Portugal / Southern Europe
Algarve
Cliff coast, long season, easy days
Best time
March - October
How long
4-7 days
Best for
Beach weeks, families, couples
Perfect for
Beach / Couples / Road Trips / Families
Why go to Algarve
The Algarve does something rare: it works as a cheap week in the sun and as a slow, quiet trip, depending entirely on which town you base yourself in. The coastline changes character every few kilometres. West of Lagos it turns wild and windy, around Albufeira it is busy and easy, and east towards Tavira the cliffs give way to sandbank islands reached by small ferries.
It is also one of the simplest beach trips in Europe to organise. Faro airport is small and quick to get through, transfers are short, and English is widely spoken. If you want a first beach holiday abroad that does not require much planning, this is close to the top of the list.
What to do
Visit the cliff beaches
Praia da Marinha and the coves around Benagil are the postcard version. Go early, before the tour boats and the midday crowd arrive.
Take a boat trip along the coast
The sea caves only really make sense from the water. Small operators leave from Lagos, Portimao and Albufeira most mornings in season.
Explore the coastal towns
Lagos for the old walls and evening life, Tavira for a slower pace, Silves inland for a castle and a break from the coast.
Eat grilled fish properly
Look for the places with a charcoal grill outside and a handwritten board. Sardines in summer, sea bream and octopus year round.
Drive west to Sagres
The southwest corner is a different landscape: cliffs, wind and empty beaches. A good half day if you have a car.
Walk part of the Seven Hanging Valleys
A well marked coastal path with the best views on the central coast. You do not have to do all of it, an hour out and back is enough.
Where to stay
Lagos
Best all rounder. Walkable old town, beaches within reach on foot, plenty of restaurants and a good base for the western coast.
Tavira and the east
Quieter, more Portuguese in feel, island beaches by ferry. Good for couples and anyone who wants to slow down.
Albufeira and Vilamoura
The easiest option with kids: resorts, pools, short transfers and everything within a few minutes. Busy in high summer.
Getting there and around
- Faro (FAO) is the main airport and serves most of the coast. Transfers run from around 30 minutes to Albufeira and about an hour to Lagos.
- Lisbon is roughly three hours away by road or rail and is worth considering if flights are much cheaper or you want to combine both.
- Trains and coaches connect the coastal towns, but a car makes the smaller beaches far more accessible.
A rental car is the practical choice if you plan to move between beaches. Within towns everything is walkable, and the regional train line along the coast is cheap and slow in a pleasant way.
What it costs
Budget: Guesthouses, self catering and market food. A comfortable low spend week is very achievable outside August.
Mid range: Apartments or three star hotels with a pool, a car, and eating out most evenings.
Higher end: Golf resorts and design hotels around Vilamoura and the central coast. Prices climb steeply in July and August.
Read next
Articles about Algarve style trips
Destination Guides
Algarve or Mallorca: Which Beach Escape Fits Your Trip?
Both are reliable summer weeks. They suit different travellers, and the difference is mostly about what you want to do between swims.
7 min read
Travel by Feeling
How to Plan a Relaxing Beach Trip
Rest is a logistics problem. Get four decisions right and the week takes care of itself.
6 min read
Travel by Purpose
Planning a Beach Trip With Young Children
Shorter transfers, shallower water, and a lower bar for what counts as a good day.
6 min read
Related
You might also like
Portugal
Lisbon
A capital that feels smaller than it is. Tiled facades, viewpoints on every hill and a food scene that rewards wandering.
Spain
Mallorca
Package resorts on one coast, mountain villages and empty coves on the other. Mallorca is far more varied than its reputation.
Greece
Crete
Greece's largest island: Venetian harbours, mountain villages, gorges and some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean.
Thinking about Algarve?
Send us your dates and we will tell you whether it is the right call, and what to book first.