Algarve Climate
The Algarve has a Mediterranean climate with over 300 days of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest regions in Europe. However, climate varies significantly between the coast, interior hills and mountains, which directly affects property decisions.
| Area | Avg Temp | Summer | Winter | Sunshine | Rain | Frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal South (Faro, Albufeira, Lagos) | 17.5°C | 29°C | 12°C | 3,000 hrs | 500 mm | 1 days |
| Coastal West (Aljezur, Vila do Bispo) | 16.5°C | 26°C | 11°C | 2,800 hrs | 600 mm | 2 days |
| Eastern (Tavira, VRSA, Castro Marim) | 18°C | 31°C | 12°C | 3,100 hrs | 450 mm | 1 days |
| Interior Hills (Loule, Sao Bras, Silves) | 17°C | 30°C | 10°C | 2,900 hrs | 550 mm | 5 days |
| Mountains (Monchique) | 15°C | 28°C | 8°C | 2,700 hrs | 900 mm | 15 days |
| Deep Interior (Alcoutim) | 17.5°C | 33°C | 9°C | 2,900 hrs | 500 mm | 8 days |
Why climate matters for property
Climate directly affects heating costs (Monchique needs heating in winter, the coast rarely does), rental season length (south coast runs April to October, west coast is shorter), solar panel yield (the eastern Algarve gets the most sunshine) and fire risk (dry interior areas face higher risk in summer).
Coastal vs interior
The south coast is moderated by the Atlantic: warm but rarely extreme. Move 20km inland and summers are 3-5°C hotter, winters 2-3°C cooler. Monchique in the mountains gets almost double the rainfall of Faro and can see frost on 15 days per year. The west coast (Aljezur, Vila do Bispo) is windier and cooler than the south, with more cloud cover.
Rainfall and flooding
Rainfall is concentrated between October and March. The Algarve is dry from May to September (many months with zero rainfall). When rain comes, it can be intense: flash flooding is a real risk in low-lying areas. Check our flood risk map layers for specific locations.
Climate data based on long-term averages. Sunshine hours are approximate annual totals.
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