What's on in Albufeira (Algarve), Portugal through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Almond blossom in the barrocal

  15 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The almond groves in the hills behind the coast flower before anything else opens, which is the one argument for a hire car here in winter.

Still on: Low season on the Strip (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

Busy — Carnival holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Carnival

  14–17 Feb

  Four days of parades across the council, and the one in the village of Paderne is the older and better of them. It is the only time the off-season town fills up. Source ↗

Still on: Almond blossom in the barrocal (15 Jan – 25 Feb (usually)), Low season on the Strip (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

Busy — Easter holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Carnival (14–17 Feb), Low season on the Strip (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

Busy — Easter holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Summer holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Wildfire season inland

  15 Jun – 30 Sep · usuallySmoke season

  The coast itself rarely burns, but the Monchique and Caldeirao hills behind it do, and a bad week puts smoke over the beaches and closes the back roads. Source ↗

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  25 Jun – 15 Oct · usually

  This stretch of Algarve coast faces south and is sheltered from the Atlantic swell, so it holds its warmth weeks longer than the west-facing beaches around Sagres.

Peak crowds — British and Irish school holidays, Summer holidays in Portugal

• Holiday

  British and Irish school holidays

  1 Jul – 31 AugCrowdedBook early

  The town runs on the northern European school calendar rather than the Portuguese one, so the fortnight either side of the end of July is the hardest to book and the dearest to fly into. Source ↗

Still on: Wildfire season inland (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — British and Irish school holidays, Dia do Municipio

• Festival

  Dia do Municipio

  20 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  The town's charter day on 20 August, closed by a concert and fireworks over Praia dos Pescadores, at the exact peak of the season. Source ↗

Still on: Wildfire season inland (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), British and Irish school holidays (1 Jul – 31 Aug)

Busy — Summer holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Festas do Pescador

  1–10 Sep · usuallyMajor festival

  The fishermen's feast in the first week of September, with tasquinhas on the old beach and the boats brought in to Praia dos Pescadores. The crowds have thinned by then. Source ↗

Still on: Wildfire season inland (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Low season on the Strip

  1 Nov – 15 MarOff-season shutdownClosures

  Most of the bars and a good share of the hotels in Areias de Sao Joao shut from November, and flights drop to a handful a week. What stays open is the old town.

Busy — Christmas holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Low season on the Strip (1 Nov – 15 Mar)