So you’re heading for the Algarve. Brilliant! In this article we delve into eight top places to visit on this beautiful coastline, each with its own unique charms and attractions. Let’s dive right in.
Romantic Galé, loved by couples
Galé is a quiet and peaceful village considering it’s so near to Albufeira. Here’s where you’ll discover some of the Algarve’s best beaches, a gorgeous romantic getaway. The town’s beach, Praia da Galé, is particularly lovely, and there are secluded places to enjoy as well, like stunning Praia das Salamitras, not far from town. It’s all very scenic and the hyper-posh Vila Joya has a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The tiny beach at Praia do Manuel Lourenço is really quiet, complete with dramatic rocky outcrops to photograph. Sit and chill outside one of the restaurants for great views. Praia da Galé Leste is to the east, stretching to Armação de Pêra and onwards to Albufeira. It’s lovely to walk on as well as perfect for water sports and beach games. You can ride along it on horseback, the ultimate in romance, or take in the magic in a horse-drawn carriage.
The Algados golf course awaits you, complete with challenging holes overlooking the sea, and Albufeira itself offers late night bars, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. The sunsets seen from Pedras Amarelas, where you can reserve a terrace table, are legendary.
Sagres, home to the best surf in the Algarve
Sagres, to the far west, offers some of Portugal’s most spectacular scenery as well as exceptional surf. The ancient Fortaleza de Sagres comes with dizzying walks right to the edge of massive, steep sea cliffs where the waves crash far below. This is where the famous explorer Prince Henry the Navigator founded his school for sailors in the 1400s, when the Portuguese were famed for their adventures at sea and the resulting ‘Age of Discoveries’.
Find your way to one of the finest viewpoints in the Algarve at nearby Cabo de São Vicente, the most south-westerly point of Europe with a remote lighthouse overlooking the sheer drama of the coastline. Here you’ll find surf lessons, surf camps and extraordinary waves to play in, along with dolphins and whales to spot from the land or via a special cruise.
This place is wild and woolly, home to just 2000 or so locals off-season and not the least bit tamed. The town may not be as pretty as some but the surrounding scenery is awe-inspiring. It never feels over-crowded for some reason, and most people go there for the history and scenery rather than clubbing and partying. Expect every imaginable outdoor sport and you won’t be disappointed.
Praia da Mareta is the biggest and best beach, accessible from the town and nice and sheltered by the cliffs, out of the wind. It’s great for water sports enthusiasts who have their L-Plates on, ideal for getting the basics under your belt and featuring three good eateries. A great family beach, it’s more crowded than Praia da Martinhal down the road, which is also sheltered from the worst of the wind and a perfect destination for watersports.
Praia da Baleeira is a small beach with a lively harbour to enjoy and a fascinating public fish auction, and finally there’s rugged Praia da Tonal, facing due west and often pretty windy. Experienced surfers adore it here thanks to the big swells, strong winds and impressive waves. There’s a littler beach bar but that’s about it. Head for the bustling bars and restaurants along the main Rua Comandante Matoso street for lively fun.
Historic Faro, the Algarve capital
History is the name of the game here, and it’s epic. The capital city of the Algarve with an international airport, here’s where a lot of visitors arrive. It’s a city of around 50,000 people with industry, manufacturing and an old town you’ll love, hemmed in by thick walls. The Cidade Velha sits on ancient Roman and Moorish foundations, otherwise Faro’s buildings mostly date to the 1700s and 1800s. Most older buildings were flattened by the violent 1755 earthquake.
Think lovely cobbled streets, a huge cathedral, squares filled with cafes and restaurants, an excellent museum stuffed with archaeological treasures and a really pretty little marina. There are numerous lagoons to explore along with wildlife-rich wetlands, islets and sandbars, and of course yet more wonderful beaches.
Carvoeiro, loved by families
Often billed as the best place for families with kids, Carvoeiro offers traditional resort holidays thanks to a great beach, fabulous weather, and really good cuisine. There’s a host of thrilling day trips to enjoy from the town, which is a popular starting point for the wider Algarve region. Think pretty traditional towns, amazing hiking trails, top class water parks, and a vast choice of boat trips.
Carvoeiro town opens onto a glorious beach, a lush stretch of golden sand backed by dramatic orange sandstone cliffs, with sunbed and parasol rental at one end and free space for lounging at the other end. The beach has its own restaurants and bars if you feel too laid-back to make your way into town. There’s a variety of water sports and loads of boat tours, and the beach is wheelchair accessible.
There’s a second beach, Praia do Paraíso, within walking distance if you’re fit. Take the road out of tow heading west and up a steep hill, not a particularly accessible beach but less busy as a result. At high tide the sand is covered completely by water, so don’t forget to check the tides first. No facilities means very few children, making it a great beach for grown-up peace and quiet.
The stunning beach at Praia do Vale Centeanes is also a popular choice. And this is where you can pick up trips to the magical Gruta de Benagil, the cathedral-sized sandstone cave, lit up with sunlight streaming through a huge hole high above. Wow, then wow again!
Silves, gateway to the Algarve’s gorgeous interior
Perfect for exploring inland, beautiful Silves is your destination for an entirely different Algarve far from the beaches and noise. This is one of the region’s most attractive towns and at just over nine miles from the sea, it may as well be on a different planet. This hilltop settlement mirrors a lovely bend in the Rio Arade and has a particularly attractive castle with ramparts you can walk along and great views. The exhibitions revealing the violent past are fascinating.
Tavira’s infamous culture, music and wine
Tavira is really close to Spain with a charming authentic atmosphere of its own, nothing like the coastal towns dotting the region. Here’s where to sample the traditional Portuguese lifestyle, a small yet exciting place packed with cool historic landmarks, interesting attractions and a historic old town. The Ria Formosa Nature Reserve is nearby and there are some beautiful beaches close by as well.
The ancient Old Bridge over the River Gilao, called the Ponte Antiga Dobre o Rio Gilão locally and nicknamed the Roman bridge, is a picturesque white bridge with pretty town views. But there’s more. It dates right back to olden times, a unique landmark known the world over, built in the 1200s then rebuilt in the 1600s. So it isn’t Roman as the name suggests, it’s medieval. Once an important part of the town’s defences, two towers guard it. You can walk across safely and you’ll often see buskers playing on it. Below there’s a nice waterfront area.
This place is an old Roman settlement. It has a medieval old quarter, a castle on a hill, and Núcleo Islâmico to visit, home to a cool collection of 11th century artefacts from Moorish times. And the Praça da Republica, the Republic Square, is perfect for watching the world go by. Find a place on the stone benches in the shape of an amphitheatre and… chill.
Don’t forget the Fado music, a rich tradition throughout Portugal that you can learn about at Fado Com História, where there’s live Fado to enjoy along with wine tasting.
Lagos, combining all that’s best about the Algarve region
Great for dining and nightlife, Lagos is a hot Algarve destination. There’s an historic old town, new marina, loads of cultural attractions, fabulous beaches and epic scenery, bars and eateries, and it’s alive and kicking all year long.
Stroll along Avenue dos Descobrimentos to the market – Mercado Municipal de Lagos – in a big building built for the purpose in 1924, a key part of local life. The historic town centre and Praca de Gil Eanes and Praça Luís de Camões are fascinating to explore. In the centre the pedestrianised calçada streets are lined with bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops, alfresco dining, performers and buskers, packed with vibrant atmosphere. Head for Praça Luís de Camões to admire the green tiled building that stars in so many famous postcard views.
Add baroque churches, a 1600s fortress, and the particularly popular Praia de Dona Ana beach – one of the region’s prettiest – and you can see why it’s a winner. After dark visit any number of cool microbrew bars and cocktail lounges, rooftop terraces and clubs.
Wild, bold, beautiful Carrapateira
Best for wild beauty, this place is all about the surf. The village itself is calm and quiet, with remote beaches nearby and a hippy-happy vibe. The coast here features towering orange and grey cliffs, pale sands and one of the best surfing beaches in Europe. The colourful rocks and exciting rock pools make it popular with families. The dunes make a fun playground and there’s a few low-key snack stalls to enjoy.
Walk from Amado to Bordeira, a couple of miles, for wonderful views, and explore further afield for delightful little towns and a pristine coastline. There are enormous surfing waves at both Praia do Amado and Praia da Bordeira but the entire coast is eye-candy with its awe-inspiring limestone cliffs and deserted dunes, part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. The Museu do Mar e da Terra da Carrapateira is a really cool ethnographic museum revealing the local traditional lifestyle.
Endless variety. That’s what the Algarve is about. Come visit and you’ll be able to create your own list of not-to-be-missed attractions and destinations.
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