Cercal vs Zambujeira do Mar: which Alentejo town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (14°C and 15°C). Cercal has a closer bus station; Zambujeira do Mar has more restaurants on foot, a closer airport and lower rents.
Zambujeira do Mar
2,011 peopleChoose Zambujeira do Mar if you want
- Beach lovers: A beach 0.2 km from the centre
- More restaurants within a 15-minute walk (19, against 7)
- A shorter trip to an airport (46 km, against 73 km)
- Lower rents in the municipality (€6.17/m² a month, against €8.59/m²)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Cercal | Zambujeira do Mar |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 14°C | 15°C |
| January low | 8°C | 8°C |
| July high | 28°C | 27°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 3 | 1 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 7 | 8 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 78 | 77 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 33 min | 9 h 34 min |
| Sea in August | – | 19°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Cercal | Zambujeira do Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 2 | 2 |
| Pharmacies | 1 | 1 |
| Doctors and clinics | 1 | 0 |
| Cafés | 3 | 3 |
| Restaurants | 7 | 19 |
Getting around
| Measure | Cercal | Zambujeira do Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 26 km | 27 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.2 km | 11 km |
| Nearest hospital | 24 km | 47 km |
| Nearest beach | 11 km | 0.2 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 73 km | 46 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Cercal | Zambujeira do Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €8.59/m² | €6.17/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €2,184/m² | €1,800/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +115% | +64% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 36.9 | 20.8 |
People
| Measure | Cercal | Zambujeira do Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,772 | 2,011 |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.3% | 18.5% |
| Under 15 | 11.9% | 7.8% |
| Born in another country | 4.5% | 42.3% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Cercal | Zambujeira do Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 1 | 2 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cercal | 14° | 15° | 18° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 26° | 22° | 17° | 15° |
| Zambujeira do Mar | 15° | 16° | 18° | 19° | 22° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 25° | 22° | 18° | 16° |
The average highs are within 1°C of each other in every month.
Cercal or Zambujeira do Mar: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Cercal or Zambujeira do Mar?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 14.3°C in Cercal and 14.8°C in Zambujeira do Mar.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Both have 2 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Portimão Airport (PRM): 73 km from Cercal and 46 km from Zambujeira do Mar, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Cercal vs Zambujeira do Mar: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/cercal-vs-zambujeira-do-mar/