The Weather.
Leaving behind a cold and wet November in the UK and arriving into Faro to blue sky and twenty degrees Celsius was bliss snd while such temperatures are not guaranteed it is noticeably warmer here. The Algarve has about 300 sunny days a year and not a great deal of rain, making it an ideal location for a break during those cold winter months in more northerly regions of Europe. During winter the average temperature here is between ten and fifteen Celsius depending on the month. Don’t expect to be sunbathing by the pool or on the beach but you can be wearing lightweight shirts and shorts.
The evenings however can get chilly and rental apartments can feel cold. Most buildings here are designed to cope with the hot summer days so its worth packing some warmer clothes for the evenings and if renting an apartment choose one that has heating included.
It can rain with about seven rainy days on average in November and December being the wettest month of the year. The rain does tend to be showery and doesn’t usually rain all day like it can in the UK. We had a really heavy rain storm early this morning but by 10am the skies were clearing and the remainder of the day was sunny and warm. That counts as a rainy day here!
It is quieter.
The number of tourists is much reduced from the peak months of July and August. The consequence of this is that the cost of hotels and apartments are much cheaper. Some apartment owners even offer very much discounted rates for longer rentals of a month or more in the winter months. The pace of life is slow as there is no need to rush to get anywhere as all the popular beaches, walks and attractions are quiet. Indeed you can have many of the beaches to yourself at this time of year.
Some businesses do close at the end of October and won’t reopen until the beginning of March but in November there is still plenty open to give excellent choice and availability. This does change in December and January with more restaurant owners taking the opportunity for a break of their own in the quieter winter months.
Driving.
Driving at this time of year is a real pleasure. From the lack of queues at the rental desk at Faro airport to the ease of finding parking places in popular towns and beaches. The roads are much quieter too with less traffic and less frought tourists rushing around. Journey times are faster giving you the opportunity to explore further.
Golf.
Although The Algarve is so much more than its golf courses but golf is big business here, with over 50 courses to choose from, and there is no better time to play than in the quieter late autumn and winter. Peak season here is the early autumn, when the summer heat has passed, and spring. November through to February there are much less players. The mild winter climate makes golf here a much more pleasurable experience compared to the UK.