There are fewer places in Europe with beaches as beautiful as the Algarve. Located on the south coast of Portugal, the Algarve offers a good mix of relaxation and adventure, depending on what you’re looking for.
During our trip a couple of years ago we drove down from Lisbon. The drive was really easy and not too long. Roughly taking 2 and a half hours, you could do it as a day trip although I wouldn’t recommend it. The area lends itself to a couple of days at least
We didn’t really experience any of the nightlife while staying in the Algarve because we had a fairly large group (we thought we’d have more fun ourselves). However, I have heard that the nightlife can be pretty fun if that’s what you’re looking for!
| Where to stay |
It was rather hard trying to figure out where to stay because there are a number of different options. However, we decided that the town of Albufeira would be the best option for us. Not only did we find a great Airbnb, but we also wanted to be close to all of the different places we wanted to see.
Luxury hotel | Pine Cliffs Hotel $500 / night
Mid-range hotel | Vila Gale Collection Praia $300 / night
Budget hotel | Hostel Conii & Suites $100 / night
| What to do |
As mentioned above, there are a number of things you can do in the area or you can choose to do absolutely nothing. Obviously that’s not how I role but to each their own! If you’re looking for things to go see and places to explore, see below!
Lagos
About 40 minutes away from Albufeira you’ll find the small town of Lagos. This was actually my favourite spot in the Algarve because it was home to some of the most beautiful sights.
Set along the coast are some epic rock formations that you can climb all over and explore. If you’re driving to the area there will be parking for you nearby so you don’t need to worry about that.
I would give yourself a day to explore Lagos. You can switch between exploring and relaxing easily with some of the spots below:
Farol da Ponta de Piedade | A picturesque spot that offers beautiful views of the coastline, beaches and sandstone cliffs.
Praia do Camilo | Take the 200 wooden steps down to the sandy cove if you’re looking for a bit of time to relax.
Praia Dona Ana | Venture a little further North for another beach option surrounded by colourful cliffs and clear waters.
Student beach | A little hidden and slightly out of the way, this small cove is accessible through a rock tunnel!
Albufeira
As you make your way closer to where you’re likely staying (or simply along the coast) there are plenty of other things to see in and around Albufeira.
Similar to the itinerary above, you’ll definitely need a car to get around everywhere. I found it very easy to find parking in each of the places we were visiting and I don’t remember ever having to pay for parking which made things even easier.
Praia da Rocha | Here you’ll find a bustling beach town if you want to start your day with a bit of relaxation. It’s one of the liveliest towns in the Algarve.
Benagil Caves | The jewel of the Algarve if you’re asking me. This spot is absolutely stunning. We decided to splurge a little bit here and take a boat tour of the area. You won’t regret this. They took us right into the Benagil cave and it was epic!
Costelo Beach | We didn’t actually enjoy this beach but there’s a spot before you take the steps down for some beautiful photos of the area!
In reality, many Europeans (mostly Brits) use the Algarve as a vacation spot to escape the colder weather. You could easily spend a week in this beautiful area but if you’re visiting Portugal from North America and want to just catch the highlights before moving on, this is definitely the itinerary you should be following!
I’ll be honest, spending so little time in the area I left definitely wanting to go back one day!
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