Month guide · Algarve · Portugal
Algarve in January
What January is really like in Algarve: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marc Ryckaert ( MJJR ), CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 9.9 hours of daylight. Mild and often sunny with cool nights; many beach restaurants close, but almond blossom starts inland and golf is popular.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Algarve: days average 16°C (61°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with December (17°C (63°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:44
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:38
- Daylight
- About 9.9 hours
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild and often sunny but quiet, with many beach restaurants closed; popular for golf and long stays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Almond blossom in the inland hills (usually late January to February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Lagoa
Benagil Cave
Go early in the morning on a calm day; the boat queue builds by mid-morning in summer and the sea can make access impossible.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours by boat or kayak
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
Nature · Lagoa
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
This clifftop path runs about 6 km each way between Praia da Marinha and Praia do Vale Centeanes, past sinkholes, rock arches and dry 'hanging' valleys that end abruptly above the sea.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Nature
Viewpoint · Lagos
Ponta da Piedade
Come at sunset for warm light on the cliffs, then walk the clifftop paths back towards Praia do Camilo.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Viewpoint · Sagres
Cape St Vincent
Mainland Europe's south-western tip is a headland of high cliffs topped by one of Europe's most powerful lighthouses.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 8°C and 6 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Algarve?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Algarve in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Algarve?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and often sunny with cool nights; many beach restaurants close, but almond blossom starts inland and golf is popular.
+How warm is Algarve in January?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Algarve in January?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.