The Algarve has the sunniest climate in mainland Portugal, with over 300 days of sunshine a year around Faro. The swimming season runs from June to October, with water temperatures peaking at 22-23 °C in August-September.
May and June offer the best all-round conditions: reliable sunshine, a sea already at 18-20 °C, accessible beaches and prices well below the summer peak. These are the ideal months for kayak excursions, surfing at Sagres and coastal walks. September delivers the same conditions with warmer water (21-23 °C) and noticeably thinner crowds once the school holidays end.
July and August bring the highest visitor numbers in Southern Europe: the Algarve receives over a million tourists in August alone. The most famous beaches (Marinha, Dona Ana) fill up by 10am, boat excursions book out weeks in advance and accommodation prices reach their annual peak. Travel early in the morning for the key sites and book everything well ahead.
Winter (November-March) is the golfer's and walker's season. Temperatures rarely drop below 10 °C, sunny days remain frequent and the coastal landscapes, empty of visitors, recover a wild, windswept grandeur. Surfers appreciate the consistent winter swell at Sagres and along the Vicentine coast.
Read also
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