Your March weather guide
MildWeather in Vilamoura in March
March is a good time for Vilamoura if you want mild weather for being outdoors, rather than a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs are around 18°C, falling to 11°C at night, so expect to use layers rather than live in swimwear. It is noticeably warmer than London, but rain remains part of the picture and the sea is cold. Go for comfortable daytime outings, not dependable sunbathing or warm-water swimming.
Long-term climate averages for Vilamoura, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Vilamoura, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Vilamoura.
- Average daytime high
- 17.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 21°C
- Average night-time low
- 11.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 9°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.3°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 15.3°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.2h
- 53% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 60 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 25.4°C
- 1995-03-29
- Record low 1991-2020
- 3.5°C
- 1993-03-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 54 min
- 1685 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 March compares
March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Vilamoura. Within Portugal it is 6th of 13 (Portugal in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Vilamoura is 7.3°C warmer by day and 7.9°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Vilamoura peaks at 17.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 21.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 333 days top 25°C. Nights average 11.2°C; one night in ten drops to 8.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 25.4°C (1995-03-29) and the coldest night 3.5°C (1993-03-01).
Rain in March
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 60 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2018 with 215 mm, the driest 1997 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 15.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.6°C to 15.9°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (20.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:43 and sets about 18:39 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 47%.
Is March a good time to visit Vilamoura?
March is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Vilamoura on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Pleasant daytime warmth, but keep a jacket handy
The daytime average makes March well suited to walking and spending time outside without summer heat. Warmer days can reach 21°C or more, but that is a bonus rather than the temperature to pack for. A T-shirt may be enough during a warm, sunny spell; keep a jumper or light jacket available when conditions change. Evenings call for warmer clothes, especially if you plan to sit outdoors, and colder nights can fall to around 9°C or below. With about 6.2 hours of sunshine a day, there is scope for time in the sun, but do not expect clear skies throughout your stay.
Leave room for rain, and treat the sea as cold
About 8 rainy days in March means you should leave some flexibility in your plans rather than rely on every day being dry. Pack a waterproof jacket and shoes you are comfortable wearing in wet weather, and make the most of dry spells for longer outings. The sea averages 15.3°C, which is cold even when the air feels pleasant. For most travellers, time beside the water is a better fit than a leisurely swim; do not confuse sunshine with comfortable swimming conditions. March suits a break where being outdoors matters more than lying in the sun. If heat is the priority, June, July or August are better choices.
A little perspective
Vilamoura through the year
March 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 | 15.2°C | 9.3°C | 15.6°C | 5.1 | 50 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 15.9°C | 9.6°C | 15.0°C | 5.6 | 48 | 6 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 17.8°C | 11.2°C | 15.3°C | 6.2 | 60 | 8 | 0% |
| April | 19.3°C | 12.4°C | 16.1°C | 6.9 | 53 | 7 | 2% |
| May | 22.1°C | 14.7°C | 17.3°C | 8.3 | 39 | 6 | 21% |
| Junebest | 25.8°C | 17.5°C | 19.0°C | 10.9 | 9 | 2 | 60% |
| Julybest | 28.7°C | 19.4°C | 20.2°C | 12.8 | 1 | 0 | 92% |
| Augustbest | 28.7°C | 19.9°C | 20.9°C | 11.3 | 3 | 1 | 94% |
| September | 26.0°C | 18.4°C | 20.8°C | 8.3 | 25 | 4 | 66% |
| October | 22.4°C | 16.0°C | 19.7°C | 5.8 | 66 | 8 | 16% |
| November | 18.4°C | 12.6°C | 18.0°C | 5.2 | 67 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 16.0°C | 10.6°C | 16.6°C | 4.6 | 76 | 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 March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Vilamoura in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Vilamoura hot in March?
Vilamoura is mild in March: the average daytime high is 17.8°C and nights average 11.2°C. Roughly 1 in 333 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Vilamoura in March?
The sea around Vilamoura averages 15.3°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 16°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Vilamoura in March?
Vilamoura sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 60 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (215 mm) and the driest was 1997 (0 mm).
How sunny is Vilamoura in March?
Vilamoura gets around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Vilamoura compare with the UK in March?
Vilamoura is on average 7.3°C warmer than London by day in March (17.8°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Vilamoura?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Vilamoura reached 25.4°C on 1995-03-29, and the coldest night dropped to 3.5°C on 1993-03-01.
Is Vilamoura warmer than London in March?
Yes. Vilamoura's average daytime high is 17.8°C, compared with 10.5°C in London, a difference of 7.3°C. That makes daytime outings a milder prospect, though you will still want layers for evenings and cooler spells.
Is March hot enough for a beach holiday?
Not if your priority is reliable heat and comfortable sea swimming. Daytime highs average around 18°C and the sea is cold at 15.3°C. March is better suited to walks beside the water and enjoying sunny spells with a layer handy.
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 Vilamoura. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.5 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