Season guide · Algarve · Portugal
Algarve in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bextrel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Hot, dry and reliably sunny, with the warmest sea, packed beaches and peak prices in July and August. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F), with about 1 rainy days across June–August. June is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 17°C (63°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 1
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 27°C (81°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 1 | 14.7 h | 4/5 |
| July | 29°C (84°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 0 | 14.5 h | 5/5 |
| August | 29°C (84°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 0 | 13.6 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 1 of the year's roughly 39 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Santos Populares — street parties with grilled sardines (June)
- June: Festival MED in Loulé — world music (usually late June or July)
- July: Faro International Motorcycle Concentration (usually July)
- August: Olhão Seafood Festival (usually August)
- August: Silves Medieval Fair (usually August)
- August: Portimão Sardine Festival (usually August)
Make the most of the weather
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
Historic site · Sagres
Fortress of Sagres
Walk the full loop around the promontory to see fishermen on the cliffs and the blowholes on the west side.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Faro
Ria Formosa Natural Park
A protected lagoon of salt marshes, channels and barrier islands stretching about 60 km along the eastern Algarve.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Faro
Faro Old Town and Cathedral
Climb the cathedral tower for the panorama over the Ria Formosa and look out for storks nesting on the rooftops in spring.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Day trips in summer
- Lisbon (About 3 hours by train or car) — Portugal's capital, with the Alfama, Belém and the castle, is a long day trip; it works better as a two- or three-night add-on at the start or end of an Algarve holiday.
- Mértola (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — A whitewashed Alentejo town on a cliff above the Guadiana river, with a castle and a church that was once a mosque.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Algarve?
Yes: June is among the best months. Hot, dry and reliably sunny, with the warmest sea, packed beaches and peak prices in July and August.
+What is the weather like in Algarve in summer?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F), with about 1 rainy days over the season.