Your October weather guide
WarmWeather in Algarve in October
October is a good time to visit the Algarve if you want warm days rather than dependable beach heat. Average highs of 23°C make being outdoors comfortable, while nights around 16°C call for an extra layer. The sea averages 19.6°C, so swimming is bracing rather than reliably comfortable. For a UK traveller, the appeal is milder weather without intense heat; the catch is rain and conditions that will not always suit sitting on the beach.
Long-term climate averages for Faro, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Algarve, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Faro.
- Average daytime high
- 22.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 15.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 13°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +8.0°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sea temperature
- 19.6°C
- year to year: 18°C to 21°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.9h
- 54% of 11.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 66 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 19%
- 1% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 33.2°C
- 2011-10-04
- Record low 1991-2020
- 7.8°C
- 1993-10-28
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 54 min
- 1686 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How October compares
October is the 5th warmest month of the year in Algarve and ranks 80th of 134 destinations we compare for October - see where else is hot in October. Within Portugal it is 5th of 13 (Portugal in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Algarve is 8.0°C warmer by day and 7.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Algarve peaks at 22.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 5 days top 25°C and 1 in 91 pass 30°C. Nights average 15.8°C; one night in ten drops to 12.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 33.2°C (2011-10-04) and the coldest night 7.8°C (1993-10-28).
Rain in October
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 66 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 2006 with 152 mm, the driest 1998 with 3 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in October
The sea averages 19.6°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.0°C to 21.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (20.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:39 and sets about 18:56 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 47%.
Is October a good time to visit Algarve?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Algarve on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm days, cooler evenings
Pack light clothes for the daytime, but leave room for a jumper and a light jacket. The average high is warm enough for relaxed time outdoors, although it does not mean every afternoon feels like summer. Only 19% of days reach 25°C, and 30°C is unusual, so October suits travellers who prefer warmth to sustained heat. On warmer afternoons, lighter clothing will be useful at midday; after dark, layers become more practical. The coldest 10% of nights fall to 12.8°C or below, making an evening layer more than a precaution. Choose this month for comfortable outdoor plans, not because you need consistently hot weather.
Keep beach plans flexible
Rain is a genuine part of the October trade-off: about 8 days have measurable rain, so pack a waterproof and avoid making every plan depend on dry weather. That does not make the month a washout. Average sunshine of 5.9 hours within 11.0 hours of daylight leaves scope for time outside, but not a promise of clear skies all day. Treat beach time as something to fit around the weather rather than the whole purpose of the trip. The sea is bracing, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 21°C between years. If you enjoy cooler water, a swim may appeal; if you need warm water to feel comfortable, October is a less convincing choice.
A little perspective
Algarve through the year
October is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.3°C | 9.1°C | 15.7°C | 5.1 | 51 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 16.1°C | 9.4°C | 15.1°C | 5.7 | 48 | 6 | 0% |
| March | 18.1°C | 11.0°C | 15.3°C | 6.3 | 57 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 19.6°C | 12.3°C | 16.0°C | 6.9 | 49 | 7 | 5% |
| May | 22.5°C | 14.6°C | 17.2°C | 8.4 | 35 | 6 | 25% |
| Junebest | 26.3°C | 17.4°C | 18.9°C | 10.9 | 8 | 2 | 62% |
| Julybest | 29.1°C | 19.1°C | 20.0°C | 12.7 | 1 | 0 | 91% |
| Augustbest | 29.2°C | 19.6°C | 20.7°C | 11.3 | 2 | 1 | 93% |
| September | 26.4°C | 18.2°C | 20.6°C | 8.4 | 23 | 4 | 66% |
| OctoberSelected | 22.6°C | 15.8°C | 19.6°C | 5.9 | 66 | 8 | 19% |
| November | 18.5°C | 12.3°C | 18.0°C | 5.3 | 67 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 16.2°C | 10.3°C | 16.7°C | 4.6 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Malaga
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Marbella
Italy · 22°C by day · sea 21°C
Sardinia
Spain · 24°C by day · sea 20°C
Costa de la Luz
Australia · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Sydney
A little more detail
Algarve in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Algarve hot in October?
Algarve is warm in October: the average daytime high is 22.6°C and nights average 15.8°C. Roughly 1 in 5 October days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Algarve in October?
The sea around Algarve averages 19.6°C in October, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 21°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Algarve in October?
Algarve sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 66 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 2006 (152 mm) and the driest was 1998 (3 mm).
How sunny is Algarve in October?
Algarve gets around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 11.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Algarve compare with the UK in October?
Algarve is on average 8.0°C warmer than London by day in October (22.6°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Algarve?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Algarve reached 33.2°C on 2011-10-04, and the coldest night dropped to 7.8°C on 1993-10-28.
How much warmer is the Algarve than London in October?
The average daytime high is 22.6°C in the Algarve, compared with 14.6°C in London - a difference of 8°C. That is a clear step up in daytime warmth, though cooler evenings mean you should still bring layers.
Does October suit a short break?
Yes, if your priority is mild weather rather than guaranteed swimming conditions. The flight from London takes about 2 h 54 min, making it a short-haul option. Keep plans flexible, as rain could affect a brief stay.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Faro. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C