A Local’s Guide to Travel in the Algarve, Portugal
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The Algarve, my home, is Portugal’s southernmost region, famed for its golden, sandy beaches and perpetual sunny weather.
While the region is truly a beach-lover’s paradise, the Algarve has much more to offer than just sun and sand. The countryside, bordered by the Monchique and Caldeirão mountains to the north and the Guadiana River to the east, holds authentic villages and towns that will transport you back in time.
Even though the Algarve seems small, you’ll need to drive for more than two hours to get from one end to the other. As you make your way across its 300-kilometer coastline stretching out along the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll witness countless exceptionally beautiful landscapes and will experience dramatic changes in scenery. The one constant, however, will be the breathtaking views.
Due to its strategic location, the Algarve has always been an important center for the civilizations and empires that have inhabited Portugal over the centuries. You’ll find traces of this diverse heritage in our language, architecture, culture, and cuisine.
More “recently”, over the past century, the booming tourism industry has transformed our region into a world-class beach destination. As a result, the annual population of 460,000 people triples over the summer.
While we’re blessed with an abundance of places to visit and unique things to see and do, there are so many options that planning a visit to the Algarve is always challenging, especially if you’re short on time.
To help you put together a plan for your visit, I’ve put together the following comprehensive guide which will hopefully tell you everything you need to know.
Let’s get into it!
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Where is the Algarve?
Portugal’s southernmost region, the Algarve is a narrow strip of land that extends along Portugal’s entire southern coast from the Spanish border in the east to the Atlantic ocean in the west. The regional capital, Faro, is 277 km (172 miles) south of Lisbon; a 3-hour journey by car or train.
With just 500,000 inhabitants and a relatively tiny proportion of Portugal’s total land mass, it is disproportionately important to Portugal’s economy and tourism sector.
This is one of the warmest regions in Europe and with around 300 sunny days per year, it may be the sunniest place on the continent.
A brief history of the Algarve
Visiting the Algarve is your chance to discover some of Portugal’s most interesting history and to experience firsthand the changes this country and region have seen over the centuries.
The first human settlements here date back to the Neolithic times. Since then, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and the Moors have all come and gone. The Moors established themselves in Portugal for by far the longest period of time, and during their 400-year rule, they developed the region’s economy and culture.
As such, traces of their reign can be seen everywhere in the Algarve, especially in Silves, the medieval Moorish capital.
In the 13th century, the Portuguese (Catholic) king Afonso III conquered the Algarve and it has remained under Portuguese rule since.
A few centuries later, the Algarve was the home of the Portuguese Discoveries, when Portugal became a world power and was at the forefront of maritime exploration. Sagres and Lagos are especially historically prominent locations since it was from these towns that the caravels (Portuguese sailing ships) departed.
Over the following 500 years, the Algarve, and Portugal in general, benefited enormously from this maritime expansion. However, as this period came to an end, our economy needed to adapt, and so it shifted.
Owing to our proximity to and deep connection with the sea, the region transformed into a hotspot for canned fish in the 20th century. Factories flourished all along the coastline, and this became the main industry in the Algarve.
After the Second World War, canned fish consumption declined dramatically due to an improved quality of life and people’s changing tastes (why eat canned fish when you can have it fresh?!). Suddenly, people had more time (and money) to enjoy themselves, and this is when the tourism industry began to thrive.
From the second half of the 20th century through to today, tourism has evolved into the main economic activity in the Algarve. This probably shouldn’t be surprising in a place where the sun shines for more than 300 days a year, and we have more golden sandy beaches than you can count, crystal-clear waters, and rugged seaside cliffs and coves.
Best time to visit the Algarve
The Algarve’s beaches have become famous getaways for travelers worldwide, now competing with even the most famous beachside areas throughout the Mediterranean. The region is popular year round, so there really is no low season anymore. But there is a high season; summer.
Summer
From July to August are the busiest months in the Algarve. The temperatures are scorching, beaches are packed, the population triples, there’s traffic everywhere, and hotel rates skyrocket. If you’re looking to relax or travel on a budget, this isn’t the best time of the year. The beaches are quite nice, however.
Can you tell that summer wouldn’t be my top choice?
Winter
On the other hand, during the winter (between November and April), you’ll find colder temperatures, a few rainy days, empty beaches and towns, as well as the lowest accommodation prices.
Note that many places, such as restaurants, hotels, and theme parks will be closed for the season. For me, as long as you don’t mind a little chill and some possible rain, this is the best time of the year to explore the Algarve’s natural areas and to get the best hotel rates.
Spring and fall
If you’re looking for a compromise - with good weather, but better prices and smaller crowds - I would suggest visiting the Algarve in May/June (late spring) or in September/October (early fall). These months sit at the beginning and end of peak season when most everything is open and the season is more or less completely in swing, but the crowds aren’t at their worst.
Traveling in late spring or early fall means you’ll get better value for money on your accommodation, you can enjoy warm temperatures but nothing too hot or too cold, you have little risk of rain, and you can hit the beaches and towns with comparatively fewer crowds.
If your schedule is flexible, I absolutely recommend coming here in May, June, September, or October. These are those “just right” months for traveling in the Algarve when you really do get the best of everything.
How many days to spend in the Algarve
Minimum days needed - 5 days
To fully enjoy a visit to the Algarve, you need a minimum of five days. This will give you time to explore the main highlights, get a bit off the beaten path, and have some time to relax.
With a short stay, my recommendation is that you focus on your travel style (beaches, cities, adrenaline, nature, etc.) and choose a couple of main places to visit and things to do and then just stick to that.
So, what to do with 5 days? Well, if you enjoy the beach, choose a coastal town to base yourself in and take day trips to other nearby locations.
If you’d like to explore the countryside, take a road trip and explore some of the small villages in the mountains, spending the night in a few different ones.
If you’re into history and gastronomy, five days will be enough to visit the most significant landmarks and try our delicious traditional cuisine.
Ideal number of days - 7 to 10
However, I believe the ideal amount of time for a visit to the Algarve is between 7 to 10 days.
A week to a week-and-a-half will give you enough time to explore some coastal towns, go to the beach, get out into a few natural parks, and visit smaller out of the way mountain villages. It also gives you the opportunity to engage in some local experiences like wine tastings, orang and medronho picking, or traditional Algarvian cuisine workshops.
For some ideas on how to spend a week here, check out my 7-day Algarve itinerary.
How to get to the Algarve
Regardless of your preferred mode of transport and where you’re coming from, you’ll find plenty of options for getting into the Algarve. Here’s a brief overview covering everything from flights to buses, trains, and taxis.
Flying in
Faro Airport is the only airport in the Algarve and it does not have international connections outside of Europe. If you’re traveling from a different continent, you must land at the Lisbon or Porto airports and then get one of the many daily connecting flights to Faro.
The flight from Lisbon to Faro takes 45 minutes while Porto to Faro is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
One-way flights from Lisbon to Faro usually cost about 50 euros with TAP airline. Flights from Porto to Faro cost as little as 20 euros as both TAP and Ryanair run flights.
Bear in mind that over the summer more flights are available than in any other season.
From Faro airport, it’s easy to find further transport options to get to your next destination. Uber, taxis, rental cars, and shuttle buses are all available at the airport and are the most used options.
Arriving by train
You have various options for getting to the Algarve by train. No matter where you’re coming from elsewhere in Portugal, you’ll almost certainly need to first stop in Faro and then make a transfer, either to another train or a different means of transport, to get to your final destination.
Most trains from Lisbon to Faro take about 3 hours, but this will depend on which type of train you book. To get from Porto to Faro, the high-speed train makes the route in just under 6 hours.
Tickets from Lisbon to Faro typically cost around 20 euros. Tickets from Porto cost about double, or a bit more.
When considering train travel in Portugal, there are some things you should know before you book your ticket.
The Alfa Pendular train is the fastest and most reliable train in Portugal. It covers long distances and connects the main cities between Braga (in the north) and Faro. If this train is available, it’s always the best option for a long-distance trip. The Intercidades train also covers long distances but makes more stops, meaning it’s slower. Then, there are the Regional and Interregional trains. These connect small towns and villages and cover shorter distances.
So, if you’re traveling to the Algarve by train, I have two tips: buy your tickets online beforehand and get on the Alfa Pendular if you’re coming from Lisbon or Porto. You’ll avoid long queues at the train station and you’ll get the fastest and most comfortable train.
Where to buy train tickets
Train tickets are available on the Comboios de Portugal website. It’s always a good idea to carry a printed ticket as opposed to relying on your phone.
You can also use the website Omio to buy train (and bus) tickets. It’s a 3rd party vendor, but their website is really easy to navigate and it’s a good option.
Arriving by bus
Various bus companies run routes into the Algarve and service is reliable regardless of the company you choose. The ride normally takes about 4 hours from Lisbon to Faro.
Buses depart from Lisbon to Faro from the Sete Rios and Gare do Oriente bus stations about every half hour.
Bus tickets from Lisbon to Faro usually cost anywhere from 10-20 euros. If you want the lowest cost option, check the buses leaving Lisbon around midnight.
In general, I advise you to just choose the cheapest ticket at the time you wish to travel. The bus quality and travel time are going to be pretty similar with every company, so there’s really no point going for a more expensive ticket.
As with the train, I recommend buying tickets online beforehand.
Where to buy bus tickets
Booking direct with the service provider is always ideal, but if you want to compare prices and book everything in one place, you might like using Omio. It’s an aggregator that shows public transportation options from lots of different companies. It costs a little bit more than booking direct, but the website is very convenient.
By taxi, uber, or private transfer
A private transfer can be a good option for getting to the Algarve (from Lisbon or somewhere else in Central Portugal, coming from Porto would be both slow and extremely expensive) if you have the budget for it.
This is usually the quickest means of transport, although not much faster than taking the train.
You should expect for a straight A-to-B transfer from Lisbon to Faro to cost between 250 and 350 euros for a 4-seater car.
Many people who book a private transfer also decide to turn the drive into a bit of a tour, stopping along the Vicentina coast on the way down or other places in the Algarve.
How to get around in the Algarve
Photo: Yusuke Kawasaki from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Looking at a map, you’re sure to get the impression that everything in the Algarve is very close together. That’s true, but the region’s geography and rugged terrain sometimes limits easy access to newer and faster roads, so travel times will often wind up being longer than they seem.
That said, getting around the Algarve is fairly easy and straightforward.
Having your own car is the best way to get around, but you can also make it work with a combination of buses and taxis/transfers.
Renting a car
Renting a car is always my biggest recommendation to anyone traveling to the Algarve.
In the Algarve, you’ll find big international car rental chains as well as smaller, local businesses. They all have pretty good reputations and are mostly reliable. In general, local companies are much cheaper than international chains.
The easiest place in the Algarve to get a rental car is Faro Airport, but you’ll also find agencies in major touristic hotspots such as Portimão, Albufeira, and Vila Real de Santo António.
The cost of a rental varies significantly throughout the year, with summer being by far the most expensive period. In shoulder season or off season, you can often find decent cars for as little as 15 euros per day. In high season, this can go up to 100 per day.
No matter when you come, I advise you to book your rental car before arriving in the Algarve. This way you’ll guarantee availability and the best rates.
Where to book a rental car
To check prices and book, I recommend using DiscoverCars, a car rental website that includes offerings from all the major international rental companies as well as lots of smaller local agencies, which often have much better pricing. You can often find great deals.
Driving in the Algarve
In the Algarve, the A22 highway is the fastest way to cover longer distances. However, there’s a catch that most travelers aren’t aware of: this is a toll highway without any toll booths.
So, how does it work? At toll areas, you’ll pass through large open gates equipped with traffic cameras that either automatically charge a device in your car (called Via Verde) or, if you don’t have one, photograph your car’s license plate and mail you a bill.
Car rental companies will all offer you the Via Verde device which will be placed in a little chip in your windshield, which will automatically charge the credit you leave on file with them when you pass through a toll. The fee is pretty nominal, so I would strongly recommend taking the toll device to make your life easier.
However, if you decide not to rent such a device and use the A22 highway, you can always pay tolls a few days later. To do so, use the Via Livre website, and follow the instructions.
If you want to avoid the toll road, you can use the EN125. This national road (free of charge!) covers the Algarve from one end to the other. It’s a good option if you're driving shorter distances, but not so good if you want to cross the whole region as travel along it is slower than on the highway. Some parts of this route cut through towns and villages, making it much busier than other roads. Besides the delayed travel times, you’ll also probably encounter not-infrequent accidents.
Parking in cities and towns
Here’s a parking tip for everywhere in the Algarve: when parking your car, be sure to thoroughly check whether the spot you’re parking in is paid or free. Most travelers don’t notice this until after they’ve already gotten a fine, so it really is important to be on the lookout for parking signs.
If you do get a fine, you must pay it in person at the given address or with a Portuguese debit card at an ATM. It’s quite a hassle for tourists, so do your best to avoid this! If there are parking meters in the vicinity of where you’ve parked, that’s a good sign that you probably need to pay…
Most parking meters in Portugal now take a credit card, but it’s a good idea to always have some coins just in case.
Traveling by bus
The bus is a viable alternative for getting around the Algarve for anyone who can’t drive or just isn’t comfortable doing so in unfamiliar places.
While there are lots of companies that run longer distance and interregional bus routes in Portugal, for travel between cities and towns within the Algarve the bus company you’ll want to know is called “Vamus”. On their website, you’ll find ticket prices, timetables, and maps to help you locate the different routes as well as the names of all the bus stops.
Unfortunately though, the “Vamus” bus won’t get you everywhere, so for some destinations you’ll still need to get a taxi or Uber to complete some journeys.
For getting around within a given city or town, there are local city buses. Each city has its own bus company. In Lagos, it’s called “Onda Azul”, in Portimão there’s “Vai e Vem”, in Albufeira it’s “Giro”, and in Faro, it’s called “Próximo”.
At the local ticket shops (you can find them at the city's main bus stop), you can buy a prepaid card for the city buses or the “Vamus” bus. I always recommend this option as it’s more convenient and you’ll get lower prices than buying single tickets directly with the driver.
However, if you must buy a ticket on the bus, remember most buses don’t take credit cards. Also, be sure to carry change, it’ll be easier for the driver (and for you) if you do.
Also, these buses are only available during the daytime. So, if you need transport at night, taxis and Uber are your best best.
If you want to check routes and schedules, the app Moovit is fairly reliable.
Getting a taxi or uber/Bolt
In every city and small town, there are taxis available with drivers ready to take you anywhere. Hailing one on the street isn’t usually the best option since they can't stop anywhere (especially at bus stops) and they won’t always be driving around. But you can always call one or ask a hotel or restaurant to do it for you. You will also find taxis parked in certain locations, so if you don’t see one just ask a local where you should go.
Taxis are easy to spot. They have the traditional black and green paint that no other cars ever use. You might also find older taxis in a beige color. You can rest assured; both are certified taxi drivers!
As with the bus, most drivers don’t take credit cards so you should always have cash when hailing a taxi.
There is also Uber or their European competitor, Bolt. This is probably the easiest option if you’re in a city or decent-sized town on the coast. However, if you’re deep in the countryside, inside a natural park, or in a very small town, you may not be able to find a ride.
Since drivers are mostly based along the coastline, if you do find one willing to pick you up from a remote location, know that it will be more expensive.
Best places to stay - where to base yourself
A lovely square in the historic core of Faro. Photo: Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A pretty square in Portimão. Photo: Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you enjoy having a single base and taking day trips from it instead of spending each night at a different location, I’d recommend setting your home base in Faro or Portimão.
These coastal cities are the largest in the Algarve. In each, you have all the comfort of any European city, and they are close to many charming towns and countryside villages that you can drive to in less than an hour.
If you’re staying in the Algarve for seven days, I’d recommend spending four days in Faro and three in Portimão.
Faro
During your stay in Faro, you can explore the historical old town and local shops by day and enjoy the vibrant outdoor terraces and bars by night. From Faro, you can take day trips to other coastal towns, such as Vilamoura, Tavira, Olhão, and Vila Real de Santo António, or enjoy the countryside at Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Querença, Salir and Alte.
Here are some great hotels in Faro:
3HB Faro Hotel - You can usually book a standard room for around 300€ per night, with rates increasing dramatically in July and August.
Hotel Faro & Beach Club - Nightly prices start at 200€ per night for a standard room during the summer.
AP Eva Senses Hotel - Accommodation rates run 200€ per night during the summer and 100€ during the winter.
Portimão
Meanwhile, in Portimão, you can wander through the city’s old town, explore the local museum, enjoy the beach at Praia da Rocha, and stay for a memorable night out with friends.
From there, take day trips to Albufeira, Silves, Monchique, Aljezur, Sagres, and Lagos. You’ll find charming fishing villages and authentic countryside small towns.
Below are a few of my favorite hotels in/around Portimão:
Bela Vista Hotel & Spa - Accommodation rates start at 450€ per night during the high season.
Hotel da Rocha - Prices range from 100€ to 200€ per night for a standard double suite.
NH Marina Portimão Resort - Rates here vary significantly depending on the season, with summer prices between 150 and 300€ and winter prices as low as 70€.
What to see & do in the Algarve
Most people traveling to the Algarve have only one thing in mind: those glorious beaches that they’ve seen online. The impressive seascapes of towering cliffs, hidden coves, and secluded beaches seem like paradise, and indeed they are!
However, the Algarve is much more than just its beaches.
The Algarve holds a historical significance, cultural diversity, and geographic variation that most people are entirely unaware of, but which are all quite worth discovering.
As you make your way through the region, you’ll find natural parks, historical cities, and authentic countryside villages. Along the way, small local museums are the perfect place to learn more about the region’s history and understand how it became what it is today.
If you’re an adrenaline enthusiast, get on a racecar and drive on a world-class racetrack, cross the border to Spain on a zipline, or skydive over the coastline.
Ever wondered about surfing in the Algarve? Along the region’s 300 kilometers of coastline, you’ll find many beaches perfect for surfing, regardless of your experience level.
Yet, if you’re a foodie like me, you’ll find traditional Portuguese restaurants with the best local cuisine. Food and wine here are made with unique knowledge passed on from generation to generation. To learn more, join a workshop or reserve a wine tasting.
If you enjoy the outdoors, there are dozens of hiking paths and birdwatching hotspots. And for photographers, the Algarve offers the best opportunities for landscape photography. Just look out for the golden hour!
So, while you can’t possibly see and do everything in only one trip, with some good planning you can experience a lot of what this magnificent region has to offer.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite places to see and things to do:
Visit the charming villages in the countryside. My suggestions? Monchique, Salir, Alte and Querença.
Enjoy the stunning fishing villages of Ferragudo, Carvoeiro, Salema, Burgau, and Arrifana.
Hit the beach at some of my favorite spots: Carvalho, Caneiros, Barril, Cacela Velha, Camilo, Bordeira, Amoreira, Castelejo, Amado e Odeceixe.
Uncover the Algarve’s first settlers at Alcalar’s megalithic monuments.
Roam the medieval streets of Silves and enjoy the Islamic-influenced architecture.
Discover the historical old town of Faro and its cathedral.
Visit the natural wonders of Praia da Marinha's arched cliffs, the dome-shaped Benagil cave, and the rugged shoreline of Ponta da Piedade.
Take a boat tour in Ria Formosa, Ponta da Piedade or Benagil cave.
Explore the local cuisine with a workshop on traditional Algarvian food.
Discover the Algarve’s unique wines in a wine tasting.
Pick oranges and “medronho” and see how these are transformed into everyday local foods.
Join a workshop to learn how to make traditional Algarvian bread.
Go hiking. There are many trail options available. I recommend the “Sete Vales Suspensos”, “Rota das Cascatas”, “Pontal da Carrapateira” and “Rota do Guadiana”.
Explore the Algarve on a bike. You'll find circular bike routes all over the Algarve, ranging between 50km to 190km, suitable for amateur and professional bikers.
Discover the Carvoeiro shoreline on horseback.
Go birdwatching. The Costa Vicentina and Ria Formosa natural parks provide the best opportunities to watch unique local birds.
Watch the sunrise on a hot air balloon over Alvor fishing village.
Explore sunken warships turned into the largest artificial reef in Europe off Portimão.
Feel the adrenaline rush of driving a race car at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.
Go skydiving over the coastline in Alvor.
Learn about marine wildlife and ocean preservation at Zoomarine theme park.
Connect with Inês, our Algarve-based local expert, for help perfecting your itinerary, answers to all your travel questions, and fabulous local tips!
Best places to visit in the Algarve
To help you decide where to go, here are some of my favorite places in the Algarve. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
1. Ferragudo and Ponta do Altar
The charming fishing town of Ferragudo. Photo: Joseolgon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Common
Welcome to my hometown! Ferragudo is a charming 500-year-old fishing village and one of the most authentic places you’ll find along the coastline. Local restaurants offer traditional Algarvian cuisine with the freshest local fish and seafood.
And for a scenic view, go to my favorite place of all: Ponta do Altar. Besides the lighthouse, you’ll see Ferragudo’s beaches, the Arade River, Praia da Rocha, and Portimão, with Monchique mountains as the backdrop.
On a clear and sunny day, you can also see Lagos and Sagres 50 kilometers away.
2. Carvoeiro, Boneca and Algar Seco
Photo: Dr.G.Schmitz, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
At Carvoeiro, you’ll discover a small beach in its village center. The first settlers used this beach to deploy their fishing boats. Today, this fishing village is a tourist hotspot you don’t want to miss.
Walk up the street towards the village church to enjoy Carvoeiro’s breathtaking views. From there, continue on a wooden boardwalk along the cliffs and contemplate the astonishing view of the ocean. In the end, you’ll find two surprising cliff formations.
One is Algar Seco, where a massive hole on the cliff forms a natural swimming pool. The other is Boneca. On land, the two holes on the rock look like a balcony overlooking the ocean. From the sea, they resemble a doll eye (Doll=Boneca, in Portuguese).
3. Benagil and Marinha
Benagil Cave, the famous dome-shaped cave, is a must-see while visiting the Algarve! Book a guided tour and enjoy nature’s mind-blowing work.
Praia da Marinha is another unforgettable location. The natural arches and the rugged shoreline granted this beach the title of the most beautiful beach in the world by Condé Nast Traveller and CNN.
Enjoy the views while looking for the heart-shaped photo location at Praia da Marinha!
4. Monchique and Fóia
Monchique is a tiny village secluded in the highest mountains in the Algarve. The forest and the altitude create a unique microclimate, making this the chilliest and rainiest location in the region.
Try the Bolo de Tacho, the Medronho Firewater, and the Chouriça to taste the local cuisine. You’ll be delighted!
To enjoy the most beautiful sunset around, head to Fóia. At 902 meters of altitude, this is the highest point south of Lisbon. From there, you’ll see all the south and western coastline. Be sure to have your camera ready!
5. Silves
Silves is a historical city marked by centuries of Roman and Moorish occupation. Wander the medieval cobbled streets, visit the city’s castle, and enjoy the astonishing view from the top of the walls. The Cathedral, built on the remains of an old mosque, is another landmark you can’t miss!
Once you find the local museum, you’ll get a glimpse of the past as you feast your eyes on the archeological artifacts found all over the city. While exploring the city, you’ll notice a few Roman remnants and Islamic-influenced architecture.
6. Lagos and Ponta da Piedade
Lagos is a charismatic coastal town celebrated for its historical significance during the Portuguese maritime expansion. You’ll find a vibrant city center with local shops, restaurants, and bars.
Along the old town of Lagos, you’ll find historical buildings, such as the Santa Maria Church, the museum, and the ancient city walls.
A few kilometers away, there’s Ponta da Piedade, a towering limestone cliff formation like no other. From the top, you'll see Portimão and Carvoeiro coastline to the east and Sagres to the west.
Although you can visit its sea pillars and natural arches, the best way to enjoy this dramatic coastline is on a kayak tour.
7. Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente
Cabo de São Vicente and its lighthouse. Matthias Süßen , CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sagres is a tiny fishing village deeply connected to the Portuguese Discoveries in the 15th century. After all, this is where the caravels departed to the New World. At Fortaleza de Sagres, you can visit the actual spot from where they departed.
A few kilometers away, there’s Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point of Europe. The massive dark cliffs and deep blue water highly contrast with the limestone cliffs and golden-sand beaches. The seascape here is a sight to behold.
8. Carrapateira and Arrifana
Praia da Bordeira. Photo: Paulo Valdivieso, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Carrapateira is the perfect blend of a fishing village and a countryside community. As a result, local restaurants offer the best the sea and land have to offer.
Additionally, close by there’s Praia da Bordeira and Praia do Amado. These beaches are famous among surfers and bodyboarders worldwide.
Arrifana is a tiny fishing village, located on the dark cliffs of the west coast. Here, the sea is rough, and only the most courageous people stand to face it. Nevertheless, the surfing community found here a place to enjoy the ocean.
9. Odeceixe
Photo: Lolo7303, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sitting in the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, this charismatic village lies on the River Seixe riverbank, overlooking the Alentejo region on the other side. Its traditional white-washed houses piled on top of the hills attract travelers worldwide.
A few kilometers away, there’s Odeceixe Beach, considered one of Portugal’s 7 wonders. On one side, this beach faces the Seixe River mouth, and on the other, it faces the Atlantic Ocean.
This unique feature attracts surfers and families with small children looking for the perfect day at the beach.
10. Faro
Photo: Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Faro is the Algarve’s regional capital and the largest city in the region. I recommend visiting Faro old town as well as the riverside. You’ll learn about the city’s history while enjoying the scenic views of Ria Formosa.
Besides exploring the Santa Maria Church, the Museum, or Bone Chappel, take a water taxi to Ilha de Faro, and enjoy the day at one of the most relaxing beaches in the Algarve.
11. Loulé
Loulé is the perfect place if you’re looking to explore Algarve’s culture. Visiting the medieval Castle and the local museum will help you understand how the city changed over the centuries.
Another landmark you can’t miss is the Moorish-styled Loulé Market. Inside you’ll find the freshest local produce, fish, seafood, and traditional handicrafts. I recommend visiting on Saturday, early in the morning. That’s the busiest day of the week at the market and when you’ll have more vendors.
For a remarkable experience, join a guided tour of the Rock Salt Mine, 200 meters deep into the earth. You’ll discover unique geological formations and the mine’s history.
12. Salir, Alte, & Querença
Photo: Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you’re looking for authentic villages in the countryside, Salir, Alte, and Querença will make your day!
Wander the cobbled streets of Salir and marvel at the remains of the 12th-century Moorish castle and the traditional whitewashed houses. Close by, there’s Fonte Benémola, a nature reserve filled with water springs all year round.
To enjoy the views, try the Fonte Benémola Trail!
In Alte, you’ll find a well-preserved 13th-century Church, the oldest building in the village. Close by you’ll find the famous Cascata do Vigário, a stunning waterfall surrounded by grassland.
Due to the low rainfall levels, sometimes the waterfall dries up over the summer. Alternatively, there’s Fonte Grand and Fonte Pequena, two water springs of crystal-clear water, perfect for a hot summer day.
13. Tavira
Tavira’s quiet atmosphere and rich history are the perfect getaway! The Roman bridge and the remains of a medieval castle are the most visited landmarks. Yet, you shouldn’t miss the Igreja da Nossa Senhora das Ondas or the Convento da Nossa Senhora da Graça.
Before the day is over, enjoy an unforgettable sunset at the beach on Tavira Island.
14. Cacela Velha
Photo: Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cacela Velha is a stunning small village overlooking the Ria Formosa. Due to its size, you can easily explore it in one afternoon. While strolling the streets, you’ll see typical Algarvian houses showing details of medieval and Moorish architecture.
At Cacela Velha Fortress, you’ll be baffled by the astonishing views.
Cavelha Velha Beach is one of the most famous in the Algarve due to its warm waters and lagoons. However, getting there isn’t that smooth! On a low tide, you can walk to the beach. Yet, when the tide is high, you must get on a taxi boat.
One piece of advice: always check the tide timing for your return. Otherwise, you might get stranded.
15. Alcoutim
Photo: Vitor Oliveira via Flickr
On the right riverside of the Guadiana River, there's Alcoutim, a traditional small village in the countryside. Here you can relax at the fluvial beach of Pego Fundo, explore the views from Alcoutim’s castle, and marvel at the Renaissance architecture of the Igreja Matriz Church.
However, if you’re in for an adrenaline rush, get on a zipline and cross the border over the Guadiana River into Spain.
16. Portimão
Portimão is a historic fishing town dating back to pre-Roman times, but the town was largely destroyed in an earthquake in the 1700’s, so little of its historic buildings remain. It’s also now a stop on many cruise ships’ itineraries, so it gets packed during the day as day trippers head into the city or nearby areas.
The riverfront area is a pleasant place to spend an hour or two though, and it makes sense to stop here if you’re heading east from Lagos or the western coast.
17. Aljezur
The riverside town of Aljezur, which boasts a 10th century hilltop castle, makes for a very pleasant quick stop while road tripping the Algarve.
There’s not much to see in town, but nearby are the seaside villages and beaches of Monte Clérigo and Arrifana. Both beaches are absolutely spectacular.
There are also lots of other little towns and beaches to visit between here and Lagos.
18. Reserva Natural da Ria Formosa
Photo: Nicotappero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Once past Faro, the territory between there and the Spanish border is very different from and far less developed than the central Algarve.
The expansive Reserva Natural da Ria Formosa is a protected reserve that covers a huge swath of the eastern Algarve and has severly restricted the opportunity for development. Within the reserve are barrier islands whose fantastic sandy beaches can only be reached by boat and are therefore comparatively uncrowded.
Frequent boat tours depart from many of the towns in the area (Faro, Olhao, Fusesta, Cabanas, etc.), so you can use any of them as a base if a few days on these relatively secluded beaches sounds appealing to you.
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Algarve travel tips
So far, I’ve gathered the standard information you need for your trip to the Algarve. Now, I’ll talk about details most travelers only discover once they arrive.
ALWAYS make bookings in advance!
Most people only think about booking their flights and hotels in advance and often disregard other activities. However, when visiting the Algarve, I always recommend booking tours & experiences, car rentals, transfers, and in some cases, even restaurants in advance.
I know travelers are always in a rush want the freedom to change plans up, but there’s a good reason why I recommend locking some thing in early:
Over the summer, everywhere (from restaurants to rental cars and theme parks) is packed with tourists and locals alike. The population here triples during the high season, so competition for everything is fierce, and lots of things sell out completely. If you don’t have reservations, you will almost certainly miss out.
Even in the winter, when you would expect there to be few tourists (this is true) and wide open availability for just about everything, you still need to book ahead. There are lots of sporting events and corporate outings that take place in the Algarve during the winter, so the region does not really empty out.
And while the crowds are significantly reduced from summertime, lots of restaurants, hotels, and other tourism-related businesses close down over the winter, so the few ones that are open often get completely sold out.
So, regardless of the season, always book your activities in advance! Besides guaranteeing availability, you can get early bird rates for hotels and car rentals.
Be sure to have some cash on you
Card payments are widely accepted in the Algarve, even for small purchases. Even so, sometimes it’s just more convenient to pay in cash, especially on buses, taxis, supermarkets, beach restaurants, and other small businesses.
This way, especially if you’re using an international credit card, you’ll avoid the potential for being charged less-than-ideal exchange rates.
Tipping
While some European countries have a tipping standard if 10% of the bill’s total amount, that is not the case in Portugal. Here, you tip whatever amount you feel it’s fair.
We don’t follow the 10% rule, and if you didn’t enjoy the service, you won’t be pushed to pay anything more than the bill itself.
How to visit Benagil Cave
This is the most visited natural landmark in the Algarve and it has become incredibly famous and is heavily, heavily promoted.
And that’s why you should lower your expectations! Online, you’ll find hundreds of pictures of a stunning and empty dome-shaped cave with a natural skylight. The reality is quite different.
Yes, it’s a marvelous location and is somewhere you should absolutely visit. However, the caves are almost never empty, and there are so many people around you (all year round) that you are very unlikely to get that instagram-perfect picture that you’ve doubtless seen online.
So, to visit Benagil Cave, I highly recommend you book a boat or kayak tour. Here’s why:
There’s no walking access into the cave.
Entering the cave will always depend on the sea conditions. That’s why tour companies operating here only hire experienced locals.
Also, if safety conditions aren’t guaranteed, any reputable company will cancel the trip and refund any amount you have paid.
Don’t ever swim into the cave! There’s so much boat traffic in and out of the cave you could easily get injured.
Also, the rising tides and ocean currents can pull into the cliffs and leave you in a dangerous situation, even if you’re a strong swimmer.
If you hike on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, you’ll get to the top of Benagil Cave’s skylight. From there, it will just look like a hole in the ground surrounded by a fence. Not exactly what you were probably expecting…
Although there are some pictures online where you clearly see inside the cave, those photos can only be taken if you scale the fence. Don’t do that! The cave is too high, and you can easily fall through.
Hiking by the cliffs (safely)
All throughout the western Algarve you’ll find staggering seascapes, hidden beaches, and plenty of “algares”, holes on the ground peaking down into the cliffs (similar to Benagil Cave but much smaller).
Some of the trails are quite remote, so it’s best to always be prepared and have appropriate grear. As such, when hiking, I recommend wearing good hiking shoes, weather-appropriate clothes, and carrying a backpack with a bottle of water, snacks, and a first aid kit.
The most important advice I can offer is to never to go hiking on a rainy day or during a storm. On these days, it gets too windy and waves crash onto the cliffs. If you slip or fall, you can easily get injured and need rescue.
What to know about hiking in the mountains
Besides clothing, proper shoes, and a fully equipped backpack, there are a few other details you should know, especially when hiking in the mountains:
During winter, the Monchique mountains are the rainiest and coldest location in the Algarve. For hikers, this means trails are slippery and sometimes foggy. So be sure to carry a map and pay close attention to the trail marks.
On the other hand, during the summer, the mountain forests and vegetation get very dry due to the warm and dry weather. Unfortunately, this sometimes creates the perfect conditions for the most violent wildfires ever recorded in Portugal.
So, if you’re planning on hiking during the summer, I recommend checking with the local authorities if there’s any wildfire warning. If there is, hiking is forbidden. And even if there’s no warning, you should always avoid lighting an open flame or leaving trash behind.
To guarantee your safety, inform local authorities where you’ll be hiking.
Suggested Algarve Itineraries - From 5 to 14 days
Next, I’ll give you some ideas for itineraries of 5, 7, 10 and 14 days in the Algarve. Hope you enjoy! You can also have a look at my in-depth one week Algarve itinerary for more ideas.
5-day itinerary – Express tour of the coastline and countryside
Day 1 – Lagos and Sagres
Day 2 – Portimão and Monchique
Day 3 – Loulé and Vilamoura
Day 4 – Faro
Day 5 – Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António
5-day itinerary – Western Algarve’s fishing villages
Day 1 – Arrifana and Carrapateira
Day 2 – Sagres, Salema and Praia da Luz
Day 3 – Alvor, Ferragudo and Carvoeiro
Day 4 – Fuseta and Santa Luzia
Day 5 – Cabanas de Tavira and Cacela Velha
5-day itinerary – Algarve’s countryside
Day 1 – Alcoutim and Castro Marim
Day 2 – Salir, Alte and Querença
Day 3 – Loulé
Day 4 – Silves
Day 5 – Monchique
7-day itinerary – Algarve’s main cities
Day 1 – Faro
Day 2 – Tavira
Day 3 – Silves
Day 4 – Portimão
Day 5 – Monchique
Day 6 – Aljezur
Day 7 – Lagos
10-day itinerary – Towns and villages in the whole Algarve
Day 1 – Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira
Day 2 – Faro and Vilamoura
Day 3 – Loulé, Alte, Salir and Querença
Day 4 – Silves and Monchique
Day 5 – Carvoeiro and Ferragudo
Day 6 – Portimão, Praia da Rocha and Alvor
Day 7 – Lagos, Burgau and Salema
Day 8 – Sagres and Cape St. Vincent
Day 9 – Carrapateira and Arrifana
Day 10 – Aljezur and Odeceixe
14-day itinerary – The Algarve from end to end
Day 1 – Lagos
Day 2 – Sagres and Cape St. Vicent
Day 3 – Portimão and Alvor
Day 4 – Monchique
Day 5 – Silves
Day 6 – Alte, Salir and Querença
Day 7 – Albufeira
Day 8 – Loulé and Vilamoura
Day 9 – Quarteira
Day 10 – Faro
Day 11 – Tavira
Day 12 – Cacela Velha and Altura
Day 13 – Vila Real de Santo António
Day 14 – Castro Marim and Alcoutim
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