Algarve Resort Guide

The Algarve region of Portugal attracts around 10 million annual visitors, mainly from northern European countries, but also from Lisbon and the north of Portugal. The popularity of the Algarve is founded on the warm climate, sandy beaches, value for money food and drink, and the relatively low cost compared with many other European holiday destinations.

From the family oriented resorts of Lagos and Tavira, the golfers paradise of Vilamoura to the pubs and bars of Albufeira, the Algarve caters for all holiday tastes.

In the summer months the Algarve population triples, and prices tend to be higher (get an idea of prices in the Algarve), but the Mediterranean climate makes the region popular throughout the year, with many visitors choosing the quieter months to explore the area.

The scenery of the Algarve is at its most spectacular in the west, and is characterised by cliffs and rocky coastlines, with small sandy beaches nestling in coves and bays. The eastern Algarve offers a flatter landscape with long stretches of sandy beaches and calm waters.

Although the climate of the Algarve is typically Mediterranean, the coastline is Atlantic, so the sea water can be cold, especially to the west where swimming in some areas can be dangerous due to the large waves and currents.

Below is our guide to some of the most popular resorts in the Algarve, including some recommendations of places to visit.

Albufeira

Albufeira is the largest, and most developed resort of the Algarve. There are several large sandy beaches surrounding Albufeira town centre, all of which become very busy in the summer months.

Albufeira has 2 main focal points for tourists - the "Old Town" area and "the Strip", both of which lead to wonderful sandy beaches.

Albufeira Old Town which was originally a small fishing port, is now a bustling maze of streets lined with bars, restaurants and tourist shops selling clothes, jewellery and other tourist souvenirs. The main shopping street of the old town leads to the beach, but if you take the time to explore the backstreets, there are many older buildings such as the Santa Ana church which overlooks the old town.

The Albufeira Strip area is located a couple of km to the east of the old town. The Strip is renowned for its bars and nightclubs, and is certainly the place to stay if you want a "Spanish Costa" style holiday. The Strip is basically a single road stretching for around a kilometre with tourist souvenir shops, bars, cafes and restaurants and plenty of English tourists all year round.

The Strip is popular with groups of youngsters in the 18-30 age group, and the pricing here is very reasonable due to the high level of competition. A pint of local Sagres beer will generally cost less than 2 Euros, and a meal for 2 can easily be found for around 20-25 Euros.

At the southern end of The Strip is a huge sandy beach (Praia da Oura), with many people swimming from April to October on warmer days. There is a steep climb from the beach back to the Strip area, but there is a small tourist (road) train which can be taken.

Travelling just a few kilometres to the west of Albufeira, the bars and shops are replaced by a landscape of orange and lemon groves, eucalyptus trees, pine forests, and cliffs with rugged beaches and spectacular waves and rock formations.

There are a large number of quieter beaches to the west of Albufeira, providing ideal locations for windsurfing, diving and other water sports. Some of these beaches involve climbing down steps, but many have ramps which make them suitable for wheelchair users.

There is an abundance of wildlife especially in the spring and winter months, and the area is a haven for birds such as storks, egrets, wintering swallows and many species of butterflies.

For nature lovers and walkers, the unspoilt beaches at Gale and Castello Everista are ideal, with cliff top walks offering many spectacular views.

To the east of Albufeira the landscape becomes flatter, and long stretches of sandy beaches replace the more rocky scenery of the west.

Aljezur

Aljezur is a small town located on the western coastline of the Algarve around half an hours drive to the north of Sagres and Lagos. The town was built on the banks of the Ribeiro de Aljezur (River of Aljezur), and is overlooked by Aljezur Castle which is a popular tourist landmark.

The coastal scenery around Aljezur is spectacular featuring high cliffs which offer stunning vistas of the coastline. There are a number of beaches around Aljezur, many of which are popular with surfers due to the large waves. Perhaps the most stunning beach near Aljezur is "Praia de Odeceixe", which is formed at the mouth of the Odeceixe River. The huge beach is an ideal spot for canoeing and kayaking.

Alvor

Alvor is a traditional Portuguese fishing village located on a sheltered natural lagoon which opens out into the sea. The town is a maze of narrow cobbled streets, with an old parish church at the centre. There are plenty of restaurants in Alvor serving a variety of cuisine, catering for most tastes. The quayside restaurants provide fresh sea produce at very reasonable prices. Fish stews and grilled sardines are local specialities.

Deep sea fishing and boating trips are available at the harbour. Although this ancient coastal village is now a very popular holiday location, the enclosed narrow streets have restricted the advances of developers, and much of the towns original charm is preserved. Many of these cobbled streets have bars with live music and different types of restaurants

Carvoeiro

Carvoero is a small but very popular family resort located midway between Portimão and Albufeira. The resort is one of the most picturesque in all of the Algarve, comprising whitewashed houses built around the small bay. Like most of the Algarve resorts, Carvoeiro was formerly a fishing village, but has now developed into one of the most popular smaller resorts in the Algarve.

Although Carvoeiro beach gets very busy in summer, there are plenty of boat trips available to some of the less accessible beaches that surround the town.

Faro

Although Faro is not renowned as a beach resort (the city centre of Faro has no beach), Faro beach located around 3km from Faro Airport is particularly popular with Portuguese visitors. Parking can be tricky if you arrive late in the peak summer season (mid July-late August). The sea gets deep very quickly at Faro, so it is not ideal for small children or non-swimmers.

Faro city is not renowned as a tourist resort, but is well worth a visit. Faro offers an attractive marina surrounded by restaurants, plenty of shops and a historic old town with narrow streets which offer welcome shade during the hot summer months.

Lagos

One of the most picturesque resorts in the Algarve, Lagos is known for its spectacular rock formations, Lagos Castle and the historical old town. Lagos offers some of the most beautiful coastline in all of the Algarve.

Lagos is the perfect base for walkers, as it has easy access to the best scenery in the Algarve. There are plenty of coastal footpaths in the Lagos area. The best months for walking in the Algarve are from October to April when the temperatures are cooler.

At Lagos Marina there are many types of boat trips available including dolphin watching and a glass bottom boat.

Luz

To the east of Sagres is the pretty resort of Luz and also the Praia da Luz ("Beach of Light") resort. Formerly a fishing village, Luz is now a popular family tourist destination, based around a series of villa complexes.

A few minutes to the west of Luz on the road to Sagres is the village of Burgau, a small fishing village which retains much of its original charm. Although Burgau is now firmly established on the Algarve tourist map, with new apartments appearing around the outskirts, the centre of the village is largely unspoilt, and is somewhat reminiscent of a small Cornish village.

Monte Gordo

Renowned for its superb flat, sandy beaches, warm sea water temperature (supposedly the warmest in the Algarve due to its proximity to the Mediterranean), the former fishing village of Monte Gordo was one of the first tourist destinations on the Algarve and one of the first hotels in the area was built here in the sixties.

In the town there are a great number of bars and restaurants where you can taste the best of the traditional Algarve cuisine. The Restaurant Marisqueira Monte Gordo is a favourite destination for tourists.

Monte Gordo is home to the exclusive Robinson Club Quinta Da Ria, a predominantly German resort which is favoured by UK athletes for warm weather training. The GB Olympic track and field team stayed here in 2012 for their final preparations for the games.

Portimão

Portimão is one of the most densely populated cities in the Algarve, and is the largest town on the Barlavento/Western area of the Algarve. The waterfront area of Portimão has seen a lot of recent development, and there are some picturesque riverside views.

Praia da Rocha (beach of rocks) & Vau are nearby beaches where you can relax in the sun. The coastline around Portimão consists of sandy beaches and stunning coloured rock formations.

The Caves of Estombar are well worth a visit, as is the mosaic floor of the Roman villa at Figueira.

Quinta do Lago/Vale de Lobo

Situated just to the west of Faro Airport, Quinta do Lago and Vale de Lobo are purpose built complexes built around golf courses. Both have easy access to beaches, and have on site restaurants. The busy town of Almancil is a short distance from both.

Sagres

For visitors interested in spectacular scenery and walking, or experienced surfers may consider basing themselves on the far south western tip of the Algarve. Sagres is around a 2 hour drive from Faro, and resembles Wales in terms of its landscape. The beaches here can be dangerous due to the huge waves, and a number of unsuspecting people have been swept away in recent years. Sagres Fort is set on cliff tops above the sea and is a great place to view the fantastic landscape.

Tavira

Tavira has been developed significantly in recent years, but retains much of its original charm. The resort is very popular with families. A visit to the Old Town (Centro Historico) is recommended with its historic church and many beautiful medieval houses with Gothic windows and doorways dating back to the 16th century. There is also a museum located in the Palácio da Galeria.

In the summer months the Praça da República area situated on the bank of the river is teaming with life. Outdoor restaurants and a market which continues into the evening make this one of the most popular resorts of the Algarve.

The best beaches are located a short ferry ride away on Tavira Island which is part of the Ria Formosa nature reserve, but there are smaller beaches around the town which are popular with families.

Vilamoura/Quarteira

Vilamoura is one of the most exclusive Algarve resorts and is popular with groups of golfers and boat-owners. Vilamoura Marina is similar in many ways to Marbella in Spain in terms of the pricing, clientele and "look and feel". Beyond the Marina area there is a long sandy beach to the east and west, and a large number of purpose built holiday flats and self-catering apartments, many of which are owned by British and Germans who use them as holiday homes.

Unlike some of the larger Algarve resorts, Vilamoura has a large number of parks and green areas which have not been developed, which gives the area an almost suburban feel.

To the east of Vilamoura is Quarteira, which is a more typical Algarve town with a long sandy beach, and where prices are slightly lower. Quarteira is more favoured by Portuguese visitors, many of whom travel down from Lisbon to their holiday apartments in the summer months.

Recently there has been an increase in street crime against tourists in Quarteira and Vilamoura, and for this reason we would not recommend wandering around these area late at night, except for in the tourist areas which are well policed.

Quarteira is the home of the popular Aquashow Water Park which is an ideal family day out if you are taking children.

Villa Real de Santo Antonio

The eastern most point of the Algarve, and located on the border with Spain is Villa Real de Santo Antonio. The town is a quiet destination, and far less developed than most of the resorts to the west of Faro.

In 1991 a road bridge was built between the Algarve and Spain, making Spain easily accessible by car. Alternatively for foot passengers only there is a ferry from Villa Real de Santo Antonio to Ayamonte in Spain. The ferry crossing takes about 15 minutes.

Ayamonte (Spain)

Many visitors to the Algarve decide to visit Spain for a day trip. A great day trip involves driving to Villa Real, leaving the car in Portugal and getting the ferry across to the small town of Ayamonte. Visitors to Ayamonte won't be disappointed as it has an attractive old town and church, set in a pedestrianised shopping area which is a only few minute's walk from the ferry drop-off point.

There isn't a beach in Ayamonte, but if you have a car you can drive across to the large Isla Canela Beach which is located a short drive from the town centre across a bridge.

More ideas of things to do in the Algarve.

Useful websites

You can compare hotel prices in Albufeira and throughout the Algarve at Trivago.co.uk

The "PigletinPortugal" website has information on the best Algarve beaches including photographs.