Will You Winter in the Algarve or on the Costa del Sol? – Comparing the Two (Part 2 – Weather, Geography, Towns)

Sorry, still no actual readers involved in the discussion yet, just me and my friend again. But not to worry, Part-three will be all talk about the Algarve and the Costa del Sol will be led by some real-life people – not my new best friend ChatGPT. Here is the map showing the location of both areas in the map I posted in Part One in case you would like to refresh your memory.

A ChatGPT Chat

Before we begin, though, I’d like to say a few things about ChatGPT. You may be thinking at this point that these articles are really about ChatGPT, rather than wintering abroad. That is not the case. It just happens to be a useful tool to find, collate and summarize a whole bunch of information… if you know how to ask the questions.

And perhaps just to be a little more instructive about the benefits of using it, I’m going to tell you how simple it was to get it to generate the title image for this article. It required a few steps, but essentially, I told it in very basic, broad terms exactly what I wanted it to create.

To paraphrase, the instruction was – “I would like you to create a title image for a blog post with the text ‘Wintering on the Algarve or Costa del Sol’. Around that I would like images or graphics that that would be representative of southern Portugal and southern Spain in January and February”

I did not tell it specifically what images I wanted, how the layout should appear or what font or font size I wanted used. You can see the results above. ChatGPT is a very useful wide-ranging, multitasking tool that is still in its infancy.

Enough about that.

 

Some European Winter Getaway Particulars

Now that you have been introduced to the location of both the Algarve and the Costa del Sol, it’s time to throw out some hard facts related to… I suppose you could call it the feel… of living there during the winter. For the purposes of this discussion “Winter, refers to the months we are typically there, February and March.

We typically leave Canada in the last week of January and head to some city in Europe we want to explore before we head down to the Costa. Most recently, that has been Madrid. We normally head home during the first week in April. Once we get Christmas and New Year’s out of the way, it’s only a couple of weeks before we pack up and are off and running.

You might be thinking, well, I am in Florida from November until April, can you not tell me about what it’s like there in other months? I suppose I could, but there is one limitation in going to Europe to spend the winter months, and that is, Canadians are only allowed to stay anywhere in the EU for a maximum of 90 days in any given 180-day period. So basically, you can go there for three months tops. If you are thinking that you might like to go to one of these two locations for January as well, a quick Google search can give you all the information I have gathered here for the month of January.

And just in case you have already forgotten why we Canadians go to sunny, warmer destinations in the winter. Some retired friends of ours sent us this photo of their street taken on February 16, 2025.

Now that we have reminded ourselves that the weather is horrible at home, we need to look at the weather conditions in January and February in the Algarve and on the Costa Del Sol?

 

“Just the Facts, Ma’am”

Perhaps a bit of a stretch using a catchphrase associated with the fictional detective Joe Friday from the TV series Dragnet, Definitely a “Boomer” reference, so my sincerest apologies to all other generations. By “just the facts” I mean my intention is to present the factual nitty-gritty about the environmental and physical conditions of the two regions in an objective manner.

So, in an effort to make this discussion impartial, and not filtered through my appreciation for the Costa del Sol, I have once again gone to ChatGPT to provide the information I think you need to know.

 

Comparing the Weather!

First up, the weather, which will be broken down into a look at Temperature, Sunshine Hours, and Rainfall.

Typically, retirees are looking to experience more benign, verging on summer weather, when they get away for the winter. I have never heard any retired Canadian person say they were planning to head up to the Arctic to enjoy the long, dark cold winter nights, to have the opportunity to experience the Northern Lights in all their full splendour, and perhaps get to spear a seal or two. Usually, it’s walks along a beach and fishing or golfing that seem to be of greater interest.

Both the Algarve and the Costa definitely lean toward the benign weather, fishing or golfing scenario, and almost totally lack a Northern Lights experience. Although I have never actually seen one, you may catch a glimpse of a seal. Please do not attempt to spear them, Mediterranean Monk seals are a critically endangered population in Spanish and Portuguese waters.

Let’s lean into Temperature to kick things off.

Temperature

I always struggle to explain the temperature situation we typically experience on the Costa in the winter, and I’m sure the folks who winter in the Algarve feel the same way. It always seems warmer than what the announced temperature would suggest. You will discover the reason for this claim below in the “Sunshine Hours” section. The response I usually give when someone asks me that question is, “it’s perfect golf weather”. Not too hot, not too cold. Of course, this only means something to golfers. 🙂

That all not withstanding, here is a breakdown of the average temperatures you can expect to experience.

From ChatGPT:

“Here is a comparison of the average daily high temperatures in February and March for the Algarve region (Portugal) and the Costa del Sol (Spain):

Region	February Avg High	March Avg High
Algarve (e.g. Faro)	~16°C	~18°C
Costa del Sol (e.g. Málaga)	~17°C	~19°C

Summary:

1. Both regions are quite mild in winter.
2. Costa del Sol tends to be about 1–2°C warmer than the Algarve on average during both February and March.
3. Sunshine hours are also slightly higher in Costa del Sol, making it feel a bit warmer and sunnier overall.”

 

Sunshine Hours

The number of sunshine hours is an important statistic because although the temperatures stated above may not seem that warm to you, both regions are so much further south than any part of Canada they receive stronger sunlight, especially in winter. The result is that sunny days feel much warmer than the stated air temperature. The closer you get to the equator, the more intense the sun feels.

ChatGPT came up with these clarifying statements and a table of expected hours per day of sunlight.

• • “Sunshine hours matter: Yes, the number of sunshine hours affects how warm a place feels. More sunshine means more direct solar radiation, which can make the air feel warmer than the actual temperature reading suggests.
  • Southern location: Both the Costa del Sol (Spain) and the Algarve (Portugal) are much farther south than any part of Canada, which means they receive stronger sunlight, especially in winter.
  • Proximity to the equator: Correct — the closer a region is to the equator, the higher the sun sits in the sky, and the more intense the solar energy becomes”

Region	February	March	Notes
Algarve (e.g., Faro)	~6–7 hours/day	~7–8 hours/day	The Algarve enjoys a dry, sunny winter climate — even in February, clear days are common.
Costa del Sol (e.g., Málaga)	~6.5–7.5 hours/day	~7.5–8.5 hours/day	Slightly sunnier overall; Málaga often records some of the highest winter sunshine totals in Europe.

Rainfall

… And, you never have to shovel snow. 🙂

My request to ChatGPT here was very simple – to compare rainfall in both areas during February and March. Knowing from personal experience that there are all kinds of tourist organizations in both countries offering up “wishful thinking” weather predictions, I asked it to only provide rainfall data from long-standing authoritative weather reporters. And what I got was the national weather agencies for both Portugal and Spain… as it should be.

Here’s what both reported:

“Algarve (use IPMA — Portuguese national meteorological service) — Faro (1991–2020 normals): Feb = 41.9 mm (1.65 in), Mar = 46.8 mm (1.84 in). IPMA produces station-by-station climatological normals (homogenized, documented) so these are the best single numbers for the Algarve/Faro area.

Costa del Sol / Málaga (use AEMET — Spanish national meteorological service) — the official AEMET station normals are the authoritative source for Málaga/Aeropuerto; many public secondary sources cluster around 52 mm (2.05 in) for February and 54 mm (2.13 in) for March. AEMET publishes the station normals and seasonal analyses (1991–2020 normals adopted). (See AEMET climatology pages / station CSVs.)”

These numbers are from each country’s national meteorological service (IPMA for Portugal and AEMET for Spain) and correspond to the 1991–2020 climate normals — the most authoritative and consistent baseline available.”

So, what should we make from these rainfall numbers? It appears the Algarve gets slightly less rain than the Costa del Sol, less than half an inch in each month. But both receive very small amounts of rain in February and March.

A Comparison with Another Snowbird Destination

I think it would be reasonable to compare the European rainfall numbers to those of a typical US destination during February and March. Here are the amounts for Florida… I am assuming Arizona has way less rain.

“Rough approximate average rainfall for Florida in February is around 3 inches, and in March also about 2.9–3.0 inches, though some subregions (like the Keys) are lower.”

Florida receives more rain in February and March than either of the European destinations. So, if you can live with that amount of rain in Florida, you’re going to be even happier wintering somewhere on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. 🙂

I didn’t do a comparison with any one place in Canada because the country is so huge and it would not be representative for everyone. I would invite you to go ahead and compare the average monthly rainfall in your area for a couple of months and see how they stack up against the Algarve and the Costa del Sol in the winter months.

 

Comparing the Geography – Topography – Terrain

To provide a bit of a clarification regarding what I mean by geography, I am really interested in finding out about the topography or terrain. The “lay of the land” if you will.  Are these areas hilly or flat? I do so because walkability of the terrain is often as important to some older retirees as all the other factors that go into deciding about where to stay.

I asked ChatGPT the following.

“Is the geography of the Algarve area generally more rugged than the Costa del Sol. I am talking about primarily the areas where cities and town sit right on the water.” The following is what it came up with.

Algarve (Portugal)

As you will read below, this image is very typical of the topography in the western Algarve. Rugged coastlines with beaches tucked away in coves.

“Overall character: More rugged and varied

• • The western and central Algarve coastlines are famously rugged, with dramatic limestone cliffs, sea caves, headlands, and small coves tucked between steep formations.
  • Towns like Lagos, Carvoeiro, and Albufeira are built on or near cliff-topped bluffs, with beaches often reached via stairways or winding paths.
  • The far west (Sagres area) is wild and windswept, with towering cliffs dropping straight to the Atlantic.
  • The eastern Algarve, however (from Faro to Vila Real de Santo António), flattens into low-lying lagoons and barrier islands — part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park — so that stretch is much less rugged and more marshy and calm.

Summary for the Algarve:

Western & Central Algarve: Rugged, cliffy, dramatic, postcard-beautiful
Eastern Algarve: Flat, sheltered, and tranquil.”

As you will see next, the topography of the Costa del Sol is mostly very different from the Algarve. You will have to decide which suits your needs and preferences best.

 

Costa del Sol (Spain)

Likewise, this is very typical of the waterfront along the Costa del Sol in most areas, except for up near Nerja. Long boardwalks, or Paseos as they are referred to in Spanish, to stroll and bike on. I took this photo just before 4 PM, as the “lunch hour” was winding down.

“Overall character: Less rugged, more continuous and urbanized

• • • The Costa del Sol’s coastal plain is generally broader and smoother, with long, continuous sandy beaches fronting the towns.
    • Most resorts — Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona — sit on flat terrain or gentle slopes near the sea, with the Sierra mountains rising a few kilometers inland.
    • The eastern end near Nerja is an exception: here, low cliffs and coves reappear, giving that area a more Algarve-like feel.
    • Urbanization has leveled much of the immediate coastal zone, making access easy and the seafronts highly developed (boardwalks, promenades, marinas).

Summary for the Costa del Sol:

Western & Central sections: Flatter, sandy, continuous beach strip.
Eastern section (Nerja area): More rugged and scenic, cliffs and coves.”

I’m not sure I posed the clearest question possible to ChatGPT. It was a bit of a roundabout way to get at the geography (topography or terrain) of both regions, but I already knew the answer to the question, and what it has presented here for both is very accurate.

 

Let’s Talk About the Towns and Cities

After getting a feel for the environmental conditions of these two areas, I think it’s important to be able to provide you with a sense of what the various towns in both areas you might choose to rent in are like. You may actually prefer to be out in the country to enjoy nature or in a golf club community, where you can golf every day, but most people end up renting in one of the many towns in both areas.

To that end, here is a very brief overview of what the towns and cities are like in both the Algarve and the Costa del Sol. Given the wide range of local attributes Snowbirds may consider to be important, you will see ChatGPT’s summations briefly deal with issues like healthcare availability, public transit, size of the community, shopping, or nightlife. They are the sorts of things that you can drill down into further with your own Google searches if they are specifically important to you.

And, you probably will need to know a little bit about each of the individual towns and cities, so we’ll have a quick look at that as well.

My question to ChatGPT was:

“Would you be able to provide a very general overview about what the towns and cities are like in the Algarve region of Portugal compared to the same in the Costa del Sol region of Spain?”

Once again, it did come up with some useful information. The following summary provides some broad brushstrokes of what the urban centres are like, and what general amenities you can expect to have available to you..

“Overall Summary

• • Costa del Sol → feels more urban, larger-scale, more continuous development, with bigger cities, larger hospitals, more shopping, more nightlife, and better public transport connections along the coast.

• • Algarve → feels more small-town, scenic, nature-based, with beautiful natural parks, quieter towns, excellent beaches, but less dense infrastructure and somewhat lighter public transit.”

Both regions are well-developed tourist destinations, but they offer different styles of services.”

That is all very important and good to know, but you are probably more interested in knowing a little bit about the individual towns and cities in which you might choose to rent. Here they are.

Main Towns & Cities on the Costa del Sol

“Major Cities

1. 1. 1. Málaga – largest city in the region, airport, museums, port.
      2. Marbella – well-known upscale resort city.

Important Towns

1. 1. 1. Torremolinos – popular beach resort close to Málaga.
      2. Benalmádena – resort town with marina and theme park.
      3. Fuengirola – long beaches and big expat population.
      4. Estepona – charming beach town with a historic center.
      5. Mijas – split between coastal Mijas Costa and inland Mijas Pueblo.
      6. Nerja – easternmost town with beaches and the famous Balcón de Europa.
      7. Torrox – coastal town known for mild climate.
      8. Vélez-Málaga / Torre del Mar – inland town with a coastal extension.”

Main Towns & Cities on the Algarve

“Major Cities

1. 1. 1. Faro – the regional capital and home to the main airport.
      2. Portimão – one of the largest cities, known for Praia da Rocha.
      3. Lagos – historic coastal city with beaches and cliffs.

Important Towns

1. 1. 1. Albufeira – big tourist hub with beaches and nightlife.
      2. Tavira – charming town with historic architecture and an island beach.
      3. Vilamoura / Quarteira – marina resort area and beaches.
      4. Loulé – inland market town.
      5. Silves – historic town with a Moorish castle.
      6. Sagres – small surf town at the southwestern tip of Europe.
      7. Aljezur – quieter town on the west coast of the Algarve.”

To wrap this all up, I hope the information provided here will be useful in helping you decide which of these two areas might be of most interest to you. And FINALLY, we move on to Part 3 where you will hear from some folks who have had longer stays in both the Algarve and the Costa del Sol, and read about their general impressions rather than reading a bunch of facts.

Next Up: Brenda and Jimmy H. discuss their stays in the Algarve and on the Costa del Sol.