For a first trip to Portugal, I'm wondering if it's worth a trip to the Algarve in March or April. I assume it's still low season there at that time. What would one "do" at that time of year? What would be the big "attraction"? Any idea the kind of weather we could expect then?
Posted by
Fulda Germany and Rhode Island USA
334 posts
Debating to do the same .First thought was Italy now leaning Portugal.
Posted by
374 posts
Hi
The big attractions of the Algarve are the beaches, golf and the weather just like Florida is for the snowbirds minus the theme parks and hurricanes.
The weather is similar to northern Florida on the Atlantic side, think Daytona Beach.
https://www.algarve-tourist.com/
Happy travels
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8339 posts
April would be a great time to go to Southern Portugal.
Tha Algarve is to the U.K. as Florida is to those living in the northern regions of the U.S.
My niece lived in SW London, and they kept a very nice condo outside Farro.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
I have been to the Algarve a few times for a month in late March into early April as we have friends there. Accommodation prices tick up considerably in April as it’s Easter school holidays for northern Europe for the first three weeks of April. Places are busier in April.
The weather was ok - generally warm (15-18 degrees daytime) but still cold in the evenings (7-12 degrees). We needed fleeces most days. We had a few days of rain each trip, some very heavy and prolonged. It was windy (even more so at the western end of the Algarve), which took the edge off the temperature and ticked it into the not beachable category.
The Algarve is full of thousands of snow birds, particularly motor homers, so it isn’t quiet, although some smaller resorts are more or less closed for the winter such as Salema and Altura.
What to do - beaches if it’s warm enough (the sea is glacial year round as it’s the Atlantic not the Med), golf, walking, hire a bike or visit other resorts. There are castles in Silves and Aljezur. Explore the hills around Monchique. There are a few small scale museums. If you want lots of history and quaint villages, then the Algarve isn’t for you - the area between Lisbon and Porto would be better and the weather not much different.
One year, we had a few days in Jerez in Spain - it was noticeably warmer as it wasn’t as windy.
If you have 4-6 weeks in Portugal, then it’s worth seeing the Algarve. If you have 2 weeks, then stay further north. Consider Lagos, Luz, Tavira and Cabanas as possible bases. I am not a fan of the faceless resorts that comprise the middle of the Algarve.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5513 posts
Just go to Florida instead…unless you really want to hang out with golfers and retired Brits on your Euro vacation.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
There were far more Germans and French than Brits when I was in the Algarve last in the winter. Quite a few Canadians too.
I am only in my 50s!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5513 posts
I also saw a lot of Dutch folks! I’m also on just 50 :)