The Algarve in winter 2026-2027: weather, what's open, public holidays, almond blossom and plans from November to February

Updated: 10 November 2026

From November to February the Algarve is quieter, cheaper in several tourist taxes and, according to IPMA (Portugal's weather institute), mild: in Faro the average January high is 16.3 °C. But it rains more than in summer, the bathing season is over and some parks close. This guide brings together what we could check on 10 November 2026 with IPMA, the Portuguese Labour Code, town councils and, where there was no official source, regional press (marked with its date). What we could not confirm is said so.

Faro weather from November to February

IPMA climate normals for Faro, 1991-2020 (30-year averages, not a forecast):

November: mean 15.7 °C (high 19.6 °C, low 11.9 °C); 75.5 mm of rain over 6.6 days with at least 1 mm.
December: mean 13.4 °C (high 17.1 °C, low 9.7 °C); 90.0 mm over 7.0 days, the wettest month of the year.
January: mean 12.3 °C (high 16.3 °C, low 8.3 °C); 49.3 mm over 6.0 days. The coolest month.
February: mean 12.9 °C (high 17.0 °C, low 8.8 °C); 41.9 mm over 5.4 days.
For comparison: the whole year gets 455.1 mm over 48.9 days, so almost half the annual rain falls in these four months. Faro is at sea level; the hills (Monchique, Caldeirão) are colder, but we did not read those stations' normals.
Sunshine hours and sea temperature: not in the IPMA document we read; not confirmed. Check the IPMA forecast a few days before you travel.

What's open and what changes in winter

What we could confirm:

Beaches: the 2026 bathing season in the Algarve generally ran from 1 June to 30 September (15 May to 15 October in Albufeira), under Portaria 204-A/2026/1. In winter you can walk the beaches and even swim, but there is no bathing season, no Blue Flag flying, and there may be no lifeguard.
Monuments: Castro Marim Castle opens from November to March 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00, according to the council. For other monuments and museums we did not confirm winter hours: check each one's website.
Parks: some water parks only open in spring; the Ciência Viva science centres in Faro and Lagos publish weekly hours that include public holidays (we did not confirm any winter closures). Dates and sources at /algarve-with-kids-zoomarine-slide-splash-aquashow-science-centres-2026.
Tourist tax: in several municipalities it drops in winter (Faro, Loulé, Olhão and Lagoa charge €1 a night in these months) and Albufeira only charges from April to October. Details at /algarve-tourist-tax-2026.
Restaurants and accommodation closing for winter breaks: there is no official list; check directly before you go.

Public holidays from November to February

Mandatory holidays under the Labour Code (art. 234) in this period:

Sunday 1 November 2026 (All Saints).
Tuesday 1 December 2026 (Restoration of Independence) and Tuesday 8 December (Immaculate Conception): possible long weekends with the Monday.
Friday 25 December 2026 (Christmas) and Friday 1 January 2027: two long weekends. 24 and 31 December are not holidays.
Carnival Tuesday, 9 February 2027: NOT a mandatory holiday. Under art. 235 of the Labour Code it is only a holiday if a collective agreement or employment contract says so; the civil-service day off is decided each year (for 2027, not yet confirmed).
Municipal holidays (for example Vila do Bispo on 22 January) and the rest of 2027: see /algarve-public-holidays-2027-municipal-dates.

Christmas and New Year's Eve

The 2026 programmes were not yet published in the sources we read; as a reference, Christmas 2025 (press):

Lagos (Postal do Algarve, 29-11-2025): council programme from 29 November 2025 to 10 January 2026, with an ice rink and Santa's house in Praça do Infante until 24 December.
Tavira (Postal do Algarve, 27-11-2025): council programme until 6 January 2026, with craft markets, concerts at the Mercado da Ribeira from 6 to 23 December and a New Year's party with fireworks.
New Year's Eve 2026-2027: the biggest party is usually Albufeira's; announced artists, what is not confirmed and where to stay at /algarve-new-years-eve-albufeira-2026-2027-accommodation.
Between Christmas and New Year demand for rooms in Albufeira rises sharply; book early and check the total price.

Carnival 2027

Sunday 7, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February 2027 (worked out from Easter on 28 March):

The best-known parade is in Loulé; the 2027 dates and programme are not yet published. See 2026 as a reference at /loule-carnival-2027-dates-accommodation.
Bear in mind that in February 2026 the weather forced events in the Algarve to change dates (see almond blossom below). Have a plan B for rainy days.

Almond blossom (February)

What there is a source for, and what there isn't:

The Almond Blossom Festival (Festival das Amendoeiras em Flor) is held at Alta Mora, in the hills of Castro Marim. It is run by ARCDAA, the local Alta Mora association, with Castro Marim council and the Odeleite parish council (Postal do Algarve, 4-1-2026).
In 2026 it was set for 6 to 8 February, was postponed because of bad weather and took place from 20 to 22 February, with thousands of visitors (Postal do Algarve, 6-2-2026 and 23-2-2026; barlavento, 23-2-2026).
2026 programme: walking routes of 6, 9, 12 and 20 km with compulsory registration, music, crafts and local produce; entry €4 for adults, €2.50 for ages 11 to 14 and free up to 10.
2027 festival: dates not confirmed. When the almond trees blossom: no source we read gives dates; the press speaks of February, but it depends on each year's weather.

Walking and golf

Winter is a good time to walk inland:

Via Algarviana (GR13), about 300 km from Alcoutim to Cape St Vincent: according to the official website, October to May are the most suitable months and spring the best. Stages, accommodation and transport at /via-algarviana-gr13-stages-route-when-to-go-2026.
After heavy rain, dirt tracks and stream crossings can become difficult; check IPMA and Civil Protection warnings.
Golf: winter is traditionally golf season in the Algarve, but we found no official source with courses, prices or winter data; not confirmed.

Getting there and around without a car

CP regional trains on the Algarve line and Vamus buses:

Timetables, fares and what we confirmed about buses and the airport at /algarve-without-car-train-bus-vamus-faro-airport-2026.
On public holidays and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January timetables may change: check the day before.

If you run a property in the Algarve

What winter travellers tend to ask AI assistants:

Whether the property has heating, heat-pump air conditioning or a fireplace, and whether the pool is open or heated.
Whether the restaurant or the property itself closes for some weeks in winter, and which ones.
The total price including the winter tourist tax, and the cancellation policy if the weather spoils plans.
Keeping this clear and up to date on your website and listings avoids wrong answers.

How iQuota helps

iQuota makes independent properties available to AI assistants with direct booking, payment at the property and 0% commission, at the price and terms each property sets. Algarve properties can list on iQuota; we cannot guarantee that an AI assistant will recommend them.

Run a property in the Algarve and want AI to give your real winter prices and terms, with direct booking and no commission? The first 30 hotels join free until 30 June 2027.

See the Founding Hotels programme

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Algarve in January?

According to IPMA's climate normals for Faro (1991-2020), January has a mean of 12.3 °C, with average highs of 16.3 °C and lows of 8.3 °C, and 49.3 mm of rain on about 6 days. That is a 30-year average, not a forecast.

Which is the wettest winter month in the Algarve?

December: Faro gets on average 90.0 mm over 7 days with at least 1 mm, according to IPMA (1991-2020). February is the driest of the four, with 41.9 mm.

Is Carnival Tuesday 2027 a public holiday in Portugal?

It is not a mandatory holiday. It falls on 9 February 2027 and, under art. 235 of the Labour Code, it is only a holiday if a collective agreement or employment contract provides for it; the government's civil-service day off is decided each year.

When is the Almond Blossom Festival?

It is held in February at Alta Mora (Castro Marim). In 2026 it ran from 20 to 22 February after being postponed for bad weather; the 2027 dates are not yet confirmed.

Are there public holidays in the Algarve in December 2026?

Yes: Tuesday 1, Tuesday 8 and Friday 25 December 2026 are mandatory holidays, and so is Friday 1 January 2027. 24 and 31 December are not holidays.

Can you swim in the sea in winter?

You can, but outside the bathing season (in 2026 generally 1 June to 30 September) lifeguards are not guaranteed. We did not confirm the water temperature from an official source.

Sources

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