What is the climate like in the Algarve? This is the climate per month in southern Portugal

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Algarve climate per month

Are you planning to visit the Algarve in Portugal soon? Then it is useful to know what to expect in term soft climate and temperature. The climate in the Algarve is Mediterranean, which means that the weather is pleasant all year round. The summers are dry and warm, while the winters are mild and humid. The high season in the Algarve is usually between June and September, when the number of tourists is highest and prices for accommodation and flights are often a bit higher. In the low season, from October to May, it is a bit quieter and prices are often lower.

As a resident of the Algarve, I would like to give you more information about the climate here. Below you will find an overview of the average minimum, maximum and sea temperatures, as well as the wind conditions , per month of the year.

January – Algarve climate:

January is low season in the Algarve, which means that it is much quieter than in the summer months. During the Christmas holidays, some tourists do come to the Algarve, but not nearly as many as during the other school holidays. The weather is generally mild, with average temperatures between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius . The perceived temperature depends entirely on the wind and whether the sun is shining. On a clear day without wind, it feels almost 20 degrees and you walk down the street in shorts and a t-shirt. On days like these, you will also find people lying on the beach in their swimming trunks.

The sea temperature is pleasant, around 16-18 degrees Celsius, which means that swimming is also possible in the winter months, although most visitors choose to keep that short ;-). The wind can be quite strong at times, mainly from the west when a storm passes from the Atlantic Ocean. With about 8 or 9 rainy days per month, it is a wet month, but in practice these are showers and it rarely rains for whole days.

Minimum temperature: 7 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 20 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 16-18 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate to fairly strong, from the west
8-9 rainy days. Check out my tips for a rainy day here.

Climate Algarve January — The weather forecast for January 2025 in Lagos – Algarve

February – Algarve climate:

Like January, February is the low season in the Algarve. Average temperatures range between 14 and 19 degrees Celsius, which means pleasant weather for walking and other activities. The sea temperature is around 16 degrees Celsius, so a dip in the ocean is still possible for the brave.

February also has a high chance of wind, mainly from the west thanks to the storms that rage along the coast in the Atlantic Ocean. There is also a regular wind from the east, blowing from Gibraltar towards the Algarve. The advantage of this wind is that it creates waves on the south coast to surf on!

Minimum temperature: 8 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 20 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 16 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate to fairly strong, from the west
7-8 rainy days

Algarve climate information — The weather forecast for the second half of February 2025.

March – Algarve climate:

March is still low season in the Algarve and the weather is generally mild. Average temperatures are between 14 and 21 degrees Celsius , which means it is already starting to get a bit warmer! The sea temperature is still around 16 degrees Celsius. Most people you see in the water are most likely to be wearing a wetsuit because they are on the surfing are! The wind is regularly quite strong, mainly from the west.

Also in this month the chance of rain in the Algarve is high thanks to the passing storms along the coast. A big difference with the Netherlands is that showers are often concentrated here and that between the showers the sun often shines.

Minimum temperature: 8 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 21 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 16 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate to fairly strong, from the west
6-7 rainy days

💡 Tip : Book a cheap car rental in advance for March. Check out the best reviewed rental company in the Algarve here .

April – Algarve climate:

Also in April it is still low season in the Algarve. The weather is getting warmer, with average temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius . The sea temperature rises to around 17 degrees Celsius, which means it is becoming more pleasant to swim. The wind can be moderate at times, mainly from the west.

Minimum temperature: 11 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 24 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 17 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, from the west
6-7 rainy days

💡 Tip: Book a cheap rental car for the summer period in time. Check out the best reviewed rental company in the Algarve here.
🛌 Tip: Looking for a unique accommodation. Check out our recommendations!

May – Algarve climate:

In May the climate in the Algarve is often sunny and warm, with average temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius . The sea temperature rises to around 19 degrees Celsius, making it a good time to swim for more than 2 minutes. The wind can be a bit strong at times, but it is still a great time to enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful beaches of the Algarve.

May is in the low season, so the tourist crowds are not yet as high and the prices for accommodation and flights are usually lower than in the high season. May is in my opinion the best time to come to the Algarve. It is not too hot yet and it is also not as busy compared to the summer.

Minimum temperature: 17 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 27 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 19 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, from the west
4-5 rainy days

June – Algarve climate:

In June, the climate in the Algarve is sunny and warm, with average temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. The sea temperature rises to around 20 degrees Celsius, making it a perfect time to snorkel and enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Algarve. The wind can be a bit strong at times, but it is still a great time to enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful surroundings of the Algarve.

June is still in the low season, so the tourist crowds are not as high as the next few months and accommodation and flight prices are generally lower than in July and August.

Minimum temperature: 20 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 30 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 20 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, mainly from the northwest
3-4 rainy days

July – Algarve climate:

In July, the climate in the Algarve is sunny and warm, with average temperatures between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius . However, there are sometimes peaks towards 38 degrees at the hottest time of the day. The sea temperature rises to around 21 degrees Celsius and the waves disappear on the south coast, making it perfect for snorkeling. Especially in the evening there is a chance of moderate wind, but that also ensures that it cools down a bit so that you do not lie in your bed sweating.

July is high season in the Algarve, so tourist crowds are at their peak and prices for accommodation and flights are also at their highest.

⭐ Activity tip: cool off in one of the Algarve’s four splashing water parks.

Minimum temperature: 22 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 35 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 21 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, mainly from the northwest
1-2 rainy days

August – Algarve climate:

In August, the climate in the Algarve is always sunny and warm, with average temperatures between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius . Occasionally there are peaks towards 37 degrees, mainly inland when the wind dies down, but along the coast it is always a few degrees cooler. The sea temperature rises further to around 22 degrees Celsius, but sometimes reaches 25 degrees with a warm sea current from the east.

As in July, you will often have some wind in the evenings, but this is a welcome phenomenon to cool the outside air a bit. In general, you will find more wind along the west coast than the south coast, which means that it can be 5 degrees cooler around Sagres than in Faro.

August is high season in the Algarve, so tourist crowds are at their peak and prices for accommodation and flights are also at their highest.

⭐ Activity tip : Search for wild dolphins off the coast of the Algarve.

Minimum temperature: 18 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 37 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 22 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, from the northwest
1-2 rainy days

September – Algarve climate:

In September the Algarve climate remains sunny and warm, but it slowly cools down a little with average temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius . The sea temperature stays around 22 degrees Celsius, making it still great to dive in and enjoy the beaches, cliffs and underwater flora and fauna. The wind can be strong at times, but this is usually in the evening.

The low season starts in mid-September, so the crowds slowly start to thin out and prices for accommodation and flights also slowly drop.

⭐ Activity tip : Kayaking on crystal clear blue waters off the Algarve coast.
🚗 Rental car tip: Luzcar, a Portuguese family business with rave reviews

Minimum temperature: 17 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 35 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 22 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, from the northwest
1-3 rainy days

October – Algarve climate:

In October, the Algarve climate remains sunny and warm, with average daytime temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius . The sea temperature drops to around 19 degrees Celsius. Windy days are slowly becoming more common, but it is still a great time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Algarve, without having to make reservations for the finer restaurants. As the summer draws to a close, the first rain showers will arrive, which are welcome after a long and dry summer.

October is the low season, so tourist crowds are much lower than in summer and accommodation and flight prices are generally lower than in high season.

🛌 Unique accommodations : Check out my recommended glampings, eco resorts, tiny houses and houseboats!
🚗 Rental car tip: Luzcar, a Portuguese family business with rave reviews and excellent all-in prices.

Minimum temperature: 16 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 30 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 19 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate, from the east and northwest
3-4 rainy days

November – Algarve climate:

In November the climate in the Algarve starts to change drastically and it becomes a bit cooler, with average temperatures between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius . The sea temperature drops to around 16-18 degrees Celsius, which makes it not so pleasant to swim (without a wetsuit at least). The wind can be a bit strong at times, but it is still a great time to enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful surroundings of the Algarve. Plus, the surfing season starts on the south coast, so you no longer have to drive to the west coast to surfing!

November is the low season, so tourist crowds are lower and accommodation and flight prices are generally lower than in high season.

Minimum temperature: 11 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 23 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 16-18 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate to fairly strong, from the west
7-8 rainy days

December – Algarve climate:

In December it cools down even further, with average maximum temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius . The sea temperature drops to around 16-18 degrees Celsius. The wind can often be strong, allowing you to blow away the cobwebs on the beaches while watching windsurfers and brave surfers cruise across the cold sea water.

December is the low season, so tourist crowds are lower and accommodation and flight prices are generally lower than in high season.

Minimum temperature: 5 degrees Celsius
Maximum temperature: 19 degrees Celsius
Sea temperature: 16-18 degrees Celsius
Wind conditions: Moderate to fairly strong, from the northwest and east (Gibraltar)
8-9 rainy days

Although there are more than enough sunny days in December, it can still be spooky every now and then due to a passing storm. Fortunately, there are still plenty of fun activities to do. Check out my page with bad weather tips here .

As you can read, the climate in the Algarve varies considerably from month to month. In the summer months it is wonderfully warm, while in the winter months it can be a bit cooler. Fortunately, the sea temperature remains pleasant in the winter months, so a dip in the ocean is possible all year round. The wind can also be strong depending on the month, so it is useful to take this into account when planning your holiday.

I hope this gives you a good idea of what to expect in terms of climate and temperature in the Algarve. And even if you are here and it is a bit less nice one day, there is still plenty to do in the Algarve. Check out here is an overview of the best indoor and outdoor activities in the Algarve. If it really is a rainy day, read: Tips for a bad weather day in the Algarve .