The Best Things to Do in the Algarve

There’s something magical about the huge golden sea arches and rock formations that emerge from the turquoise water along Portugal’s southern coastline, the Algarve region. Add in sleepy whitewashed villages, fresh seafood, and a plethora of sandy sun-drenched beaches and there’s no question why the Algarve is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Read on to learn more about our sunny winter getaway, and what I would consider the best things to do in the Algarve.

Where to Stay in the Algarve

The most popular towns to stay in the Algarve are Lagos, Albufeira, and Tavira. Lagos is a city that features great restaurants, beautiful scenery and convenient proximity to some of the Algarve’s best spots such as Praia da Marinha and Praia do Camilo. Albufeira is known for its nightlife scene and large beaches; it’s the largest and liveliest resort town in the region, and a great destination for those looking to be where the buzz is. Tavira is a great base if you’re looking for something less touristy, and a bit more charm and character.

We stayed in Lagos, at the Lagos Uptown Bed and Breakfast and really loved our stay. The B&B was really clean and affordable, featured a great breakfast every morning on the rooftop overlooking the sea, and was conveniently located within easy driving distance of the Faro Airport and beaches.

TIP: The Algarve region is quite large, so it’s easiest to navigate and explore the area if you book a rental car. To make the most of the trip, make sure you budget time for transportation as getting from place to place will likely take you longer than you think – the Algarve has over 90 miles of coastline!

When to Visit the Algarve

While most people choose to visit the Algarve during the summer for the beach season, we chose to visit the Algarve during the off season (October) and had a blast. It’s a great sunny getaway anytime of the year, but the ideal months for visiting are during the shoulder months of April, May, September, and October where you can enjoy sunshine, without having to squeeze shoulders with other tourists.

Things to Do in the Algarve

Enjoy pasteis de nata

If you’ve read any of my other posts on Portugal, you’ll know that I am absolutely obsessed with pasteis de nata (otherwise known as Portuguese custard tarts). These little golden bad boys are one of my favorite pastries, and a must-try when visiting Portugal, whether you’re exploring the hilly streets of Porto, admiring the azulejos in Lisbon, or sun-bathing in the Algarve.

Related Post: Visiting Porto and the Douro Valley

Related Post: Lisbon Trip Diary

Walk the cliffs of Praia da Marinha

One of the most popular hikes in the Algarve is the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail hike, which is a moderate 7-mile there-and-back hike that starts at the Praia da Marinha (Marinha Beach) and takes you along Portugal’s southern coast. You don’t have to do the entire hike – we focused our time on the eastern end of the trail starting from Praia da Marinha to Praia do Carvalho, which was around 3 miles of hiking.

The hike hugs the cliffside and provides some of the most stunning views of the coastline. While on the hike, make sure to stop by the Arco Natural and snap a picture of the heart-shaped rock formation! Praia da Marinha is also known to be one of Europe’s best beaches, so can be a good place to relax, sun-bathe, and have a picnic after a morning of hiking!

Visit Benagil Cave

The Benagil Cave is located next to Praia de Benagil, and is a natural wonder worth visiting. This grotto is unique because of the beautiful skylight that allows sunlight to flood the inside of the cave. Although you can drive to the Benagil Cave viewpoint to see the cave from above, the cave interior is only accessible by water so you can choose to swim or rent a kayak to explore the cave, or you can take a boat tour to get there. We opted to take a boat tour to the caves, and I would highly recommend doing this as it was my favorite thing we did on the trip. The water currents near the cave can be extremely strong and dangerous, so the boat tours are a much safer option. Plus, the boat tours take you to multiple other viewpoints along the coastline.

TIP: There are a ton of different tour companies offering cave tours right along the beach, so reservations aren’t really necessary. We chose Taruga Benagil Tours and the cost was roughly 25 Euro per person.

Walk the Carvoeiro Boardwalk

The Carvoeiro Boardwalk is a stunning boardwalk that starts in the little village of Carvoeiro (near the Nossa Senhora da Encarnacao Fort) and takes you to the Algar Seco cliffs along the Algarve coastline. It’s a short, easy stroll (suitable for families) and the walk from one end to the other takes roughly 10-15 minutes.

Shop for Portuguese Ceramics

I love buying ceramic pottery, and especially love Portuguese-style ceramics. Portugal has a long and rich culture of ceramics, you can see azulejos (ceramic tiles) everywhere in Portugal – from the walls of train stations, restaurants, churches, and homes. A great place to pick up some authentic Portuguese ceramics is Ceramica Paraiso, but there are plenty of ceramic shops in the various villages scattered throughout the Algarve region.

Dine on Piri Piri Chicken

Piri piri chicken is a traditional Portuguese spicy flame-grilled chicken dish. This butterflied barbeque chicken is covered in a chili glaze, is usually served with fries and a salad, and is absolutely delicious (and cheap too!). Every restaurant and Portuguese family seem to have their own ‘secret’ ingredient that makes their version of piri piri the ‘best’. We were desperate to have piri piri chicken when we arrived in the Algarve on a late Friday night, and were lucky enough to find a hole-in-the-wall joint that was still open at 10pm at night, and it served some of the best, smokiest piri piri chicken I’ve ever had (although I have to be honest, my favorite pier piri chicken will always be good ol’ cheeky Nandos…if you know, you know). ! I can’t remember the name of the place, but honestly, there’s no shortage of piri piri places in the Algarve!

Roam the Streets of Albufeira

There are several small cities in the Algarve region to explore, but one of my favorites is the coastal town of Albufeira. It’s oftentimes called the ‘gateway to the Algarve’. This former fishing village is now a major tourist hotspot due to it’s proximity to sandy beaches, the buzzing marina, and a long strip of restaurants and cafes.

Sun bathe at the beach

There are so many stunning beaches in the Algarve, so it’s worth spending a day lounging on the beach and enjoying the sun while you’re there. Some of the most beautiful beaches include:

Praia do Camilo or Camilo Beach. This beach is a bit smaller, but I thought it was the most beautiful beach we visited in the Algarve – accessible via a 200-step staircase, the beach is divided into 2 separate areas that is connected via short rock tunnel.

Praia do Marinha. One of the Algarve’s most popular beaches, this larger beach is a great place for sunbathing and is also conveniently located close to Benagil Cave (within swimming distance). You can also access the above-mentioned Seven Hanging Valleys Trail hike from this beach.

Praia da Rocha. Rocha Beach is another popular beach due to it’s close proximity to the city of Portimao. It’s extremely large and sandy, making it very family-friendly. There’s also great access to amenities such as beach bars and restaurants, as well as boardwalk.

Praia de Benagil. Benagil Beach is located next to the many boat tours that take you to visit Benagil Cave. It’s a great beach for access to watersports such as stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking.

Praia da Bordeira. This beach is large and wide, with beautiful panoramic viewpoints accessible from the long boardwalk. It’s a super popular beach for surfing and sailing adventures. It’s also surrounded by miles and miles of cream-colored sand dunes!

Visit Ponta da Piedade

The Ponta da Piedade is a place to visit if you’re looking for that quintessential viewpoint of the Algarve – a cluster of golden rock formations and towers against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky and sea. Only a 10-minute drive from Lagos, this spot is also a fun place to kayak and paddleboard around. The path to the waterfront can be quite narrow and steep, so be sure to wear proper footwear. There’s also a boardwalk from Ponta da Piedade that takes you towards Canavial beach if you’re looking for a bit more exercise.