Algarve · Month comparison

December vs September

September ranks #1 overall vs December at #9. The golden month — 28°C, sea at its warmest, families back at school.

Praia da Rocha NYE fireworks over the Algarve coast

December

#9 of 12 months

Best match

Christmas in the Algarve attracts a snowbird crowd; New Year fireworks in Praia da Rocha.

  • ↑Mild Christmas (17°C daytime) makes seaside walks comfortable
  • ↑Praia da Rocha NYE fireworks — best public display in the south
September warm light on Algarve cliffs

September

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The golden month — 28°C, sea at its warmest, families back at school.

  • ↑Sea at 23°C (warmer than July), light winds, prime kayak/SUP weather
  • ↑Med Cup sailing in Vilamoura early September
FactorDecemberSeptember
Weather score
6
10
Value score
9
6
Crowd score
9
6
Events score
6
7
Atmosphere
7
10
Avg high temp17°C28°C
Monthly rain90mm18mm
Daily sunshine5.5hrs9hrs

December trade-offs

  • ↓Christmas/New Year rates climb 50%+ over standard winter
  • ↓90mm rain; can be 4 wet days in a row

September trade-offs

  • ↓Atlantic surf swell starts building late month — west-coast beaches roughen
  • ↓First small storm typically rolls in around 25-30 September
See all 12 months for Algarve →December in detail →September in detail →
Scores compare months within Algarve. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →