5 fabulous ways for families to enjoy the Algarve in winter
By the end of October, the crowds have left the Algarve, the beaches are quiet and the flights are cheap. While some days see rain, many can be mild with blue skies and sunshine.
The hotspots of Albufeira* may be closed until the spring, but you can enjoy the Algarve's fabulous food, get those prize Instagram shots without having to queue and hit the flumes of an indoor water park on a rainy day if you want to take an off-season break to Portugal* with the family.
Getting to the Algarve: browse the latest online offers on seasonal escapes for some winter sun in the Algarve with Jet2holidays*.
Learn to make cataplana
Cataplana is to the Algarve* what Paella is to Valencia. This warming fish stew is prepared in a traditional copper pan and you'll find it on menus throughout the region.
Learning how to cook it in the heat of the summer can be a sweaty affair, but in winter it's the perfect activity to while away a cloudy afternoon.
You can book a class at the restaurant
Splash about at a water park
If you think water parks are only for scorching summer days, think again. Aquashow*, which opened in 2022, is the first and only indoor water park on the Iberian Peninsula, which means you can enjoy slides and waves, hydro jets and water playgrounds all year round.
One of the most exciting slides is the Tornado, a 26-metre-high tower where the descent is done with a buoy, leading down to a giant cone with a diameter of 16 metres creating a sensation of free fall.
There's also a spa area for teens and adults, which includes sauna and steam rooms, ice buckets, sensory showers and a relaxation pool with Jacuzzis, water jets, waterbeds and a counter-current swimming area.
Take a Jeep safari
Grab your jumper and head high into the Serra de Monchique mountain range with an Extremo Ambiente Jeep safari. The half-day tour takes you deep into rural Algarve, through sleepy villages and onto dirt tracks where you will cross streams, stop for passing goats and breathe in the heady scent of wild thyme and mint.
The tour includes stops at traditional villages where they still produce the Portuguese liquor known as Medronho and you can also sample local honey and jam. You'll also make it to one of the highest points in the Algarve to enjoy a bird's eye view of the coast.
Cruise to the famous Benagil Cave
You may not want to jump into the Atlantic Ocean in winter, but that's no reason to avoid the sea altogether. Instead, try a coastal catamaran tour, where you can whizz along with the wind in your hair and admire the dramatic rock formations in the golden sandstone cliffs that line the coast.
If you're lucky you might spot either the common dolphin or the bottlenose dolphin, both of which can be seen frolicking in these waters.
A boat trip is a fantastic way to see the Benagil Cave with its dramatic circular opening that lets in the light; the spot has been made so famous by Instagrammers that the Portuguese government is trying to find a way to restrict access in the height of the season to avoid overcrowding.
Get creative in Loulé
The municipality of Loulé in central Algarve has become a member of the International Creative Tourism Network and has created a programme of creative activities for you to experience the art and culture of the region.
Perhaps you might like to experiment with fresco painting with lime and natural pigments or paint your very own Portuguese tile. Alternatively, you could try your hand at basket weaving or make clay nativity figures for your Christmas crib.
Cooking classes include making traditional bread and fig cake. It's a great way to create handmade souvenirs to take home.
Climate in the Algarve
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The above guide shows the climate by month in Faro. You can find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in the Algarve.
Ready to go off-season? Find the best value break to southern Portugal with Jet2holidays.
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