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Algarve - winter break

Posted by (Alberta) on

My wife and I are considering a month long winter escape to the Algarve area of Portugal, with day trips by rented car.

Would February be okay from a weather, activity and tourist avoidance perspective?

Preferred location to stay for a “Europe from the back door” experience, while having reasonable access to highways, dining, shopping, activities…? (Steves suggests Salema.)

Suggestions for activities and day trips? Historical and “typical” sights, interesting landscapes, moderate hiking, cultural activities, extended walks along beaches, memorable dining…?

We have visited Portugal’s Atlantic coast down to Lisbon, and recently completed the RS “Best of Spain” tour that got as far west as Seville.
We look forward to your suggestions. Thank you.

Posted by
1938 posts

February would be ok as long as you are prepared for rain and cool temps. There would be few to no tourists in the Algarve that time of year. However RS suggestion for Salema is not the place to stay. It basically shuts down in the winter, as do a lot of the smaller places in the Algarve. I spent two weeks in early March in Lagos and it was quite nice. It’s large enough that it doesn’t shut down in the winter, but there aren’t many people other than locals around. It’s sort in the center of the Algarve, making for easy access all along the southern coast. It also has a small market with fresh produce and fish (not certain how many days a week it’s open). The oranges will be in season and they are amazing since they are grown right there.

As far away as Evora might be doable as a day trip and you can go north up the coast from Sagres. Other than those areas, I don’t have any experience with other places for day trips. But, Tavira is nice and it would be possible to drive into Spain on a longish day trip.

It’s possible to hike along the coast around Lagos but I’m not certain how far or have any details.

The food will be mostly seafood but the prawns/shrimp/camarao (pt) are amazing. The robalo and dorada (fish) are wonderful, too. The pork from Alentejo is also quite good all over Portugal. There are a number of beach restaurants that I enjoyed as they were quiet with good food. On the sunny days in the winter, the skies are clear and beautiful.

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