Direct flight about 2 h 33
Algarve from London Gatwick
Published 4 October 2026 · HolidayWow editors · Written with AI, numbers checked against our data ·
From London Gatwick, a nonstop flight gets you in the Algarve in about 2 h 33. You land at Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO), 2 miles from the destination, after 1,049 miles of flight.
In the Algarve, the best time for a trip is May to October, with daytime highs up to 28 °C and the sea up to 22 °C.
7 days in Algarve in August, Beach and hiking, from London Gatwick on your own
Plan a trip- Flight time from London Gatwick
- about 2 h 33
- Flight distance LGW to FAO
- 1,049 miles
- Nonstop from LGW
- Direct flight
- Best time to go
- May to October
Flight times estimated from the distance, nonstop routes according to OpenTravelData.
What to expect from Gatwick to the Algarve
The Algarve covers a broad stretch of Portugal's southern coast, so the useful airport for you depends on where you plan to stay. Faro Airport serves the region directly and works well for travellers heading to the central or eastern coast. Lisbon Airport can suit some western itineraries, particularly when a city break forms part of the holiday.
LisboniPhoto: tjabeljan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
AlgarveiPhoto: Bextrel · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe journey also includes your route from home to the airport, check in, the flight and the onward connection to your accommodation. HolidayWow can bring those stages together so that an easy arrival is part of the itinerary from the beginning.
Treat the airport as the start of the holiday rather than a separate booking. Add the homeward journey, identify your first stay and place the arrival transfer on the map. You will then have a clear sequence to follow before taking a taxi, airport bus, rail service or hire car.
LisboniPhoto: tjabeljan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAlgarveiPhoto: Bextrel · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsChoosing the Algarve base for your holiday
Choose a base according to the days you want to spend at the beach and the places you hope to visit. The central coast is convenient for a mixture of seaside time and excursions. The western end appeals to travellers who prefer a quieter stretch of coastline, while the eastern side offers lively towns and a choice of family beaches.
A single base keeps transfers and unpacking simple. Two bases can suit a longer holiday if you want to divide beach time from city sightseeing. HolidayWow lets you swap places and move a stop to another day, then reorders the route to reflect each change.
Think about the rhythm you want rather than the number of activities. A relaxed pace gives you room for a beach morning, a coastal walk and an unhurried dinner. A balanced pace works well for couples and families who would like to see more of the region while keeping each day comfortable.
Pick a season that suits your idea of the coast
Spring brings warming daytime temperatures, longer sunshine hours and some wetter days, making it useful for a holiday that combines walks, villages and the beach. Summer offers the strongest beach weather, while early autumn retains warm days and sea temperatures with a calmer feel for sightseeing.
July is the warmest and driest month in the climate record, with average daytime temperatures of 28 °C and sea temperatures of 21 °C. August is also warm, with 28 °C by day and 22 °C at sea. These conditions suit swimming, coastal outings and days designed around being outdoors.
For gentler sightseeing, April and May are useful choices. April records 19 °C by day and 17 hours of sunshine, while May reaches 22 °C with 11 sunshine hours. Winter is milder, with January and December both averaging 16 °C during the day, making town walks and quiet coastal visits practical.
Algarve from London Gatwick
Algarve lies {{dist.home:LGW}} from London Gatwick in a straight line. London Heathrow lies {{dist.home:LHR}} away. Manchester lies {{dist.home:MAN}} away. From London Gatwick, the months that pay off most are May, June, July and August.
LondoniPhoto: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
EdinburghiPhoto: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFrom London Stansted it is {{dist.home:STN}}. Edinburgh lies {{dist.home:EDI}} away. The plan adds the ride to the airport, the flight with live fares from our partners, and the transfer to your first stay.
LondoniPhoto: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsEdinburghiPhoto: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAirports at the destination
Your nonstop flight from London Gatwick lands at Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO), 2 miles from the destination.
- FAOFaro - Gago Coutinho International Airport2 miles to the destination, about 2 h 33 from LGW, 1,049 miles of flightDirect
- PRMPortimão Airport37 miles to the destination, about 2 h 33 from LGW, 1,051 miles of flight
Best time to travel in the Algarve
In the Algarve, the best time for a trip is May to October, with daytime highs up to 28 °C and the sea up to 22 °C. The sea reaches 22 °C in August.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 16 |
| Night °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 12 |
| Sea °C | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
| Sun h/day | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Rain days | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
Algarve through the year
The warmest month is July with 28 °C, the coolest January with 16 °C. July is the driest with 0 rain days and March the wettest with 10. July brings the most sun, around 13 hours daily.
With the water at most 22 °C in August, the coast is about cliffs, harbours and fish suppers. Comfortable sightseeing weather, with highs between the low twenties and about thirty degrees, comes in May, June, July, August, September and October.
- January: 16 °C, sea 16 °C, 8 rain days, 6 h of sun
- February: 16 °C, sea 15 °C, 8 rain days, 7 h of sun
- March: 17 °C, sea 16 °C, 10 rain days, 8 h of sun
- April: 19 °C, sea 17 °C, 8 rain days, 9 h of sun
- May: 22 °C, sea 18 °C, 4 rain days, 11 h of sun
- June: 25 °C, sea 20 °C, 2 rain days, 12 h of sun
- July: 28 °C, sea 21 °C, 0 rain days, 13 h of sun
- August: 28 °C, sea 22 °C, 1 rain day, 12 h of sun
- September: 26 °C, sea 21 °C, 3 rain days, 9 h of sun
- October: 23 °C, sea 20 °C, 8 rain days, 7 h of sun
- November: 19 °C, sea 19 °C, 10 rain days, 6 h of sun
- December: 16 °C, sea 17 °C, 8 rain days, 6 h of sun
Busy and quiet months in Algarve
Monthly search volumes put the peak for Algarve in June and the low point in December.
A day in Algarve in May
Begin with a long walk while the light is soft. Around midday it reaches 22 °C, ideal for the outdoor highlight of the day. By night it is 15 °C: a cosy restaurant suits the evening.
What to pack for Algarve
For July, plan for heat: 28 °C in the day, 19 °C after dark, 0 days of rain. The packing list in your plan adjusts itself to the month and the days you pick.
- Light, breathable clothes for the day
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle
- A warm layer for the evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A travel adapter for your chargers
Weather in the Algarve month by month
- January16 °C
16 °C - February16 °C15 °C
- March17 °C16 °C
- April19 °C17 °C
- May22 °C18 °C
- June25 °C20 °C
- July28 °C21 °C
- August28 °C22 °C
- September26 °C21 °C
- October23 °C20 °C
- November19 °C19 °C
- December16 °C17 °C
Nonstop flights in the Algarve from other airports
Besides London Gatwick, nonstop flights in the Algarve leave from 8 other airports; the closest to London Gatwick is London Heathrow, with a flight time of about 2 h 34.
- LGWAlgarve from London Gatwickabout 2 h 33 to FAO, nonstop
- LHRAlgarve from London Heathrowabout 2 h 34 to FAO, nonstop
- LTNAlgarve from London Lutonabout 2 h 37 to FAO, nonstop
- STNAlgarve from London Stanstedabout 2 h 39 to FAO, nonstop
- BRSAlgarve from Bristolabout 2 h 30 to FAO, nonstop
- BHXAlgarve from Birminghamabout 2 h 39 to FAO, nonstop
- MANAlgarve from Manchesterabout 2 h 45 to FAO, nonstop
- EDIAlgarve from Edinburghabout 3 h 03 to FAO, nonstop
- GLAAlgarve from Glasgowabout 3 h 02 to FAO, nonstop
Flight times estimated from the distance, nonstop routes according to OpenTravelData.
Live prices for Algarve
The cards below pull today's partner prices for Algarve in your currency, so the number you see is the one you pay.
Shape a week around beaches and coastal days
A relaxed week gives you time to settle into your accommodation before exploring. Begin with a beach morning, take lunch nearby and use the afternoon to visit a nearby town or coastal viewpoint. Keep the first evening simple so that everyone can adjust to the pace of the holiday.
In the middle of the week, arrange a full outing to a beach, fishing town or inland attraction. A packed day can include a market, lunch, a scenic route and sunset near the coast. Leave another day with a relaxed schedule for swimming, reading or revisiting a favourite place.
For a balanced itinerary, use two or three stops on active days and one or two on relaxed days. HolidayWow can change the pace for the whole trip or for an individual day. Its map shows every stop and journey, giving you a clear overview before departure.
Book the journey and holiday in one plan
Live flight, stay, tour and transport prices are shown through partner links in the plan. This keeps changing prices separate from the route you have designed and lets you check the latest available options in pounds. Booking links use your selected language and currency.
The plan can begin at your home and continue through the ride to Gatwick, the flight and the transfer to your first stay. This door to door view is useful for families carrying equipment, couples coordinating a meet-up and groups checking that each person has the correct travel details.
A budget in pounds helps you organise the major parts of the trip. Price watch keeps an eye on selected stays and tours, while cost splitting can help a group record shared expenses. A document vault brings passports, tickets and confirmations together with the plans they belong to.
Algarve from London Gatwick: frequently asked questions
Which Algarve airport works best after a flight from Gatwick?
Faro Airport is the most practical choice for many Algarve stays, particularly around the central and eastern coast. Your final choice depends on your accommodation, since the region extends towards Lagos in the west. HolidayWow can place the airport transfer and first coastal stops on one map.
Can I compare Gatwick flight times for the Algarve?
The page can bring current flight options into the same plan as your stay and transfers, so you can compare what fits the rest of your holiday. Live booking links show the available options and prices in pounds. Check the current details for departure times, airport details and baggage choices.
How far is the Algarve from London Gatwick?
The complete door to door journey also includes your journey to the airport, check in, the flight and the transfer from the destination airport to your accommodation. HolidayWow keeps each stage connected to the relevant day in your plan.
What is a good Algarve itinerary for one week?
Use a relaxed or balanced pace with a single main base. Combine beach mornings with coastal walks, town visits and a full excursion inland, while keeping a few days open for swimming and relaxation. HolidayWow can move stops between days and reorders the route after every change.
Can my family plan and book the Algarve trip together?
Yes. Share one plan through a single link, with viewing and editing roles for different travellers. Group members can comment and vote, while live partner links handle flights, stays, tours and transport. The app is free to download and to plan with, and the same plan works on a phone.
More nonstop destinations from London Gatwick
Plan your trip in the Algarve from London Gatwick
Describe your trip in one sentence. When, who with and what matters to you.
