The Algarve is one of the most natural, intact coastlines of Portugal that has been on the tourist map since the early ‘60s. This is a place where you will find rocky coves, endless sandy beaches, clear water, sleepy fishing villages, and captivating Roman ruins. Not to mention that Algarve has unforgettable Mediterranean food and perfect local wines. Sounds good? Stay tuned for more!
A little bit more about this paradise
You probably wonder why you should pack your bags and go straight to the Portuguese Southern Coast. In the next few paragraphs, we will give you the answers that will certainly tickle your imagination.
Thanks to the British people who discovered the treasures of Portugal, we can enjoy the great taste of Portugal wines, but also the natural beauty of the Algarve – the area with the most beautiful beaches in the world, great fresh seafood cuisine, and the perfect place for escaping cold weather.
Today travelers from all over the world come to Algarve seeking adventure, beautiful views, excellent, inexpensive wines, and, mostly, superior beaches.
Useful info
The Algarve is the smallest administrative division on mainland Portugal. It is bordered by the Alentejo region on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the west and south, and Spain on the east. It encompasses 1,930 square miles and has 451,000 permanent residents.
What to expect in Algarve Portugal
Loulé is a traditional Portuguese market town with a population of 70,000. It’s followed by the town Faro, home to an international airport, Portimão, where you’ll find Praia de Rocha, a stunning beach backed by ochre-hued cliffs, and Albufeira, a former fishing village with a busy marina and exciting nightlife.
Smaller in population but not in desirability is Lagos, which offers beautiful beaches and great bars and restaurants. Also, Tavira, with a castle overlooking a seven-arched Roman bridge and no less than 37 churches, and Lagoa, home of the most productive winery in the Algarve.
Almost every trip to Algarve includes walking on the beach, eating great food, drinking excellent wines, and most of all – bathing under the warmest sunshine in the world.
Awesome Weather
According to statistics, the Algarve has over 300 days of sunshine a year. This is the reason why this place attracts tourists during the whole year. In early spring temperatures are warm and fields are full of wildflowers and fragrant blossoms.
During May the sea starts warming up. In July and August, the sun is strongest and the season reaches its highest point. September and October are not so crowded with people, but you can still enjoy the summer’s heat. During the winter there is a little rain but the sunshine can be felt, still.
Algarve Portugal – The Beach is Calling
The Algarve has some of the best beaches in Europe; the area comprises more than 200 kilometers of sun-soaked coastline, with the beaches scented with fresh sea air and lapped by beautiful azure waters.
Some beaches are hidden away in quiet, scenic coves while others face the thunderous might of the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal’s bathing season commences mid-June until the end of September when teams of qualified lifeguards supervise beaches.
Beachgoers should note that:
- A green flag flying over the sand indicates that it’s safe to swim.
- A yellow flag denotes caution: stay within your depth.
- A red flag is hoisted, do not enter the water.
- A checkered flag indicates that the beach is temporary without lifeguard support.
When it comes to a Blue Flag, the symbol for the water that is of optimum quality, numerous Algarve beaches have been honored with this flag.
The Best Beaches in Portugal
So here is our list of the best beaches on Portugal’s southern coast. Enjoy the ride!
Praia do Camilo, Lagos
Praia do Camilo is a stunning little beach that is considered one of the Algarve’s picture-perfect beaches near Lagos. This beach is blue-flagged and reached by a long, wooden staircase that descends from the clifftop over beds of white-leaved rockrose and rich saltbush.
The beach looks out over Lagos Bay which is one of the most stunning panoramic views that takes in several sea stacks. While the beach is lapped by a beautiful, aquamarine ocean, it also provides stunning golden and yellow sunbeds.
Nearby, you can find Camilo’s restaurants and toilet facilities. The only catch is that you have to climb the 200 steps back to the top of the cliff. Sound exciting?
Praia do Camilo is also reached from Lagos by a tarmac-topped road. Limited organized car parking is available, but summer sees space quickly snapped up, so it’s good to have that in mind.
Praia da Marinha, Caramujeira
Praia da Marinha is one of the most popular Portugal beaches. It spreads out along the stunning cliffs and has beautiful, soft golden sand. The sea is crystal clear so it’s a kind of snorkeler’s dream.
There are plenty of arches, caves, and ledges, so you can spend hours exploring this beautiful place. Underwater nature trial is great, so scuba divers are most attracted to it.
The infrastructure of Praia da Marinha is good and extends to restaurants, toilet facilities, and a cliff-top car park. From which the beach is accessed. Beach is very busy during July and August. So if you want to avoid crowds, you can always go for a nice walk along the cliff-top path, which views are worth walking.
Praia da Marinha is a blue-flag beach that you and your crew can enjoy without worries.
Praia da Falésia, Aldeia das Açoteias
Thanks to the erosion of the red cliffs that keep the beach ultra-sandy, this Blue Flag beach is one of the most popular beaches in Algarve and the whole of Portugal. Thanks to six kilometers in length, Praia da Falesia is one huge beach that is never too crowded, even on top of the season.
This beach has great upscale hotels, beach shack cafes, and a lot of restaurants, so you can always have your lunch here and, at the same time, catch the sun.
When it comes to the sea, it is clean with crystal clear water. Swimming here is very refreshing, especially on a hot August day. Most travelers come here because of its beauty and diversity – orange rocks, pine trees, white lilies, dark blue skies…
Praia da Falésia is also great for long beach walks. It is stunning to walk along the sea, while you watch the great rock formations that characterize this beach. The full beach walk from the east to the west of the stretch of sand requires about 2 hours.
