Portugal
Algarve in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Strong month under the current formula
Algarve in May is climatically well suited to city breaks, active holidays and hiking, family holidays and beach holidays. The average daily high is around 22 °C, and the sea is about 18 °C. With about 5 rainy days it is dry.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
80/100 · #5
Warmth
#6
Dryness
#5
Sun
#4
Sea warmth
#7
Published best categories: City break, Active
Algarve · MayPhoto: Eurico Craveiro · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 22 °C
- Average low
- 15 °C
- Sea
- 18 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 5 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 9 h/day
- Humidity
- 72 %
For your trip planning
May: drier than April, but June is warmer and drier still
On the Algarve, May raises the average daily high to 22 °C, three degrees above April, and cuts precipitation from 52 mm to 31 mm. June continues the trend with 25 °C and just 7 mm. May belongs to our best months for a city trip. Evenings remain mild rather than warm, with average lows of 15 °C, so bring a light sweater.
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 19 | 13 | 7 | 52 | 7.4 | 76 | 4.2 | 17 | 68 |
| May (selected) | 22 | 15 | 5 | 31 | 8.7 | 72 | 4.0 | 18 | 80 |
| June | 25 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 9.5 | 67 | 3.8 | 20 | 88 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (80/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -12 | -2.9 °C | -1.9 °C | +2.5 | +21.2 mm | -1.3 h | +3.9 % | +0.3 m/s | -1.3 °C |
| June | +8 | +3.4 °C | +2.6 °C | -3.3 | -24 mm | +0.8 h | -4.9 % | -0.1 m/s | +1.8 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Where to stay in Algarve
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Frequently asked questions
How warm is Algarve in May?
The average daily high is around 22 °C, with an average daily low of about 15 °C.
Can you swim in Algarve in May?
The sea is about 18 °C (refreshing).
Does it rain a lot in Algarve in May?
The curated estimate is about 5 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 31 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Algarve?
By the climate score, June, July, August and September are the strongest months for Algarve. For a beach trip: June, July, August and September. May is not among them.