Algarve in December?!?! Too cold for vacation?
 

We have the opportunity to combine a trip to Spain with the Algarve in Portugal. We are planning to go in late December for the holiday season. Is the Algarve still warm enough to enjoy some sightseeing comfortably? We really don't like to lie on the beach but we like being by the water and harbor towns. Are the restaurants and stores still open for business? Does anyone know the resort called Clube Praia da Oura? How is this area to stay in? Please help with advice. <BR>Also, do you think we should stay there for new year's eve or head back to Spain to celebrate? Thanks so much. <BR>

Here you can find more informations about the Algarve: &lt;A HREF="http://www.algarve.com/"&gt;http://www.algarve.co

Here you can find more informations about the Algarve: &lt;A HREF="http://www.algarve.com/"&gt;http://www.algarve.co

The Algarve is going to be way too cold for sunbathing, and very likely to be rainy. That means the clubs will be either shut down or sad and desolate-- unless possibly some of the places with golf courses might be open. If it were me, I'd head for Evora, an enchanting town which isn't strictly for tourists. The architecture will still be there, rain or shine.

I traveled through the Algarve, Evora, Lisbon and Sintra in December of 1997, and it was not cold at all. Yes, sunbathing is not an option, but virtually everything else is. Frankly, I suspect that time of year is preferable to the high season. Tavira, Sagres and Lagos are not crowded but just as beautiful. And while it may rain or be cloudy some of the time, that hardly qualifies as an impediment. Take it from someone who was there in December. Go and have a great time.

Thanks Martha and Tom. Tom, I'm glad you enjoyed the Algarve in Dec. We are not planning on sunbathing but more visiting the towns, seeing the sights, and finding good food. I also prefer to travel where there are not crowds of tourists - or even locals. Did you find restaurants/stores still open for business? How much rain or cold weather did you actually get? Were you there for the holiday season? I think we will be sticking with our plans to go but may head towards Madrid for New Years. Thanks, again, for your advice. <BR>

I was in the Algarve from December 28th through January 3rd. A few restaurants were closed here and there. But for the most part, everything was open, including pottery and other stores. As far as the weather. It was generally in the 50s and did not rain on us once in the south (more in Lisbon and Sintra). Even in the off-season, there was an occasional crowd or two in the highly travelled spots. I still wouldn't miss Lagos and Sagres though. My only words of caution concern the Portugese food. Perhaps because I live in New Orleans I'm a bit spoiled. But I did not find the food particularly interesting. That being said, it was still a wonderful place to spend some time.