October in the Algarve! Yeah, the crowds are gone, but not the nice weather! The sea is finally warmed up, and very nice to swim in! Villa rental prices are much lower, as well the flight tickets!
Weather? At this moment it is still around the 30 degrees during the day, and around 18 degrees in the evening, lovely! That can change of course to lower temperatures, but NOW it is very nice and the forecast for the next 10 days too…. Average there are 8 rainy days in October!
What to do in October in the Algarve?
Plenty to do in the Algarve Portugal, so Algarve Housing like to share a few options:
4 October till 4 November
Rota do Petisco-Tapas Route
One of the Algarve’s most popular gastronomic events,‘Rota do Petisco’ (Tapas Route), returns, this year taking a delicious route through the whole region.
For a whole month, the Algarve may eat tapas!. In its eighth year, ‘Rota do Petisco‘ is growing in size and also in quality. This year, all participating establishments will be challenged to present innovative menus, but with a strong regional focus.
Rota do Petiso is a great way to sample a variety of typical Portuguese cuisine.
Simply buy a ‘passport’ which is a guide to all the venues and their menus. For €3 you can sample a range of dishes, accompanied by a drink. Local sweets and desserts can also be tasted for €2, while €1 of the passport’s price will go to help local charities and institutions.
4-7 October
Sagres Birdwatching Festival
Each October, Sagres, on the Algarve’s stunning West Coast, hosts a mega bird watching festival at a time when the Sagres peninsula becomes the main crossing point in Portugal for many varieties of migratory birds, as they head towards the warmer climes of Africa.
The Sagres Birdwatching Festival is an annual event and one of the best opportunities in the world to observe a broad variety of migratory birds from both the land and the ocean all in one location. You can expect to see storks, vultures, eagles, hawks, raptors, falcons, owls and amazing seabirds. Plus, there’s a good chance of spotting species such as Storm and Wilson’s Petrels, Cory’s and Balearic Shearwater, Sooty and Great Shearwater, Booted Eagles, Griffon Vultures and more!
But, you don’t have to be an avid bird watcher to enjoy the Sagres festival. In addition to an extensive programme of bird watching experiences, including bird ringing, boat trips, field trips, there are exhibitions, kids activities, diving and surfing lessons, paddle boarding, walks, dolphin watching trips, therapeutic massage sessions and more.
The 2018 Festival starts on Thursday 4th October and runs for 4 days. Some of the activities are free and some require prior registration.
Algarve is a likely place to spot a really rare and special bird – just make sure you have plenty of sharpened pencils and your spotting list!
7 October
MamaMarathon Portimao
This is a fantastic annual charity event that attracts thousands of participants, who come together in Portimão to support the wonderful work of Algarve Oncological Association (AOA).
Mamamaratona has become the largest charity event in the south of Portugal and it’s getting bigger! AOA aims to grow this event, not only by the number of participants, but also by its size and scope.
The 6km walk/ run aims to raise awareness of cancer, in particular breast cancer, and to help the fight against this disease that affects so many. The event will promote the importance of fighting against cancer and preventing the disease by following a healthy lifestyle. Through Mamamaratona, AOA also aims to raise funds for its work in support of cancer patients and their families.
This year Mamamaratona will incorporate ‘Portugal a Correr Portimão’, an event organised by Global Sport, in partnership with the Municipality of Portimão, and in collaboration with the Algarve Athletics Association. Portugal a Correr Portimão will comprise a 10kms and a 21kms Marathon.
The event attracts around 6000 participants – be one of them!
16-21 October
Smooth Jazz festival at Vila vita Parc Porches/Armacao de Pera
Jazz lovers can enjoy the Algarve Smooth Jazz festival with live concerts from top musicians in the stunning setting of VILA VITA Parc
Headlining the list of artists is the renowned guitar player and Grammy winner Norman Brown and the 4-time Best Guitarist of the Year Peter White that will be returning to the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival for the second time.
Jeff Lorber Fusion, led by pianist Jeff Lorber, which has won a Grammy earlier this year, will be one of the other big names at the Festival, as well as guitarist Marc Antoine, winner of several Best Artist of the Year awards and saxophone players Paul Taylor, known for its mix of funk and sensuality, and Michael Lington, with 9 solo albums and a background as a sideman to several world-renowned artists such as Michael Bolton, Barry Manilow or Bobby Caldwell.
17 October-3 November
Halloween at Zoo Marine
If you’re brave enough to visit Zoomarine this Halloween, to escape the zombies, witches and pirates, you’ll have to be prepared to run and never look back! They will be lurking everywhere – in between graves and tombstones, with skeletons, spiders webs and hundreds of haunting pumpkins.
Yes, Zoomarine will be transformed into a scary Halloween park, for 19 whole days. Plus, there will be an extra spooky experience for brave visitors – the Scary Walkthrough – a tunnel full of frights!
There will also be face painting and street entertainment, many surprises and fun performances every day from 16th of October until the 3rd of November.
Statue Festival and Witches Fair 20th, 21st ,27th ,28th ,31st of October
New for 2018, the Statue Festival and Witches Fair promises to give you the chills! Beware, the statues might come to life…
And. will you dare to eat a poisoned apple or drink a bat-blood-frog-snot potion?
Be warned, Zoomarine will not take responsability if you turn into a frog!
For those who would like to visit the theme park during this festive season there is a 10% online discount for 1-Day individual tickets.
19-21 October
Algarve Classic Festival
The 2018 Algarve Classic Festival, the biggest classic car event in the Iberian Peninsula, will be back in Portimão at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in October.
Ever since the Algarve circuit was built in 2009, every October the Autodrome International do Algarve, has been hosting this fabulous international event geared to Historic Racing.
The festival will host 11 European Classic Championships, attracting the best cars and top international drivers in this speciality, to take to the track at Portimao. You can expect over 300 international drivers and up to 100 local drivers too.
If you’re a fan of classic cars, don’t miss this unique weekend event that celebrates all the success and elegance of historic cars.
Tickets prices start at €8 and are available by emailing
This article about October in the Algarve, has been brought to you by Algarve Housing, for unique villas in the Algarve. Please check our website for nice properties in the Algarve Portugal.
And contact me for any further details about October in the Algarve, or the unique villas we rent.
Warm regards,
Michele