Why the Algarve Is a Favorite Travel Destination
The Algarve has long been a popular summer vacation spot for Europeans and is quickly growing in popularity among Americans, and for good reason. The weather is beautiful, there are gorgeous beaches and lots to do. Whether it is nature stuff, sightseeing, cool historical architecture, or partying, there is something for everyone.
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Why Visit the Algarve in the Off-Season
With the popular tourist season comes higher prices and larger crowds. Visiting the Algarve in the off-season is a great alternative. It’s much quieter, but there is still plenty to do and the weather remains surprisingly nice. From October through January, daytime temperatures often range from around 60°F to the high 70s, with plenty of sunny days. While there can be occasional drizzle or gloomy weather, it’s generally mild and manageable.
I rarely needed a heavy jacket during the winter, usually just a sweater during the day and something warmer at night. The beaches are still beautiful and significantly less crowded, and on sunny days, you can still enjoy watersports like kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. While a few places do close for the season, there are still plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and activities available. Hotels and flights are also much cheaper, with flight prices sometimes up to 50 percent lower than during the summer months. If you’re looking for a sunny winter getaway without the crowds, the Algarve is well worth considering.
Travel Tips for Off-Season in the East Algarve
- Expect fewer tourists and a more local atmosphere
- Some ferry schedules and island access may be reduced
- Many restaurants remain open, but hours can be shorter
- The weather is mild and great for walking and exploring
Tavira in the Off-Season
I’m starting here because I live here, so I obviously know more about it, but also because it’s one of the bigger towns in the Eastern Algarve. If you have read any of my previous posts about Tavira, you know how much I love it. There are so many amazing restaurants, some chill bars, and the beach at Ilha de Tavira is really nice. The town keeps its charm year-round, but without peak season crowds it feels easier to wander, explore, and linger. The town is still decently lively in the winter, as a lot of things don’t close for the season as they do in some of the other towns in the Algarve. Additionally, the Christmas lights that go up at the end of November make the town even more beautiful.
Things to Do in Tavira
The beach- You can still catch the ferry to the beach from the center of town, but the schedule is a little reduced in the winter. There are also still a couple of restaurants open on the island. It’s still nice to spend a few hours there, and it’s far less crowded than it is in the summer. If it’s a sunny day, you can still even put on your swimsuit if you wanna lay out. If you are really brave, you could swim, but the water will be cold!
Shopping– Most shops and galleries in town remain open, as does the Gran Plaza. The mercado is also open every day except Sunday.
Restaurants and Bars– Some places close for a couple of weeks, and a few might close for the whole season, but there are still plenty of options to choose from. Tavira has really so many great places to eat so you will definitely have options. Check out my post about my favorite places to eat and drink here.
Sightseeing– There are museums, churches, and the castle that you can visit. They all remain open for the winter. There is also the Camera Obscura, which is a large water tower that you can climb to the top of and see a 360-degree view of Tavira.
Hiking and the Salinas– There are plenty of places to hike around Tavira, and you can also check out the Salinas, or salt flats. Did you know that a ton of salt is produced in the Algarve? Since the weather is milder, it’s a great time to hike without the sun beating down on you.
Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas is a small town, a short drive away from Tavira. A lot of places close for the winter, but you still have some options. There are some really good restaurants and a couple of fun bars that stay open, such as Murphy’s Irish Pub, but it will still be considerably quieter than the summer months. There is a large campground here, too. Inside the campground is a bar and restaurant, and a huge pool. Sometimes they even have live music. It’s a really big camping spot.
Cacela Velha
I have only been here twice, once for a festival and another to research for this blog post. It’s a very small town, but it is really pretty. The beach is really nice, and at low tide, you can walk across to the island. There is a castle and a beautiful church. The view of the beach from near the church is stunning. There were only 2 restaurants open, and it was pretty quiet. We had a small snack at Casa Azul. It was definitely much more lively during the festival. Oh, there was a cute little phonebooth with a magic surprise inside.
book exchange
Manta Rota
Manta Rota is another small town but there is direct beach access here. There are a few restaurants and bars too. Check out Old Times on Saturday nights for karaoke. The beach here is really nice, my dog loves to come here. There is an RV park right by the beach so if you have a camper it’s a great spot. It’s not as large as the one in Cabanas and doesn’t have all the same amenities but it is right by the beach.
Altura
Altura is another small town in the Eastern Algarve. It was my first time coming here, and it was really quiet. There wasn’t much open, so I can’t really give any recommendations. The beach was really pretty, and there was a cool photo op spot. There were people hanging out on the beach; it was a really nice day out.
Monte Gordo
I really like Monte Gordo, and I visit fairly often. It’s a little bigger than the previous town, and like Tavria, it doesn’t completely shut down for the season. There are still plenty of places to eat, and there are some shops too. There is also a small casino here. It has a few tables and some slots. I love the restaurants on the beach, especially Marsalgado Restaurant and Beach Bar. They have a nice rooftop that overlooks the beach. It’s a great place to eat or to have a drink at sunset. I also spent New Year’s Eve when we first moved here in Monte Gordo, and it was amazing! We stayed at the Hotel Alba. It was a nice hotel with pretty large rooms and large balconies. There was a concert that night and amazing fireworks at midnight right by the beach.
Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real is another one of the bigger towns in the Eastern Algarve and has a very different feel compared to Tavira, with its grid-style layout and wide streets. In the off-season, the town feels calm and open, making it easy to walk along the riverfront or through the main square. It’s a quieter experience, but one that still shows the town’s character and location right on the Spanish border. You can take a ferry across to Ayamonte, and it only takes about 15 minutes, or if you are driving, you can cross the bridge. But if you do cross over to Spain, remember to take your passport, and also know that the time goes forward 1 hour.
There is a nice Christmas market here in December. There are great restaurants here and some nice boutiques in the centro. It’s a nice little town, and it stays mostly open throughout the winter. If you like nature or even quiet walks, there is the Mata Nacional das Dunas Litorias de Vila Real de Santo Antonio. It’s a national forest with a stunning landscape.
Castro Marim
Castro Marim is definitely worth a visit, and the off-season isn’t bad to visit because it can get really crowded. It’s a really small town with only about 6,000 residents, but there is so much history here, it’s amazing. There is a really old castle and fort that has been preserved.
The town dates back to the 800s and the castle to the 13th century. You can walk around the castle, and it feels like you are back in time. There are amazing views of Spain and the salt flats from the top of the walls. There is also a Medieval Tavern here, which is really cool because it’s still the really old structure and has that ancient atmosphere. They have costumes you can dress in to make it feel even more authentic if you want. They have a small menu of food and serve their own cider and mead, and also some beer from Senescal Brewery, one of the few breweries in the Algarve. Make sure you read the rules; you won’t regret it!
Castro Marim also has a huge Medieval festival every year in August. It’s one of the biggest in Portugal. Check out my instagram @vegas.to.portugal for some pictures and videos from it. It was pretty incredible; the entire town participates, and thousands and thousands of people fill the small village for a few days.
I definitely recommend checking out Castro Marim, especially if you are into history. It’s a really cool experience. We did a Nighttime Treasure Hunt here a while back. You can read about it and learn more about Castro Marim here
My Recommendation
So see, there is still plenty to do in the Eastern Algarve during the off-season. With the mild temperatures, it’s a nice break from colder climates. My recommendation would be to stay in Tavira, get a rental car, and you can visit some of these smaller places on a day trip. Because it is so much quieter, you can easily visit 2-4 of these in a day without being rushed. They are all relatively close to each other. The entire drive from Tavira to Vila Real is only about 30 minutes. My top recommendation for a day trip from Tavira would be to drive to Castro Marim and explore the castle and get a light snack and mead at the Tavern, from there head to Vila Real for lunch and wandering, and then head to Monte Gordo for a drink at sunset.
Wrap Up
Traveling through the eastern Algarve in the off-season offers a completely different experience compared to summer. It’s quieter, more relaxed, and gives you a better look at daily life in each town. If you enjoy slower travel and fewer crowds, this part of the Algarve is well worth exploring outside peak season.
Hope you enjoyed this post about this part of the Eastern Algarve. Read part 2 here to learn about Olhao in the off-season
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