Algarve

What’s the weather like in the Algarve in March?

Sitting in the south of Portugal close to northwest Africa, the weather’s warming up in the Algarve region in March. If you're going there at this time you'll get plenty of warm and sunny weather with less crowds than in the summer.

Climatic influences

The Algarve has the best weather in Portugal and is one of the sunniest places in Europe. The mountains that divide Portugal in two protect the Algarve from northern and Atlantic winds that also carry rain; this means it’s warmer and drier than the rest of Portugal. Atlantic winds are stronger offshore, while the east’s warmer and drier than the west because it’s close to the Mediterranean rather than the Atlantic.

Averages

The average high temperature in Faro, the Algarve’s capital, is 19ºC in March, perfectly warm enough for the beach. You should bring some warmer clothes as well as your swimwear though, as things can get quite chilly in the evenings. The sea temperature is around 17ºC, while humidity’s low and rainfall’s normally 54mm over eight rainy days. You can expect 12 hours of daylight with seven hours of sunshine each day while UV levels will be moderate. The sun sets just before 6.30pm at the start of March; this is closer to 8pm by the end of the month as daylight saving starts.