Early March 1 March
65°F
Typical afternoon high
23% historical wet-day frequency
Portugal · Beach
The Algarve
in March.
Is March a good time?
Mild days.
More overnight stays than February.
March averages 67°F afternoons and 60°F seas, with about 6 rain days. Later March is typically warmer.
- Afternoons
- 67°F
- Sea
- 60°F
- Visitor demand
- 36%of August peak
Historical Algarve regional averages, not a forecast or a measure of queues. Overnight demand compares average stays per day. Covers Lagos, Albufeira and Faro; conditions vary within the region.
Overall match
7.8/10 · scores & prioritiesWhat matters most?
Weather 50% · Crowds 30% · Cost 20%
#9 of 12 months here · Balanced mix
Weather6.6/10Good
CrowdsModerate seasonvs its own year; overnight stays do not measure queuesFor its size, one of Europe's busiest this month
CostCheapfor Europe
Overall combines weather, overnight demand and cost. It does not include sea temperature.
Plan your March
What to expect.
What should I pack?
Afternoons around 67°F (19°C): light layers; nights around 50°F (10°C): a sweater and a light jacket. About 12 hours of daylight. About 6 rain days in a typical March.
Can I swim in March?
The sea averages 60°F. Our swimming guide: cold: short dips, or a wetsuit. Your comfort will vary. This is open water near the coast, not a beach-specific reading.
Monthly coastal averages from NOAA, 2011–2025. Sea temperature is separate from the weather and Overall scores.
A typical day: temperatures & daylightAfternoons, nights, sea temperature & daylight Show detailsHide details
About 12 hours of daylight.
The sun rises about 06:45 and sets about 18:39 (local time, mid-month). Mornings start around 50°F (10°C); afternoons reach about 67°F (19°C). Expect rain on about 6 days in a typical March.
Typical afternoon
67°F (19°C)
average daily high, 15 recent Marches
Night low
50°F (10°C)
average daily minimum
Sea
60°F (15°C)
cold; open water near the coast, NOAA satellite record 2011–2025
Daylight
11h 54m
on the 15th, computed from latitude
Early, middle or late?
Early or late March?
Late March is typically warmer. The afternoon high averages 65°F on the 1st, versus 68°F on the 31st.
Mid March 15 March
67°F
Typical afternoon high
25% historical wet-day frequency
Late March 31 March
68°F
Typical afternoon high
22% historical wet-day frequency
Historical daily averages from 2011–2025, smoothed over two weeks. A seasonal pattern, not a forecast. This does not establish which week has the lowest prices or fewest visitors.
Public holidays · 2027: 26 Mar Good Friday; 28 Mar Easter Sunday.
Daily calendar & holiday datesMarch 2027 · historical weather & dated holidays Show calendarHide calendar
March 2027 calendar
Weather shows historical patterns, not a forecast. Holidays and events use the dates shown for 2027.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 165° | 265° | 365° | 465° | 565° | 666° | 766° |
| 866° | 966° | 1066° | 1167° | 1267° | 1367° | 1467° |
| 1567° | 1667° | 1767° | 1867° | 1967° | 2067° | 2167° |
| 2267° | 2367° | 2467° | 2567° | 2667° | 2768° | 2868° |
| 2968° | 3068° | 3168° |
Afternoon high rain likely (25%+) local school holidays public holiday event
Afternoons warm from about 65°F (19°C) in the first week to 68°F (20°C) in the last. The chance of a wet day runs 22–30%. Local schools are out 22–31 March 2027.
Schools here are off 22–31 March 2027 (Easter holidays). Public holidays: 26 Mar Good Friday; 28 Mar Easter Sunday. Elsewhere in March 2027, the share of people living where schools are out on a typical day: Germany 27%, Spain 30%, Italy 19%, France 10%. (School holidays: OpenHolidays, ODbL.)
Crowds and cost
Visitor season
Will it be busy?
Moderate season. March averages 36% of August's overnight stays per day. More overnight stays than February.
Overnight stays across Algarve do not measure queues, day visitors or congestion at individual sights. For its size, one of Europe's busiest this month.
Hotel price season
Will it be cheaper?
Well below usual. Historical regional hotel revenue (2024–2025 monthly average): €41 per guest-night. An average, not a booking quote.
Fewer overnight stays do not automatically mean cheaper rooms. Check actual quotes for your trip.
Historical hotel average
€41
2024–2025 monthly average; hotel revenue per guest-night; not a current booking quote. −25% vs this region's usual month.
Portugal as a whole
Well below EU average
2024 restaurants and hotels price level: 76 where the EU average is 100. A relative index, not a room rate.
The historical regional amount comes from INE Portugal, Inquérito à Permanência de Hóspedes: hotel room revenue per guest-night; the country price level is national. Hotel averages are not live booking quotes.
Year-to-year variation
How much does March vary?
Across the recorded years
In the 15 years from 2011 to 2025, the month's afternoons averaged between 64°F (18°C) and 70°F (21°C); in 11 of them they were within 3°F (1.5°C) of the typical 67°F (19°C). Rain days ranged from 2 to 17; half the years had 3–14.
Rain days in each March
Rain days
6
at least 1 mm, typical year; about 16 in a wet year
Mostly sunny days
10 of 31
cloud cover under 30%
Years with a 95°F+ day
0 of 15
no March in the last 15 years had a day at or above 95°F (35°C)
Good weather days
17 of 31
rated very good or better
See every recorded MarchHistorical monthly averages, year by year Show detailsHide details
| Year | Afternoon high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 65°F | 8 |
| 2012 | 68°F | 5 |
| 2013 | 64°F | 17 |
| 2014 | 67°F | 4 |
| 2015 | 69°F | 6 |
| 2016 | 65°F | 2 |
| 2017 | 67°F | 7 |
| 2018 | 64°F | 14 |
| 2019 | 70°F | 3 |
| 2020 | 68°F | 6 |
| 2021 | 68°F | 3 |
| 2022 | 65°F | 14 |
| 2023 | 70°F | 2 |
| 2024 | 67°F | 11 |
| 2025 | 65°F | 17 |
Checked against official climate averages for Faro (Aeroporto) and Sagres (Quartel da Marinha). How we check
Compare dates
February, March
or April?
| Typical conditions | Feb | Mar | Apr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 64°F | 67°F | 71°F |
| Sea | 60°F | 60°F | 62°F |
| Rain days | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Overnight demand | 28% | 36% | 52% |
February: Cooler afternoons and fewer rain days than March. Less overnight demand. February guide →
April: Warmer afternoons and warmer sea than March. More overnight demand. April guide →
Overnight demand measures accommodation stays, not queues. Sea temperatures are monthly coastal averages.
Compare any of the 12 monthsChoose another month and compare it with March Show comparisonHide comparison
Yellow marks the top three months on the Balanced mix. March stays as your reference.
April to October have a Weather score at least 1.0 point higher than March, but more overnight stays.
Your comparison
March or February?
Overnight stays are 28% of the busiest month.
Historical regional hotel revenue (2024–2025 monthly average): €37 per guest-night. An average, not a booking quote.
Read the February guide →| Typical conditions | March | February |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 67°F | 64°F |
| Nights | 50°F | 49°F |
| Sea | 60°F | 60°F |
| Rain days | 6 | 4 |
| Visitor season | Moderate season | Low season |
| Overall / 10 | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Month rank | #9 | #10 |
Every month, in detail Show detailsHide details
| Month | Overall | Rank | High | Low | Sea | Rain days | Weather | Visitor season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.8 | #11 | 62°F | 48°F | 61°F | 4 | 5.9 | Low season |
| February | 7.8 | #10 | 64°F | 49°F | 60°F | 4 | 6.2 | Low season |
| March | 7.8 | #9 | 67°F | 50°F | 60°F | 6 | 6.6 | Moderate season |
| April | 8.0 | #6 | 71°F | 53°F | 62°F | 5 | 7.9 | Moderate season |
| May | 8.6 | #1 | 77°F | 57°F | 64°F | 3 | 9.6 | Moderate season |
| June | 8.4 | #2 | 82°F | 60°F | 66°F | 0 | 10.0 | Busy season |
| July | 7.9 | #7 | 87°F | 63°F | 68°F | 0 | 10.0 | Peak season |
| August | 7.5 | #12 | 88°F | 64°F | 68°F | 0 | 10.0 | Peak season |
| September | 8.3 | #3 | 82°F | 63°F | 69°F | 2 | 10.0 | Busy season |
| October | 8.3 | #4 | 77°F | 60°F | 68°F | 5 | 9.0 | Moderate season |
| November | 8.2 | #5 | 68°F | 54°F | 66°F | 6 | 7.1 | Low season |
| December | 7.9 | #8 | 64°F | 50°F | 63°F | 5 | 6.3 | Low season |
Near here
Nearby places in March
Nearby regions, nearest first. Distances are centre to centre, as the crow flies; they are not road distances or journey times.
AlentejoPortugal · about 80 miles
Balanced Overall 8.5 · Very good weather, 66°F (19°C) · Low season · Cost cheap
Setúbal PeninsulaPortugal · about 100 miles
Balanced Overall 7.5 · Good weather, 65°F (18°C) · Moderate season · Cost cheap
LisbonPortugal · about 130 miles
Balanced Overall 7.4 · Very good weather, 64°F (18°C) · Steady all year · Cost moderate
Óbidos, Nazaré & the Tagus ValleyPortugal · about 140 miles
Balanced Overall 7.3 · Good weather, 65°F (18°C) · Moderate season · Cost cheap
ExtremaduraSpain · about 170 miles
Balanced Overall 7.9 · Very good weather, 65°F (18°C) · Moderate season · Cost cheap
Elsewhere in Europe
Better March weather than The Algarve
The Algarve's weather ranks 8 of 77 beach regions this month. These beach regions outside Portugal have clearly better weather on your dates, nearest first, each compared with The Algarve.
How we knowSources, regional scope & scoring method Show detailsHide details
It's moderate season, 36% of the busiest month and 31% below its average month. That means about 43,000 overnight visitors on a typical March night across the region, 17% of them from Portugal itself. Rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor add up to 17,000 more: 40 for every 100 counted above. Some are the same properties counted twice.
| Climate suitability (HCI:Beach, 0–100) | 68 |
| How our weather was checked | Official climate averages for Faro (Aeroporto) and Sagres (Quartel da Marinha) from the national weather service, every month: afternoon highs typically within 1°F (0.5°C), night lows within 2°F (0.9°C). |
| Tourist nights per 1,000 residents per day | 88 |
| Busiest month here | August · 246 |
| Visitors as share of people present | 8.1% |
| Rank among Europe's regions this month | 97th percentile |
| Domestic share of nights | 17% |
| Platform rental nights per 100 counted nights | 40 |
| Visitor share if every platform night were extra | 10.9% |
| Population used | 493,000 |
| Statistical region | PT15 · Algarve |
Crowds: Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation, by month and NUTS 2 region, 2024–2025 average. Overnight visitors per night is the month's nights divided by its days; the per-1,000 figure is Eurostat's, against each year's population. Platform rentals: Eurostat nights booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor, 2024–2025 average, shown separately because some properties are in both counts. Weather: Holiday Climate Index computed from ERA5 reanalysis with daily highs, night lows and rain days corrected from open national weather-service station records, 2011–2025, population-weighted to the region; day-by-day figures are the same data averaged by date. Heat and rain odds are counted across those years. Sunrise and sunset: NOAA solar equations, local time. Prices: Eurostat price level index and HICP, national; the first figure is regional (INE Portugal, Inquérito à Permanência de Hóspedes: hotel room revenue per guest-night). Full method · this region's data.