Málaga vs Faro: which is sunnier?
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇵🇹 Portugal · 311 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Málaga and Faro are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,106 vs 3,157 hours a year. Month by month it's balanced: each has the higher Sunshine Score in 1 month, with 10 within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Málaga | Faro | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,106 | 3,157 |
| Sunniest month | June (97/100) | July (98/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 60/100 | 60/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 97/100 | 97/100 |
| Rain / year | 506 mm | 545 mm |
| Warmest sea | 27°C / 81°F | 19°C / 66°F |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Málaga vs Faro month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Málaga | Faro | Málaga | Faro | Málaga | Faro | Málaga | Faro | |
| January | 58 | 52 | 16° | 15° | 56 | 50 | 15° | 17° |
| February | 58 | 59 | 16° | 16° | 57 | 53 | 16° | 17° |
| March | 64 | 64 | 17° | 17° | 69 | 67 | 16° | 16° |
| April | 81 | 79 | 19° | 19° | 51 | 62 | 17° | 17° |
| May | 93 | 91 | 21° | 22° | 24 | 35 | 18° | 16° |
| June | 97 | 96 | 25° | 26° | 3 | 8 | 21° | 18° |
| July | 97 | 98 | 27° | 28° | 1 | 1 | 23° | 18° |
| August | 97 | 97 | 28° | 28° | 3 | 4 | 27° | 19° |
| September | 92 | 94 | 25° | 26° | 29 | 23 | 24° | 18° |
| October | 86 | 84 | 22° | 23° | 60 | 75 | 20° | 18° |
| November | 69 | 74 | 18° | 19° | 82 | 95 | 20° | 19° |
| December | 56 | 56 | 16° | 16° | 71 | 72 | 18° | 18° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Málaga · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Faro · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Málaga averages 60/100, Faro 60/100. Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 17°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Málaga averages 79/100, Faro 78/100. Daytime highs are similar (19°C vs 19°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Málaga averages 97/100, Faro 97/100. Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Málaga averages 89/100, Faro 89/100. Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 25°C).
Sea temperature
Málaga's sea gets warmer: 27°C / 81°F at its peak vs 19°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Málaga about 4 months a year, Faro never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Málaga weather by month · Faro weather by month · Best time to visit Spain · Best time to visit Portugal.
More comparisons: Málaga vs Seville · Málaga vs Tétouan · Málaga vs Granada · Faro vs Lisbon · Faro vs Seville · Faro vs Jerez de la Frontera · all head-to-heads