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.
Along with the popular tourist season comes tourist prices and larger crowds. Coming in the off season is actually not bad. It is a lot quieter but there is still plenty to do and the weather is still nice. Day time temperatures in October-January can range from 60°F to the high 70s F and it is usually pretty sunny. There can be a little drizzle and occasionally gloomy days but it’s not horrible. I rarely wore a thick jacket last winter, usually only at night, and during the day a sweater. The beaches are still nice and MUCH less crowded. You can even still do water sports like kayaking or stand-up paddling while it’s sunny out. A few places will close for the season but there is still plenty to do and places to stay and eat. Hotels and flight tickets are also much less expensive. Flight prices can be 50% less than what they cost in the summer months. So if you want a winter vacation in a nice, sunny place keep reading for all the information you need for a trip to the Algarve.
Tavira
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 is still decently lively in the winter as a lot of things don’t close for the season like 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:
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 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 more mild, 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 fun bars that stay open but it will still be considerably more quiet 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 was 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, 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. 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 last New Years Eve 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. It’s at the very end of Portugal. It has the Atlantic Ocean on the south and the Guadiana River that separates Portugal and Spain on the East. 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 have been preserved. The town has been dated 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 wont 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.
Hope you enjoyed this post about this part of the Eastern Algarve. Coming soon will be from Tavira to Faro to finish the East.
Be sure to check out my Instagram for more content and more of my daily life and cute dog.💙
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