The weather

Would you also like to enjoy the wonderful weather in the eastern Algarve?
Can you go to the beach in January or not? Do you need air conditioning in July or not? The answers to these questions and many more are below in a monthly review of one of Europe's most popular destinations, the Algarve.

January
After the busy festive week at the end of December, January returns to the Algarve, where peace and quiet are common. Winter visitors often choose to arrive in January. The days are already beginning to lengthen, and the weather is perfect for long walks on the beach.

And during those beach walks, you'll always see people simply enjoying the sun in their swimwear. The days in the Algarve are certainly longer in winter than in the Netherlands, with over two hours more daylight.

January is by far the quietest month of the year, but it's certainly pleasant. Temperatures regularly reach 18 degrees Celsius, and the sun is always stronger than in Northern Europe. The number of sunshine hours in January is a staggering 174, twice as many as in Bordeaux and four times as many as in Amsterdam.

February
If it gets cold at all in the Algarve, it's at night in January and February. Every year, nighttime temperatures almost reach freezing on a few days. Not on the coast, of course, but rather further away. Fortunately, warm February nights also mean daytime temperatures can quickly rise to 20 degrees Celsius.

After all, the sun is already much higher in the sky, making it feel much warmer than in the Netherlands. February is therefore often a month of outdoor lunches and lovely walks, and in the evenings, the fireplace or heater with the air conditioning on.

March
March is a transitional month in every way. Tourism is already picking up, but it's still far removed from what we're used to in summer. Winter visitors are still plentiful, as it's still quite cold in Northern Europe. The sun continues to gain strength, but the seawater is still far from warm.

Even without sun, the days can still be quite chilly. On a typical March day, it rains for a few hours in the morning, with the sun breaking through before lunch. Daytime temperatures can sometimes reach 22 degrees Celsius, and on clear days, it can drop to around 8 degrees Celsius at night.

April
Easter is almost as important a family celebration as Christmas, and its unique feature is that it's technically much more interesting for tourism. After all, it lasts three days (Good Friday is a real holiday), while Christmas takes just a day and a half. And it falls at a time when spring is well underway and the days are already considerably longer.

Easter marks the true start of the holiday season. Officially, the bathing season hasn't even begun yet, but in April, there are plenty of people on the beach, strolling and sunbathing. The usual number of rainy days in April is only six. And that doesn't mean it rains all day; it just means there are six days with some rain. Each beach is more picturesque than the last!

May
May in the Algarve is a perfectly fine summer month by Dutch standards. Highs range from 20 to sometimes as high as 28 degrees Celsius, and lows never drop below 10 degrees Celsius. It might rain occasionally, but then you'll just sit on a terrace in your shorts and watch it pass. The summer season is now in full swing, and there are plenty of tourists.

June
The days are at their longest in June, and temperatures rise rapidly. The sun is high in the sky, with an impressive 12 hours of sunshine per day out of a total of over 14 hours of daylight. Rain is non-existent. It's pleasantly busy, as the month is just as pleasant as the peak season and much cheaper.

July
July is hot and busy. Fortunately, the Portuguese heat is dry; thanks to the very low humidity, 37 degrees Celsius in the Algarve is more comfortable than 30 degrees Celsius in the Netherlands. If there are periods of several very hot days in a row (35 degrees Celsius and above), it's usually in July. However, air conditioning isn't always necessary. If you plan your daily schedule around the heat and seek out the coolness or a pool in the early afternoon, you can have a wonderful day even without air conditioning.

The month of July has an average of zero rainy days, and it rains an average of 1 mm throughout the month. That little rain evaporates before it hits the ground. Fortunately, in the Algarve, we have enormous water reservoirs in the mountains, behind large dams that also provide a significant boost of ecological (hydroelectric) energy.

Portugal leads the European rankings in ecological energy consumption, with 54% of its consumption coming from renewable energy. Cave tours are available in various locations in the Algarve, both in summer and winter.

August
The traditional peak holiday month brings many Portuguese people to the Algarve by car. There are numerous festivals and events with a Portuguese flavor, perfect for those who enjoy a local flavor.

The typical Portuguese holiday schedule is: early to the beach, a long lunch around noon, then a "sesta" (nap), then back to the beach around four o'clock and stay there until sunset. After all, the restaurants and supermarkets are open until late in the evening.

September
Weather-wise, September is perhaps the most pleasant month of the year. The sun has lost some of its heat, which has the advantage that you don't get as badly sunburned if you're baking for several days straight. And the air and water remain just as warm.

The huge wave of tourism is over, and everything is less stressful. Local businesses are booming. Evenings are often balmy. I'd love for it to be September every day. It's still wonderful outside at midnight.

October
There's always some rain in October, but there are also plenty of lovely days. Of course, it gets dark earlier, and you'll want to bring a sweater for the evenings just in case. But you won't need the heating for a while yet. Swimming is fine during the day; the sun is still strong enough. Tourism often experiences a brief revival because there are school holidays in some places in October. And the first winter visitors are already starting to arrive, fleeing the gray and cold.

November
November is considered a winter month, but it certainly isn't. Sometimes nights can be cold, reaching temperatures as low as 10 degrees Celsius, but the daytime is often delightful. The sun is low in the sky, though, as the shortest day approaches. Outdoor dining is becoming less common, but outdoor lunches are definitely more common! Sunbathing is also fine, but the pool is starting to get chilly.

Of course, there's always a period of rainy days, making November less suitable for the "week-long tourist." But anyone who spends the entire month of November in the Algarve will have a wonderful time. A beach is always a treat!

December
December is a true festive month. Colorful streetlights appear everywhere, and every village wishes you a grand "Boas Festas." The days are getting shorter, but not as short as in the Netherlands; there are always two full hours of daylight longer. So, no long, dark days before Christmas, which makes a big difference in the feeling of happiness.

The most important Christmas moment is Christmas Eve. On December 24th, shops close early and government offices often don't even open. Families gather together, there's plenty of food, and gifts are exchanged (after all, we don't have Sinterklaas here).

In winter, the shadows are long, but the water and air remain as clear as ever. In December, the shops are full of great deals, and the shopping centers organize all sorts of activities to attract people.

While Christmas is primarily a family celebration, New Year's Eve is mostly celebrated in cafes. Fireworks are only set off under municipal supervision, so there are no unsafe situations. And in the last week of the year, there are many organized events. December is a cozy month! Fortunately, the serene tranquility of January is just around the corner ;-).

Faro
Many weather measurements and forecasts are based on Faro, the Algarve's regional capital. However, keep in mind that Faro is located on a coastal ridge extending into the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the weather in Faro isn't typically representative of the rest of the Algarve. Outside of Faro, it's often warmer, drier, and sunnier during the day, and cooler in the evenings.

And the rest of Portugal?
The Algarve, due to its southern location behind a mountain range, has a microclimate. In the rest of the country, the weather is relatively poorer and often more unpredictable than in the Algarve. Inland, it can be cold in winter and scorching hot in summer. Snow in Guarda is fairly common.

Along the coast of northern Portugal, the wind can be bitterly cold, even in spring and autumn. It rains just as much in Lisbon as in Amsterdam (though with far fewer rainy days). But that certainly doesn't make it any less interesting to visit. Absolutely!

This (slightly edited) article about the weather in the Algarve was written by Cees Groenewegen, known for his delightful book "Portugal, Piece by Piece," which is highly recommended! We took the photos and incorporated them into his text.

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