Portugal is not a hot winter destination, and we say so plainly: it is a mild one. The Algarve gives pleasant 15-19°C days, plenty of sun between Atlantic fronts, low prices, golf and walking. Madeira, 1,000 km into the Atlantic, adds roughly 3 to 4°C and steadier weather. Lisbon, Porto and the north are city breaks with a coat. This guide compares November to February region by region, so we can pick the right base for each month. Figures are approximate climate averages as of 2026, and the national weather service IPMA publishes daily forecasts.
Winter Sun Comparison: November to February
Daytime highs and sea temperatures (approximate averages):
| Month | Faro (Algarve) day / sea | Funchal (Madeira) day / sea | Lisbon day / sea | Porto day / sea | Ponta Delgada (Azores) day / sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 19°C / 18°C | 21°C / 21°C | 18°C / 17°C | 16°C / 15°C | 19°C / 19°C |
| December | 16-17°C / 17°C | 19°C / 19°C | 15°C / 16°C | 13-14°C / 14°C | 17°C / 18°C |
| January | 16°C / 16°C | 18°C / 18°C | 14-15°C / 15°C | 13°C / 13°C | 16°C / 17°C |
| February | 17°C / 15-16°C | 18°C / 18°C | 16°C / 15°C | 14°C / 13°C | 16°C / 17°C |
Rainfall pattern: November and December are the wettest months on the mainland, especially in Porto and Lisbon, with 9 to 13 rainy days. January is cold and wet in the north. February is often drier in the Algarve, with almond blossom from late January.
Best Resort Base for Each Month
November: Algarve or Madeira. The Algarve’s sea is still about 18°C and daytime highs approach 19°C, so beach days are realistic. We suggest Lagos or Tavira. Madeira is warmer again and has hiking in dry conditions, see our Portugal in November guide.
December: Madeira first, Algarve second. Funchal holds around 19°C by day. On the Algarve, 16-17°C days work for golf and cliff walks. Funchal is crowded from 22 December, covered in Portugal in December.
January: Madeira. The Algarve has some of its coolest nights, 7-8°C, and the Atlantic is at its coldest. Madeira stays around 18°C. Lisbon is cold and wet, see Portugal in January.
February: Algarve or Madeira. The Algarve is often drier, with 17°C days and almond blossom around Silves and Loulé. Madeira hosts Carnival in the same period. The Carnival date for 2027 is covered in our February guide.
Region by Region: Which Base to Choose
The Algarve
The Algarve is the choice for mainland winter sun. Direct flights land at Faro, and the A22 motorway links Faro to Lagos in about 75 minutes. Recommended bases:
- Lagos for cliffs, walking and a lively old town. Our Lagos hotel guide gives approximately €35-€350 per night across budget to upscale, as of 2026.
- Tavira for a calm, traditional winter base. The Pousada de Tavira (Convento da Graça) is approximately €130-€200 per night and Vila Galé Albacora approximately €130-€180, both from our Tavira hotel guide.
- Albufeira is the most open in winter among the big resorts, though many bars close from November to February. See Albufeira hotels.
- Faro for easy airport access and low prices, see the Faro guide.
Our best time to visit the Algarve guide has month-by-month detail, and the Algarve region page gives an overview.
Madeira
Madeira is the safe winter sun choice. Funchal has approximately 18-21°C all winter, and you can hike the levadas, swim in hotel pools, and eat well. Hotels range from the Pestana Casino Park (approximately €140-€200 per night) to Belmond Reid’s Palace (from approximately €300) in our Funchal hotel guide. Weather varies sharply by altitude, so see the Madeira island guide and best time to visit Madeira. If you are comparing to Spain’s islands, read Madeira vs Canary Islands.
Porto Santo
Porto Santo, a 2 hour 15 minute ferry or a short flight from Madeira, has a 9 km golden beach, drier weather than Madeira and a sea close to 18-19°C in November and December. It is quiet in winter. Details on Porto Santo.
The Azores
Mild, humid and green. Ponta Delgada averages about 16-19°C. The thermal pools at Furnas are the winter draw, with the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel as a base. This is a nature break rather than a beach one, see the São Miguel island guide.
Lisbon, Porto and the North
City breaks with a coat. Lisbon often has bright, cool days at 14-15°C in winter, and our Lisbon in winter guide lists rainy-day plans. Porto is colder and wetter.
What to Pack for Winter Sun in Portugal
- Layers. A fleece or sweater, a light waterproof, and a scarf. Evenings on the Algarve drop to 8-9°C, which feels colder indoors because few buildings have central heating.
- Swimwear and a towel for hotel pools and, if you are brave, the sea.
- Walking shoes with grip. Cobbles and tiled pavements are slippery when wet.
- A compact umbrella for Lisbon and Porto.
- Sun cream. Winter UV on the Algarve and Madeira is higher than most visitors expect.
- A plug adapter. Portugal uses type F, and our packing list covers the full checklist.
How to Choose Between the Options
Our decision rule is simple. If the priority is warmth above everything, book Madeira and accept a longer flight and higher prices, roughly 4 hours from the UK. If the priority is value, golf and easy flights, choose the Algarve and plan for 16-17°C days rather than beach weather. If the priority is culture with some sun, choose Lisbon in November or February, when highs of 16-18°C make café terraces comfortable. Porto and the Douro are best kept for dry spells and wine.
Think about how you will spend the days too. On the Algarve we typically spend mornings on the clifftop paths between Lagos and Sagres, lunch in an old town, and the afternoon on a south-facing beach out of the wind, where it feels several degrees warmer than the forecast. In Madeira the better days are the south-coast ones, with a levada walk in the morning before cloud builds in the mountains. Always check the mountain forecast for Pico do Arieiro before driving up, because it is often 10 degrees colder and cloudy while Funchal is clear. Rain tends to arrive in two or three day bursts from the Atlantic, so we keep one indoor day (museums in Lisbon, a port lodge in Gaia, a spa or thermal pool in the Azores) in reserve for each week of the trip.
Finally, remember the holiday spikes. The weeks around Christmas, New Year and, to a lesser degree, Carnival in February push up prices and fill Madeira. Travelling in mid-January or the last two weeks of February gets the best combination of price, availability and settled weather in our experience.
Costs and Flights, as of 2026
Algarve double rooms range from approximately €45 to €150 per night in a typical winter week, with a premium of around 30-60% at Christmas and New Year. Flights from the UK to Faro are often approximately €30-€90 each way in January and February, and Madeira fares are somewhat higher. Compare on our flights to Portugal guide and search flights. For hotels, search Algarve stays or Madeira stays. Car hire is useful on the Algarve, see Algarve car rental.
Seasonal Events to Plan Around
Christmas lights and markets, covered in Christmas in Portugal; the Funchal fireworks on 31 December, in New Year’s Eve in Portugal; big wave season at Nazaré; and almond blossom in the Algarve in February. For a ranked list of places, read the warmest place in Portugal in December. For a rival comparison, see Algarve vs Costa del Sol for winter sun. Browse Algarve tours or Madeira tours once the dates are set.