, and keep the grottoes for the early boats.

June: the sweet spot

June is often the best single month: a 26.8°C average high, only about 1 rainy day, long evenings and the summer crowds still to come. The sea is a little cooler than in August, but the beaches and boat trips are noticeably calmer, especially before the school holidays.

Spring and autumn: the shoulder seasons

For walking, sightseeing and value, these are the best months to visit the Algarve.

• April and May average highs of 20.7°C and 23.5°C, with wild flowers on the cliffs and few crowds.
• September keeps summer weather, a 26.4°C high and only about 2 rainy days, with the sea at its warmest.
• October averages 23.3°C, but rain returns, at 56.0 mm over about 6 days.
• The Seven Hanging Valleys trail and the Fishermen’s Trail are at their best in these months.

Spring evenings can be cool, and the sea takes time to warm after winter, so spring suits walkers more than swimmers. Autumn is the opposite: the water is warm after the summer, but the days are shorter.

Easter and school holidays

Easter and the school holidays change the picture more than the weather does. Easter week brings Portuguese and Spanish families to the coast, and prices rise for a few days. Late July and August are the peak of the year, while late June and early September often give the same weather with more space.

Swimming and the sea

The Atlantic here is cooler than the Mediterranean, even in summer. The sea warms slowly through June and is at its warmest from August into September, which makes September the best month for swimming. The calm, shallow water of the eastern islands warms first.

Winter in the Algarve: mild and quiet

From November to February, sunny days alternate with spells of rain.

• January averages a 16.3°C high and an 8.3°C low in Faro.
• December is the wettest month, at 90.0 mm over about 7 days.
• Almond trees blossom in the hills from late January.
• Golf, walking and town sightseeing are popular; the sea is cold for swimming.

Many beach restaurants and some resort hotels close in winter, while Lagos, Faro and Tavira stay open all year. Houses are built for the heat, so look for a place with heating, as nights can feel cold indoors.

Festivals through the year

• February or March: the carnival in Loulé, with parades through the town.
• Late January and February: almond blossom in the hills.
• Summer: sardine festivals and fish grills, especially in Portimão.
• August: a medieval fair below the castle in Silves.

Check dates each year with the local town halls, as festivals move with the calendar.

East or west: the weather is not the same

The west is cooler, windier and wetter than the east.

• Sagres averages a 25.9°C high in August, against 29.2°C in Faro, according to the IPMA normals for Sagres.
• Sagres has only about 57 days a year over 25°C, half as many as Faro.
• It also has more rainy days, about 57 a year, against 49 in Faro.
• The west coast faces the open Atlantic, with bigger waves and stronger wind.

For a beach holiday in the heat, the central and eastern coast is warmer and calmer. For surf, walking or escaping the summer heat, the west is the better choice.

Best time for each kind of trip

• Beach and swimming: late June to mid-September.
• Walking and cliff trails: March to May, and October.
• Families on school holidays: June or early September, before or after the August peak.
• Surf: autumn to spring on the west coast, when the swell is biggest.
• Quiet and value: November to March, outside Christmas and Easter.

For what to see, read things to do in the Algarve, and for bases, where to stay in the Algarve.

When not to book

These choices are the ones to avoid:

• August for a quiet trip: it is the busiest month on the coast.
• Long cliff walks in July or August afternoons: the heat and the lack of shade.
• December or January for a beach holiday: mild air, but a cold sea and many places closed.
• Late booking for July and August: rooms and hire cars run out.

Common questions