May is when the Algarve finally commits to summer. The unpredictable spring weather gives way to consistent warmth, and the region enters what many consider its finest month.

This is the month that delivers what most visitors actually want from southern Portugal: warm days, empty beaches, and none of the chaos that descends in high summer. You can walk the clifftop trails without overheating, eat dinner outdoors without needing a jacket, and find a sunbed without staking your claim at dawn.

Visitor numbers remain manageable. The infrastructure operates fully, with restaurants, boat tours, and beach facilities all functioning, but the congestion of peak season has not materialised. Accommodation that requires booking months ahead in August can still be secured in May without the premium.

For most visitors, May represents the point where the balance tips decisively in their favour. The weather is reliable, the crowds are absent, and the Algarve functions as the destination it is meant to be.

If you've been waiting for the right moment to visit the Algarve, May is probably it.

Reliable Beach Days: May is when beach weather becomes the rule rather than the exception. The golden sands of Praia da Marinha and Meia Praia are warm enough to enjoy properly, yet the summer crowds remain weeks away.

The Moorish Capital of Silves: Inland from the coast, the red sandstone castle of Silves dominates the skyline. This former Moorish capital offers a glimpse of a different Algarve: historic, unhurried, and surrounded by orange groves.

Coastal Walks in Full Bloom: The clifftop trails reach their visual peak in May. The Seven Hanging Valleys route winds past wildflowers, hidden coves, and dramatic viewpoints before the summer heat fades the landscape to brown.

Boat Trips to Benagil Cave: The Algarve's most famous sea cave is best visited before the summer queues build. Boat tours run full schedules in May, and calm seas make kayaking into the cathedral-like cavern a realistic option.

May represents a turning point in the Algarve's climate. The variability of spring gives way to more settled conditions, and the weather begins to resemble proper summer rather than a hopeful approximation of it.

Daily maximum temperatures range from 22°C to 25°C, though these figures understate the warmth. The sun carries genuine strength from mid-morning onwards, and sheltered spots regularly feel closer to 28°C during the middle of the day. Sunscreen becomes necessary rather than precautionary.

The probability of good weather has shifted significantly. Roughly two-thirds of days offer conditions suitable for the beach: clear skies, sustained sunshine, and warmth that invites rather than merely permits outdoor activity. Most remaining days bring partial cloud or Atlantic breezes but stay dry and pleasant. Genuinely poor weather becomes uncommon. Rain, when it occurs, tends to pass quickly.

Evenings are milder than earlier in spring. Temperatures settle around 15°C after dark, comfortable enough for outdoor dining without requiring heavy layers.

Sea temperatures lag behind the air but have improved noticeably. The Atlantic reaches 18°C to 19°C along this coast in May, cool enough to register on entry but warm enough for extended swimming.

May has fewer caveats than any other shoulder-season month, but it pays to arrive with accurate expectations.

Nightlife operates below full capacity. Albufeira's Strip sees more activity than during the quiet spring months, but the high-season atmosphere of packed bars and late nights has not yet materialised. Travellers prioritising nightlife should consider visiting from June onwards.

Accommodation prices are rising. The significant discounts available in March and April have largely disappeared, and competition for quality properties increases as summer approaches. Rates remain below their July and August peak, but the window for genuine bargains has gone.

The Atlantic remains cooler than many visitors anticipate. Sea temperatures of 18°C to 19°C permit swimming, but this is not the Mediterranean.

Beyond these minor caveats, May delivers. The weather is reliable, the beaches are uncrowded, and the region is functioning at full capacity without the stress of high summer.

There will be a buzz about the larger towns of the Algarve in May

Choosing your base matters less in May than it does earlier in spring. The seasonal divide that leaves smaller resorts feeling hollow in March has largely closed by now. Most towns are operational, restaurants have reopened, and the "ghost town" atmosphere has lifted. Still, the four main towns offer the most reliable infrastructure and the widest choice of accommodation, dining, and evening activity.

Lagos
Best for: Culture seekers, active travellers, and those wanting authentic Portuguese atmosphere
Lagos is the town most often recommended by returning visitors, and for good reason. The historic centre sits within 16th-century walls, a maze of cobbled streets and small plazas that feel distinctly Portuguese rather than purpose-built for tourism. This is a working town with a resident population that keeps things running year-round, lending it a lived-in character that pure resort towns cannot match.

The appeal is broad. Surfers head west to the Atlantic breaks. History visitors explore the old slave market and the Baroque excess of the Igreja de Santo António. Families spread out on the vast sands of Meia Praia. Couples wander the streets in the evening, choosing between traditional tascas and more polished modern restaurants. Lagos accommodates all of them without feeling stretched.

The defining feature is the coastline immediately south of town. Ponta da Piedade is a headland of golden limestone cliffs, sea stacks, and hidden grottoes that ranks among the finest coastal scenery in Europe. Wooden boardwalks wind along the clifftops, and boat trips explore the caves from below. In May, the tour operators run regular departures without the queues that build in high summer.
Our guide to Lagos

Albufeira
Best for: Families, first-time visitors, and those wanting easy access to everything
Albufeira divides opinion. It functions as the tourism engine of the Algarve, which brings both advantages and drawbacks depending on what you want from a holiday.

The Old Town retains genuine character. Whitewashed buildings tumble down the hillside towards a beach once used by fishermen, now reached through a tunnel cut into the cliffs. The main square is ringed by restaurants and bars that cater to visitors but maintain some local flavour. Wander a few streets back from the centre and you find quieter corners where Portuguese families still live.

The Strip is another matter. This long road of bars, clubs, and fast food restaurants exists solely for tourist nightlife. In May, it operates at perhaps half capacity, busy enough on weekends but far from the chaos of August. If you want evening entertainment beyond a quiet dinner, Albufeira offers more options than anywhere else on the coast.

What Albufeira does better than anywhere is geography. Its central position makes day trips easy in every direction. Lagos, Tavira, Silves, the water parks, the golf courses of Vilamoura: nothing is more than 45 minutes away. For families or first-time visitors wanting to sample everything, this practical advantage matters.

The beaches around Albufeira are extensive and varied. Praia da Falésia stretches for kilometres to the east, backed by striking orange cliffs and rarely crowded even in summer. The smaller cove beaches to the west, like São Rafael and Coelha, offer more dramatic scenery on a smaller scale.
Our guide to Albufeira

Vilamoura
Best for: Golfers, couples seeking a polished resort atmosphere
Vilamoura exists in a category apart from the rest of the Algarve. This is not a town that grew organically over centuries but a purpose-built resort designed around a marina and five championship golf courses. Whether that appeals depends entirely on what you're looking for.

Golf is the reason Vilamoura thrives. The concentration of quality courses within a fifteen-minute drive is unmatched anywhere in Portugal. The Dom Pedro layouts, Oceanico Victoria (host of the Portugal Masters), and the nearby estates of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo draw serious players from across Europe. May offers ideal conditions before summer heat makes midday rounds uncomfortable.

The marina forms the social heart of the resort. Restaurants and bars line the waterfront, yachts bob in the harbour, and the evening promenade attracts a well-dressed, predominantly older crowd. If you value comfort and convenience over character, Vilamoura delivers.

What Vilamoura lacks is soul. Everything here was built to serve visitors, which some find relaxing and others find sterile. The beaches are clean and well-managed but lack the dramatic rock formations of the western Algarve.

For a golf-focused trip, a marina holiday, or a polished base from which to explore, Vilamoura works well. For those seeking cultural depth or authentic Portuguese atmosphere, it will likely feel hollow.
Our guide to Vilamoura

Tavira
Best for: Visitors wanting genuine Portuguese character and a slower pace
Tavira stands apart from every other town on this list. Located in the quieter eastern Algarve, it feels more authentically Portuguese than a coastal resort. The skyline is defined by church towers and the ruins of a hilltop castle, not hotel blocks. The River Gilão flows through the centre, crossed by a low Roman-style bridge that has become the defining image of the town.

Tavira operates on Portuguese time. Restaurants serve locals and visitors alike, shops close for lunch, and the pace rarely quickens beyond a gentle stroll. The cafe culture is strong, with terraces along the riverbank filling in the late afternoon as the light softens.

The beach situation differs here. Tavira's sands lie on Ilha de Tavira, a barrier island reached by ferry across the Ria Formosa lagoon. This adds a layer of effort but rewards with pristine, uncrowded stretches that feel genuinely remote. The crossing itself is pleasant, passing through wetlands busy with wading birds.

The compromise is distance. Day trips to the water parks and attractions of the central Algarve involve more driving than from other bases. Tavira works best for those content to explore the immediate area, or those happy to combine a few days here with time elsewhere on the coast.
Our guide to Tavira

Beyond the main four, several smaller towns offer a quieter alternative. These lack the full range of restaurants, shops, and evening options, but reward with a calmer atmosphere and often prettier settings.

Alvor
Alvor combines a genuine fishing village centre with access to one of the Algarve's finest beaches. The old town clusters around a small harbour where fishermen still land their catch. Narrow streets lead to a modest selection of restaurants, several of which serve excellent seafood. The boardwalk across the Ria de Alvor estuary provides a memorable walk through wetlands rich with birdlife, ending at a beach that stretches for kilometres of unbroken golden sand.

Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro occupies a dramatic setting, its whitewashed buildings stacked around a small cove beach framed by golden cliffs. The village centre is compact and pretty, with enough restaurants to provide options for a week without repetition. The Algar Seco boardwalk to the east winds along clifftops past rock formations, blowholes, and viewpoints, offering one of the coast's most scenic short walks. The beach itself is small and fills quickly on busy days, but quieter coves lie within walking distance.

Olhos de Água
Olhos de Água began as a fishing village and retains traces of that heritage despite the development that has spread along this stretch of coast. The beach sits in an attractive cove, named for the freshwater springs (olhos de água means "eyes of water") that bubble up through the sand at low tide. Several seafood restaurants cluster near the shore, and the village maintains a more local feel than neighbouring Albufeira, just a few kilometres to the west.

Praia da Luz
Praia da Luz sits a few kilometres west of Lagos, a low-key resort that has grown around a broad sandy beach without losing its village atmosphere. The seafront promenade is lined with restaurants and cafes, busy enough to offer choice but never overwhelming. A ruined fortress and a small black rock promontory add character to the western end of the beach. The town attracts a loyal following of returning visitors, who value its relaxed pace and family-friendly feel over the livelier scene in Lagos.

Armação de Pêra
Armação de Pêra stretches along one of the longest beaches in the Algarve, a vast sweep of sand that rarely feels crowded even at the height of summer. The town itself is functional rather than charming, with a mix of apartments and low-rise hotels behind the seafront. What draws visitors is the beach and the location. The western end retains a small fishermen's quarter with a few traditional restaurants, and the dramatic coastline towards Benagil lies within easy reach by foot or boat.