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

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

• Nature

  Almond blossom

  15 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The groves inland towards Barao de Sao Joao flower before anything reopens, and the cliff path to Ponta da Piedade is at its best in the same weeks.

Still on: West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr), Low season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

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

• Festival

  Carnival at Loule

  14–17 Feb

  The Algarve's oldest carnival parade runs at Loule, an hour east, and it is the only thing that fills this coast in February. Lagos itself keeps a small parade of its own. Source ↗

Still on: Almond blossom (15 Jan – 25 Feb (usually)), West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr), Low season (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 at Loule (14–17 Feb), West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr), Low season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

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

• Nature

  Dolphins offshore

  1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyWhale season

  Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade. Morning sailings get the flat water.

Still on: West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr)

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

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Dolphins offshore (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

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

  Monchique burns badly every few summers and the smoke reaches the coast on a north wind. The beaches are not at risk; the roads and the walking country behind them are. Source ↗

Still on: Dolphins offshore (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Algarve summer season

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  1 Jul – 5 Oct · usually

  The western Algarve sits closer to the Atlantic than the eastern half and runs a few degrees behind it all summer. Meia Praia is the warm side of town; the west-facing beaches are not.

• Holiday

  Algarve summer season

  1 Jul – 31 AugSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Northern European school holidays and the Portuguese August land together, and the cove beaches here are small. Parking at Dona Ana is gone by nine in August. Source ↗

Still on: Dolphins offshore (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Wildfire season inland (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Algarve summer season, Summer holidays in Portugal

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Dolphins offshore (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Wildfire season inland (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jul – 5 Oct (usually)), Algarve summer season (1 Jul – 31 Aug)

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

• Season

  West coast swell season

  15 Sep – 30 AprSurf season

  Winter lows put swell on the exposed west coast around Sagres and Arrifana, forty minutes away, while the south-facing town beaches stay flat. That split is why people base here.

Still on: Dolphins offshore (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Wildfire season inland (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jul – 5 Oct (usually))

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

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Dolphins offshore (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jul – 5 Oct (usually)), West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Low season

  1 Nov – 15 MarOff-season shutdownClosures

  A share of the restaurants and most of the boat operators shut, and the marina goes quiet, but the town has enough residents to stay open. Rooms are a third of the August price.

Still on: West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr)

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

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: West coast swell season (15 Sep – 30 Apr), Low season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)