Salema in February

I was there (on a day trip ) a few years ago in April and it was very quiet . It is very small and there was only one restaurant open

The reason you go to Salema is for the beach so skip it.

Thanks for the replies folks. I think we will go to Tavira instead, and maybe make a day trip or overnight trip to Salema. Appreciate your advice.

I visited Salema in late October and very few restaurants were open. The small town had closed for the season. Maybe a day trip but not overnight unless you really don’t want to do anything.

Tavira will be a bit better, but still: February is very quiet in the Algarve and 3 weeks sounds like a long time to spend there at that time of the year. And if you are looking for winter sun / warmth, you might be disappointed - the climate is obviously milder than Canada, but winter there isn't exactly balmy either.

I have spent several holidays at this time of year on the Algarve, but now head to Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands, as the weather is much better.

I have stayed in Tavira and nearby Cabanas. The eastern end of the Algarve is much less windy than the west, but you are likely to find some dry, mild days but also some days of torrential rain if my experiences are typical. It’s not beachable at that time of year.

Although Cabanas lacks the charm of old town Tavira, it is popular with Canadians and Americans, as it offers a good selection of cafes and restaurants, most with sea views (unlike Tavira where little is waterfront), a small market, supermarkets and a boardwalk for regular strolls. The railway station is about a 10 minute walk from the sea front and connects with Tavira, Faro and further west plus you can visit some of the towns towards the Spanish border.

We always hire a car, which is good value off season.

We have stayed in Salema several times in June and September for a beach based holiday (although we never go to Salema beach!) and we have driven over there from Cabanas in late March for a day trip (took 2.5 hours) - there was only one place open for coffee and that wasn’t particularly busy. Salema had far more charm before it doubled in size with The View developments. If you want a longer day trip from Tavira/Cabanas, visit Ferragudo and Lagos. The Cape is always cold and windy even in July, so you will need lots of warm clothing for March.

Alcoutim is a good place for a drive and lunch on the Spanish border, as is Monchique in the hills. From Cabanas, you could drive to Vila Real do Santo Antonio and take the short ferry ride across the river and have lunch in Spain.