Exciting Day Trips and Excursions

There are so many different types of day trips and excursions that can be taken in and around the Algarve. Indeed, visitors to the central Algarve, staying in Albufeira, are spoilt for choice and have an ideal launch-pad from which to reach all parts of the Algarve within an hour's travel time.

Travel around the Algarve is simple and straight forward. The independent traveller will most likely use car, bus or train.

Car rental: a competitively priced hire car can be obtained through a reputable rental company quite easily. There is an efficient Guerin office at Parque da Corcovada and Auto Prudente's nearest office is just 5 minutes walk away across the Globe roundabout towards St Eulalia. Booking in advance of your visit will most likely secure the best prices and I find that sites like: www.carhire3000.com and www.arguscarhire.com are very competitive starting form around 100 Euros per week for a basic small car with air conditioning (note peak season prices will be higher and the October 2011 price of petrol was around 1.60E per litre). The main arterial Algarve roads are the A22 motorway running from the Spanish border to Largos in the West (which is becoming a toll road in November 2011) and the older, slower N125 parallel coast road.

Bus travel: although this is a slower method of travel, it is inexpensive and an ideal way to explore the Algarve. The main bus provider is EVA, who sell 3 day (26.70E) and 7 day (33.50E) passes, and you might like to try the coastal 'Linha Litoral' route from Albufeira to Largos, the 'Frota Azul' which will get you from Albufeira to the stunning mountain town of Silves, or the 'Rota Rio Formosa' for eastern routes from Faro to Tavira and Antonio. More information can be found at: http://algarve.angloinfo.com/information/33/busses.asp .

Train travel: from the train station at Albufeira it is possible to get to Tavira in an hour and a half for just over five Euros one way and for the more adventurous traveller Lisbon is just over 2.5 hours away (one way ticket circa 25 Euros). More information on prices and time tables can be found at the 'CP' website: http://www.cp.pt .

Here are some of our day trip ideas:

Silves & Monchique

Take a 30 minute drive into the mountainous Algarve hinterland and find yourself transported into a rural world of olive groves, cork trees, white villages and Moorish castles, with fabulous sweeping panoramic views.

Silves (http://www.silvesuncovered.com/) is a pretty town with a Roman bridge, beautiful town squares and overshadowed by an impressive Moorish castle.

Travel higher into the mountains to the magnificant mountain summit with sweeping views of the Algarve and visit the nearby spa town of Monchique.

  

Algarve Weather - An All Year Destination

Algarve Weather

I’m often asked what the weather in the Algarve is like at different times of the year.

The most straight forward answer is to refer to a reliable weather website like: http://www.holiday-weather.com/algarve/index.html, which will give you a current weather report and advanced forecast for up to seven days. If you are looking for seasonal average temperatures and information about hours of sunshine and precipitation, then there is plenty of information available at:  http://www.holiday-weather.com/algarve/averages/.

Since these sites which provide average temperatures, are only a guide, and there is plenty of evidence that Algarve temperatures are rising year on year, here is my summary of the Algarve weather as I’ve found it during many visits at different times of the year over the past decade or so.

Summer (between June and August): This is a hot and dry period, with plenty of hours of sunshine (average 12 hours per day) and temperatures soaring to well into the eighties. Sea temperatures will also be rising to the peak of 21C, making it ideal for beach and watersports fans, and you will get some relief from the heat from the coastal Atlantic breezes.  

Relaxing by the pool, Block 37 Parque da Corcovada, Summer

Autumn (between September and November): September remains a hot dry month with temperatures in the high seventies, little rainfall and 21C sea temperatures. October remains warm and sunny, making it an ideal half-term destination, whilst November sees average temperatures in the mid sixties and a increasing rainfall, but with sea temperatures still at 17C.

A glorious beach to yourself - St Eulalia, Albufeira in November

Bright sunny day at Cabanas Fort, Eastern Algarve in Winter

Fishing boats bathed in evening sunshine - St Eulalia Beach in November

Spring (between March and May): There is little rainfall from March onwards (until November) and the temperatures will be climbing from the low sixties up to the high seventies (typical range: 17 - 22C). You will get plenty of hours of sunshine, but the sea temperature may still be a bit cool. This is great weather for golfers and hikers.

Winter (between December and February): The weather is warm and mild, with plenty of sunshine, at least 6 hours per day. I’ve seen plenty of people sunbathing at this time of the year in temperatures which can get up into the low seventies by the early afternoon.  Be aware that once the sun sets it can get quite chilly, so take a warm sweater or fleece. This is the wettest time of the year and you might lose a few hours to rain, but once the sun comes out it dries up pretty quickly.  

The Algarve: An All Year Round Destination

I believe that the Algarve has something for everyone at any time of the year. The important thing is to be clear on what you are seeking from your holiday. If you are a sun-seeker, then you will probably want to visit during the hottest months, but you can also get warm sunny days for a relaxing holiday in Spring and Autumn. There's nothing better than alfresco breakfasts on the balcony, or reading a good book whilst sipping a sundowner.

If you are looking for a more energetic sightseeing, walking, horse riding, water sports, or golfing holiday, then you will not be disappointed with the pleasant sunny weather from late Autumn through to early Spring. My wife enjoys this time of year for taking gentle strolls and bird watching.

I sometimes read that people have visited the Algarve in the Winter and experienced warm, but wet weather and find that attractions are closed. This is generally in the Eastern or Western Algarve, where the holiday season tends to be shorter and more restricted to the Summer months.

In Albufeira and the Central Algarve, most attractions stay open all year round and there is a thriving golfing, sightseeing, festivals, cultural and activities holiday market.      

Winter sunshine in historic Tavira