November is a great month for a quiet, good-value Algarve trip. Days are usually mild, around 19 to 20 °C in Faro, prices drop, and the beaches are almost empty. What you cannot predict is the rain and wind: some Novembers are mostly sunny, others are wet and stormy. If you want the best chance of real beach weather, come in October instead.
By November the summer crowds have gone, the light turns soft and golden, and you can have famous beaches almost to yourself. It is one of our favourite months for walking the coast. It is also the month when the Algarve’s weather becomes less reliable, so it pays to know what to expect.
November weather: the averages
These are the official climate normals for Faro from IPMA, Portugal’s weather institute, for 1991 to 2020. We have put October and December next to November so you can compare.
| October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 23.3 °C | 19.6 °C | 17.1 °C |
| Average night-time low | 15.8 °C | 11.9 °C | 9.7 °C |
| Average rainfall | 56 mm | 75.5 mm | 90 mm |
| Days with at least 1 mm of rain | — | 6.6 | 7.0 |
| Days reaching 25 °C or more | 7.2 | 0.3 | — |
| Average sea temperature | about 20.5 °C | about 18.7 °C | about 17.3 °C |
In plain terms, a typical November day in Faro reaches about 20 °C in the afternoon and falls to about 12 °C at night. Warm days still happen: the November record in Faro is 28.6 °C, set on 1 November 2009. Evenings are cool enough for a jacket, and the sun sets early, at around half past five by the end of the month.
The west coast, around Aljezur and Sagres, is usually windier and a little cooler than Faro, and the eastern Algarve is often the calmest.
Wet Novembers and dry Novembers
Averages hide a lot. November weather in the Algarve depends heavily on the year, and nobody can tell you months in advance what yours will be like.
- November 2025 was very wet. Across mainland Portugal it brought about 203 mm of rain, around 180 % of normal, making it the third-wettest November of the 21st century.
- November 2024, by contrast, was the warmest November on record in Portugal, with an average temperature of about 15.1 °C across the mainland.
In a wet November you might get several days in a row of rain and strong wind, with rough seas and red flags on the beaches. In a good one, you get week after week of clear, mild days. Even in a wet month, rain usually comes in bursts, with bright spells in between.
Our advice is to book November for the quiet, the prices and the walking, and treat beach days as a bonus.
Can you swim in November?
The sea around Faro averages about 18.7 °C in November. That is noticeably cooler than in summer, but on a calm, sunny day many people still swim, especially in the first half of the month.
Keep two things in mind. First, the lifeguard season is over, so most beaches have no lifeguard. Second, autumn swells can be powerful, particularly on the west coast. Read our guide to beach flags and cliff safety before you go in.
Prices and crowds
November is firmly low season. Hotel and apartment prices are well below their summer levels, rental cars are cheaper, and you will rarely queue for anything. Popular places such as Praia da Marinha, Ponta da Piedade and the Benagil viewpoint are quiet, even at midday.
What is open and what is closed
- Restaurants in the towns mostly stay open, especially in Lagos, Faro, Tavira and Albufeira’s old town. Some close for their own holidays between November and January.
- Beach bars are mostly closed after October, so bring water and snacks to the more remote beaches.
- Boat trips to the Benagil caves and dolphin-watching tours keep running, but fewer departures go out, and trips are often cancelled when the sea is rough.
- Public transport switches to the winter timetable. The Aerobus from Faro Airport to Albufeira and Lagos runs only twice a day from 1 November. See Do you need a car in the Algarve?
What happens in November
The main tradition is São Martinho on 11 November, St Martin’s Day, when people roast chestnuts on street corners and drink the new season’s wine. You will find chestnut stalls in most towns throughout the month. After the first autumn rains, the countryside also turns green again.
November or October?
If your priority is beach weather, choose October. In Faro the average high is still above 23 °C, the sea is around 20.5 °C, there are about seven days of 25 °C or more on average, and rain is less likely. October is the Algarve’s real golden season.
Choose November if you value empty beaches, lower prices and walking weather more than guaranteed sunshine. Come with a flexible plan, keep an eye on the forecast, and save the beach days for the bright ones.
Questions people ask
Is it warm enough to swim in the Algarve in November?
For many people, yes, on a calm sunny day. The sea around Faro averages about 18.7 °C in November, cooler than in summer but warmer than many northern European seas in August. Remember that most beaches have no lifeguards out of season.
Does it rain a lot in the Algarve in November?
On average Faro gets about 75 mm of rain on fewer than seven days with meaningful rain. But years vary a lot: November 2025 was one of the wettest of the century in Portugal, while other Novembers are mostly dry and sunny.
Is November or October better for the Algarve?
If you want the best chance of beach weather, October. Days average about 23 °C in Faro, the sea is around 20.5 °C, and rain is less likely. November is quieter and cheaper, but less predictable.
Are restaurants and beach bars open in November?
Most restaurants in the towns stay open, but many beach bars and seasonal businesses close at the end of October. Some restaurants take their own holidays between November and January, so check before you travel.