Do you need a wetsuit in Algarve?

The water in Portugal stays pretty cold all year round. This means that you'll need a wetsuit even in summer. In the summer, on the central and northern coast, water temperatures reach a maximum of 18-22°C (65-71°F). You'll need a 3mm long-sleeve shorty or a 3/2mm wetsuit if it's windy.



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The ocean currents can be strong and unpredictable. If you plan on swimming, go to beaches with lifeguards and pay attention to the warning flags – green means it's safe to swim, yellow means use caution and stay near the shore, and red means do not enter.

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Beaches in the Algarve are generally safe although in some areas due to sea erosion cliffs can be unstable.

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If you use a slow stroke rate without a wetsuit you will start to sink between strokes if you don't have great balance or buoyancy. With a wetsuit there is a lot more leniencies to swim with a slower stroke rate and keep better forward momentum.

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