Algarve Portugal in spring is one of the best seasons to travel to the busy Portuguese southern region. With a dashing 20-25 degrees at daytime and far fewer tourists than in the scorching summer months, spring is the ideal time of the year to go hiking, biking, surfing, and even exploring the beaches.
The sweet scent of orange blossom will infuse your nostrils when exploring the enchanting Algarve towns and cities, while the countryside is covered in delicate almond blossoms.
Spring in Algarve can surprise you with rainy days, but don’t worry. There are plenty of indoor museums and cozy cafes to nestle up to wait out the rain.
Get ready to discover the many unique activities you can do in Algarve in spring.
Things To Do in Algarve Portugal in Spring
Ponta Da Piedade
Ponta da Piedade is one of the most unique rock formations in the western Algarve. Just a 10-minute drive from Lagos, you can admire a cluster of up to 100-meter tall rock formations towering from the glittering Atlantic Ocean below.
There is plenty of parking, or you can walk half an hour to get there. Once at Ponta da Piedade, walk down the stairs to admire the sea-level rock formations and head to the viewpoint. But take care and do not go too close to the edges as the rock there is very insecure, and slipping on loose rock can be fatal.
From Ponta da Piedade, you can also walk a breathtaking boardwalk on top of the cliffs with views to the staggering beaches below.
Go Dolphin Watching in Albufeira
Dolphin watching is one of the best things to do in the Algarve Portugal in spring. This is one of the most popular day trips from Albufeira combined with the world-famous Benagil Cave in the summer months. But in spring, you get the luxury of not competing with too many boats on the ocean.
While there is no guarantee to see wild dolphins, the guides on the dolphin-watching tours know where to look for them, and the chances are good.
In case you do not see dolphins, you will still be able to admire the breathtaking coastline with hidden sea caves and secret beaches.
Explore Benagil Cave
Benagil Cave is one of Portugal’s most famous sea caves and a must-see when in the Algarve. As one of the most visited sites on the coast, it is fantastic to go there in the spring when there are fewer tourists around.
It is recommended to either go by kayak or standup paddleboard since that is the only way you can get inside the cave. Even though there are fewer tourists, it is best to go early in the morning if you want to take pictures without many people in the cave.
Boat trips can take you from any place on the Algarve to see Benagil Cave. However, they will only be able to take you to the entrance of the cave to get a peek inside as it is illegal to drop tourists off the boat into the cave.
Hike Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
The Seven Hanging Valley’s Trail is one of Portugal’s most beautiful hikes and spring in the Algarve is the perfect time to go hiking.
The hike takes you across the golden cliffs watching over some of Algarve’s most unique coastal landscapes between Carvoeiro and Marinha beach. You will pass sea-carved arches, large sinkholes, and mesmerizing beaches.
The entire hike takes about 6 hours, and you will need to bring a lunch pack, good walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. If you are tough enough to go swimming, bring a towel and swimwear too because the beaches you will pass are the best you will see!
Go on a Road Trip
Going on a road trip in Algarve is a great way to see the most secluded places in the area and in spring it is not too hot or too cold. When getting a little off the beaten track, it is truly the best time to drive around to see almond blossoms covering the countryside.
Take advantage of having a car and head up to Monchique to hike in the lush, forested area through vivid streams and rivers. This is the best time, as everything is flowering, and vivid colors pop up everywhere.
Going on a road trip will also get you easily to places like the rock formations and caves of Algar Seco and small fisherman’s villages like Santa Luzia, otherwise more complicated to get to by public transport.
Take a Boat Trip Around the Barrier Islands
The barrier islands of Ria Formosa Natural Park make out one of the most unique areas of the Algarve. The five barrier islands protect a vast wasteland with sand dunes, tidal lagoons, and mudflats, making it an important geological spot and popular resting place for migrating birds.
A boat trip around the Islands is an excellent way of visiting a few of them to learn more about the unique ecosystem there, and to discover mesmerizing sand-blown beaches.
The best place to go on a boat trip to multiple islands is the quaint town of Olhao. This is also a great, underrated place to base yourself in the Algarve. Here you can discover cool street art, get lost in the food market, and soak in mesmerizing sunsets from the harbor.
Spot Pink Flamingos
The main season to see flamingos in the Algarve is usually March. That said, there are some there all year round. So spring gives you a good opportunity to see flocks of pink flamingos before the masses thin out
To see them easily, you can walk the Ludo Trail outside Faro, an easy hike of 2-3 hours taking you across the wetlands of Ria Formosa Natural Park through an area where the flamingos like to hang out.
Relax on the Beaches
Spring is the perfect time to relax on the beaches in Algarve Portugal. The temperatures are perfect and the crowds are missing, so you can have large stunning beaches, not quite to yourself, but still without too many people around. It’s a perfect time of the year to wander from beach to beach, discover hidden passageways linking to other beaches, and soak in the warm spring sun.
Beaches worth going to include the world-famed Marinha beach, which boasts tall rock formations and makes for a fairy tale setting, Camilo beach and Los Etudiantes beach in Lagos with their rock formation and the Roman bridge, and the stunning beaches on the west coast, like Arrifana beach and Monte Clerigo beach.
The beaches in Lagos can easily be reached by walking from the town, but the others require a car. You can also relax at the picturesque beach in Carvoeiro to be close to unique natural scenes like Algar seco.
Visit the Anchor Cemetery
On Tavira Island, you’ll see one of the most quirky attractions in the Algarve, an anchor cemetery. The island used to be a center for tuna fishing back in the days when the industry was thriving on the Algarve.
When the tuna fishing ceased, the fishermen left everything behind. Someone has taken the effort to collect all the enormous, rusty anchors and line them up in the sand behind Barril Beach.
Spring is the best time to go, as this place gets crowded in the summer months. You can either take the little tourist train or walk along the train lines to get there.
Learn to Surf in Lagos
Spring in Algarve is also a great time to learn how to surf, and Lagos is the place to go. It is a good time because there are not many other tourists around, and surf classes can be smaller and more personal.
Whether you have tried surfing before but aren’t yet confident to go on your own or it is your first time trying it, you can be confident to find a surf instructor that will give you exactly what you need.
Walk the Cliffs of Sagres
Sagres is one of the most breathtaking places in the Algarve, and the spring weather makes it the perfect time to wander along the steep cliffs for astounding views.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the Sagres Fortress and the Cabo Sao Vincente Lighthouse when you are there. You can also witness dramatic beaches at the bottom of the cliffs and birds nesting on the cliff edges.
Especially sunset is wonderful in this area, and in spring, it is especially nice as the days start to get longer.
Reflections on Spring in Algarve Portugal
Spring in Algarve Portugal is undoubtedly one of the best times to visit the famous southern region. The weather is like no other place in Europe and still being the low season, it will make your experience unforgettable. Floral and fauna lovers won’t be able to resist blossoms and spring flowers everywhere, and outdoor enthusiasts will never run out of incredible things to do.