Best time to visit
Best Time to Visit Algarve
Portugal's southern coast, known for golden cliffs, sea caves, golf and long sunny summers. Faro is its main airport and regional capital.
Best time to visit: May–June and September–October for warm weather; July–August are hottest and busiest.
Local tip: The Atlantic stays cool even in summer — the sea is refreshing rather than warm.
Getting around: Trains and buses connect the main towns; a car helps for beaches and cliffs.
Good to know: Winters are mild and sunny compared with most of Europe, popular for walking and golf.
What to plan your trip around
- Benagil Cave
A sea cave with an opening in its roof, usually visited by boat or kayak.
- Ponta da Piedade
Rock formations and grottoes near Lagos.
- Ria Formosa
A lagoon nature park around Faro.
- Tavira
A historic town with a Roman bridge and whitewashed houses.
Algarve weather by month
Algarve weather by month
Average temperatures and rainfall Algarve gets in each month (2011–2020). Tap a month for the full breakdown.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C | 11°C | 46 mm | 81% |
| February | 16°C | 10°C | 41 mm | 79% |
| March | 17°C | 11°C | 91 mm | 78% |
| April | 19°C | 13°C | 83 mm | 78% |
| May | 22°C | 15°C | 50 mm | 72% |
| June | 25°C | 17°C | 8 mm | 67% |
| July | 28°C | 19°C | 1 mm | 63% |
| August | 28°C | 20°C | 1 mm | 63% |
| September | 26°C | 19°C | 14 mm | 70% |
| October | 23°C | 17°C | 83 mm | 76% |
| November | 19°C | 14°C | 110 mm | 80% |
| December | 16°C | 12°C | 50 mm | 81% |
Algarve through the year
January · 16° / 11°C · 46 mm
- Comfortable temperatures make it easy to walk between Benagil Cave and Ponta da Piedade.
- There's little difference between day and night (around 5°C).
April · 19° / 13°C · 83 mm
- Keep a flexible plan: if showers roll in, shift Tavira to a drier part of the day.
- Temperatures are climbing — May is around 4°C warmer.
July · 28° / 19°C · 1 mm
- Rain is well below Algarve's usual level (around 98% less).
- Only one month is warmer in Algarve than July.
October · 23° / 17°C · 83 mm
- Temperatures are falling — expect highs around 4°C lower by November.
- Algarve is usually about 3°C cooler than Évora, 170 km away, in October.
The best time to visit Algarve is June, July and September, when average highs are 25–28°C and rainfall is around 8 mm a month.
At a glance
When to go to Algarve, season by season
December – February
Good16° / 11°C · 46 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
March – May
Good19° / 13°C · 75 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
June – August
Best time27° / 19°C · 3 mm
Pleasant temperatures and relatively little rain: the best window for sightseeing and time outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit Algarve?
- For pleasant, fairly dry weather, go to Algarve in June, July and September. Average highs are then 25–28°C.
- Why is June a good time to visit Algarve?
- In June, Algarve averages 25°C by day and 17°C at night, with about 8 mm of rain and 26% cloud cover: warm enough to be outdoors without the peak heat or the wettest weather.
- What is the warmest month in Algarve?
- August is the warmest month in Algarve, with average highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C.
- What is the coldest month in Algarve?
- January is the coldest month in Algarve: average highs of 16°C, dropping to 11°C at night.
- When does it rain the most in Algarve?
- November is the wettest month in Algarve with about 110 mm of rain. The driest is July, with around 1 mm.
- When is the worst time to visit Algarve?
- November is the least reliable month in Algarve, with around 110 mm of rain. Bring a rain jacket and keep a flexible plan.
- Is the shoulder season a good time to visit Algarve?
- Yes. May and October sit just outside the best months for Algarve, with average highs of 22–23°C and about 67 mm of rain a month. Weather-wise, they are a good alternative to the peak months.
- How can I check the weather in Algarve before I travel?
- Compare the live forecast for Algarve from three independent weather services on WeatherCompare. When they agree, the forecast is more reliable.
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Best time to visit Algarve. WeatherCompare, 2026 (climate averages: NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020). https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/portugal/algarve
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/portugal/algarve">Best time to visit Algarve</a> (WeatherCompare)
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