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Taking up almost the entire southern coast of Portugal, the sandy red-hued cliffs of the Algarve are home to some of the greatest and most impressive beaches and rock formations in the world.
Although hugely popular as an affordable family holiday destination in the summer months, the Algarve is way more than just a lazy-beach-holiday-with-the-kids type getaway. Crammed with epic stretches of sand, hidden grottoes, jagged caves, wildlife, rock formations and more, the region is undeniably one of Europe’s most beautiful photography locations and delivers the perfect blend of activities to suit the desires of both an active adventurer and sunny beach-over. The cherry on top? It’s also a very affordable place to travel and is extremely safe… apart from that one super high-profile kidnapping!
Lagos is the perfect place to call home during your trip with its ideal location, delicious Mediterranean cuisine, colourful cobbled streets, Roman ruins and abundance of day tour options. By renting a car from the airport in Faro for the duration of your stay and basing yourself in Lagos you can see everything along the coast in depth through lots of mini road trips, which is by far the best way to travel around the region with freedom.
In this guide I’ll take you to some of the best spots of the Algarve including inspiring photography from my trip and all necessary information for each spot!
- Country: Portugal
- Language: Portuguese
- Population: 440,000
- Currency: Euro. £1/$1 = €1.13/€0.95
- Visa info: Portugal is a Schengen country, granting EU members free access between 27 European countries. Learn more here.
Where is the Algarve?
The Algarve is the name given to the southern Portuguese coast stretching from Faro to Sagres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
View it on the interactive map below.
Where to stay
Although there are other coastal towns like Albufeira and Portimão, in my opinion Lagos is by far the best and most beautiful town to stay in.
Not only does it have a charming vibe with its majestic Old Town and Mediterranean-style cobbled streets, but it’s also the perfect base for your adventures along the coastline and has everything you could possibly need or desire.
Find somewhere you like on Booking.com or Hostelworld.
The best rated hostel in town is Boutique Taghostel which you can view on Booking.com below.
Getting there
If you’re planning to go straight to the Algarve, you can easily fly to the international airport at Faro and then rent your car and make your way to Lagos from there (more on this next).
Alternatively, if you arrived to Portugal in Lisbon you can take a bus or train south to the Algarve which both take around 2.5 hours. Omio is the best travel resource for booking bus or train travel in Europe.
Getting around
- Hire a car
For maximum freedom, rent a car.
There will be early starts, remote locations and a lot of driving in this itinerary, for which renting a car is necessary. You’ll struggle to find a lot of these spots through public transport, and in most cases it’s actually impossible. However with a car you can start and finish whenever you like and travel around on your own terms, plus it’s not as expensive as you may think – I rented a Nissan Micra with Goldcar at Faro Airport for just £90 for 7 days!
If you ask me, renting a car really is a no-brainer!
- Day Tours
If you don’t feel confident enough to drive yourself around a foreign country, you’re not alone.
Guided tours are another popular option and there are loads to choose from in the Algarve, both on land and sea. With this option you can travel stress-free and in comfort while still stopping at some of the most iconic destinations with a local guide. GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours.
One I definitely recommend is the Dolphin, Cave & Grotto Tour, which is included later in this itinerary.
When to visit
The busiest time in the Algarve is undoubtedly during the summer months of July and August and the crowds can be quite extreme at that time of year. However, the Algarve has over 300 days of sunshine annually, so don’t limit yourself!
I would recommend visiting in the summer shoulder season in either May/June or September to avoid the swarms of families and still catch the sea at a good temperature. Accommodation may be slightly cheaper then as well.
How long to stay
A minimum of 4 days is necessary to visit the best beaches (because there’s so many!) but ideally one week is the optimum time to spend in the area to get to know the various towns along the coast in more depth and have some chill days too.
I spent a week here and every day was filled with exploring and I’m still adding new spots to my list!
1 week Algarve itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival day
After you’ve landed at Faro airport and collected your hire car you’ll have a 90km drive to Lagos which allows some slight glimpses of the stunning coastline to your left.
On arrival somewhere new, I always find it’s best to spend your first day getting your bearings and seeing what’s in the local vicinity. Lagos is a cool little town with plenty of interesting sights and locations to check out, but we’ll have a day later in the week to see it more in depth so don’t feel rushed today.
If you arrive in time for sunset I really recommend heading down to the shoreline and spending it at either Batata Beach (via Praia dos Estudantes) or from the cliffs overlooking Pinhao Beach to get a lil’ taster of what’s to come this week. Wander around the Old Town as night falls and check out the awesome vibe along the Lagos promenade where you’ll find market stalls at weekends.
Try the The Stag restaurant for dinner which is in the main square. There’s normally a good “2 for 1” offer on meals there, so when I visited we got two large pizzas and two drinks for just €13. There are also loads of bars selling €2 sangria – perfect for your first evening in the Algarve!
Day 2 - Beaches around Lagos
Ponta da Piedade
Walking distance from downtown Lagos (about 3km) is the golden headland of Ponta da Piedade where erosion from the weather and sea has created a staggeringly dramatic limestone landscape.
The coastline here is one of the most stunning I’ve ever seen and sets the tone perfectly for your Algarve adventure. There are loads sandy paths winding around the headland so you can choose from many viewpoints of the epic sea stacks, huge rock arches, hidden grottos and an abundance of nooks and crannies.
In the photo above you’ll spot the some boats in the grottoes. These guys offer scenic rides around the coastline which is a popular thing to do while at Ponta da Piedade, or simply spend some time wandering the cliffs.
From here you can walk down the coastline to Praia Dos Pinheiros and later Praia De Camilo as our next stops.
Praia da Balança/Praia Dos Pinheiros
Take a walk along the coastline in the direction of Praia de Camilo, but make sure to stop at some of the secluded strips of sand along the way!
Just a 5 minute walk down the coast from Ponta de Peidade you’ll find Praia da Balança and Praia Dos Pinheiros which both offer great opportunities to have a beautiful little beach all to yourself beneath the towering red cliffs.
Beware: Praia Dos Pinheiros is a nudest beach, so you might be in for a surprise if you miss the small signs… like I was!
Praia de Camilo
Praia de Camilo is next on the list and is found about 1km from Praia de Pinheiros in the direction of Lagos.
This is a small but special beach where a long set of 200 wooden stairs lead you down in the most picture-perfect fashion. It has often been called ‘the best beach in the Algarve‘, but that’s a subjective claim that you’ll have to decide for yourself!
It can get pretty busy in the height of a summer’s afternoon as you can see in the picture below, so best visit in the morning for the best photos with no photo-bombers!
Rent a kayak or snorkel nearby to explore the coastline or simply spend the afternoon with your feet up.
Praia de Camilo’s close proximity to Lagos and epic concealed setting makes it one of the best spots in town to watch sunset, so there’s no need to rush as we’ll be coming back here early tomorrow morning!
Dinner at Pomo
Pomo is an Italian restaurant in Lagos that is very popular because, amongst other options, you can customise your own pasta dish. The popularity means you’ll sometimes have to be lucky to find a table, so I’d recommend booking in the morning!
This is a unique restaurant and a delicious and fully customised meal for two cost just €24 including drinks when I visited.
If you missed it yesterday, walk down to the coast and watch the sunset over Batata beach and the bridge in the evening before heading home nice and early to prepare for an early start – make sure the camera and drone are charged for sunrise!
Day 3 - Sunrise and Sagres
Today we’ll be road tripping to Sagres. Before that, witness the first epic sunrise of your trip at both Dona Ana Beach and Praia de Camilo. Leave your accommodation about 30 minutes before the advertised sunrise time to make sure you have time to find cool spots.
Sunrise at Praia de Dona Ana
Only 3km from the centre of Lagos and still situated on the amazing Ponta da Piedade headland is Dona Ana Beach.
There’s a good viewpoint near to the car park and a short set of stairs down to the beach available too.
Praia de Dona Ana is a fairly large beach that’ll be one of the busiest in the whole region at peak times of day, so when it’s all your at sunset it is a pretty special place. As with many of Lagos’s beaches, it’s secluded and surrounded by epic cliffs and sea stacks.
Going stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a great way to enjoy sunrise just off the coast of Dona Ana beach too. You can see the early morning boarders heading out in the shot below.
Book your early morning Lagos SUP Tour to Ponta da Piedade Caves here.
Sunrise at Praia de Camilo
Even though we visited Praia de Camilo yesterday for some beach lounging… everything looks better at sunrise!
Avoid the crowds and appreciate this stunning strip of sand completely alone in the nicest, softest and most colourful light of the day.
Once you’re finished appreciating the staggering landscape, head back to your accommodation or a local cafe for breakfast before the 30km coastal drive to Sagres.
Praia de Luz (Madeleine McCann kidnap site)
I know this may seem like a strange stop for some people, but I’m obsessed with true crime and when I visited the Algarve I had just finished watching the Madeleine McCann documentary on Netflix.
Well, the town of Praia de Luz is where she was kidnapped in 2007 and it’s conveniently on the way to Sagres, so if you’re a weirdo like me you can make a short detour to see that window at that resort with your own eyes before continuing on the drive.
The resort she was taken from is called Ocean Club, from the apartment right beside the road on the corner. Find the location here on Google Maps.
Sagres
Sagres is situated ‘at the end of the world‘ at the southwestern tip of mainland Europe and the western tip of the Algarve region, about 30km from Lagos.
The town has a cool vibe and is known as a surfer’s paradise. It’s packed with character and culture with the 15th century Sagres Fortress being a highlight of the town and the many beaches being a fitting cherry on top. Sagres Fortress costs €3 to enter.
What steals the show in the Sagres region, though, is the nearby lighthouse at Cape Saint Vincent.
Cape Saint Vincent Lighthouse
At the most southwestern point of Europe lies Farol do Cabo de São Vicente (the lighthouse of Cape Saint Vincent) where imposing 60 metre cliffs overlook the ferocious waves of the North Atlantic Ocean.
It has one of the brightest beams produced from a lighthouse in all of Europe, which can be seen from up to 45km away.
Parking here is free and you’ll find lots of market stalls and food trucks lining the road on your approach to the car park. Inside the walls you can enter the lighthouse and check out the maritime museum. There will also be a few souvenir shops and bars in the summer months too.
Make sure to go for a short hike along the cliffs to get an amazing view of the lighthouse and rugged cliff-faces that surround it. It’s not hard to see how this could feel like the end of the world in ancient times!
Day 4 - Lagos
Today it’s time to get to know the real Lagos, not just the beaches that make it famous.
Private/free walking tour
Now, normally I would always recommend a free walking tour because they are fantastic for seeing the best sights of a city on a budget, however, I chose to book a private tour in Lagos through Airbnb for £17. The reason was to actually avoid the most major tourist sites and instead find some hidden gems, learn about the history of the area and try some local food together.
Free walking tours are also avilable in Lagos through GuruWalk and FreeTour which are highly rated.
I saw the murals, monuments and local attractions of the Old Town and tried some local delicacies. We had tea and a Portuguese cake called Dom Rodingo which is a traditional gooey almond and egg yolk mixture made of thin egg threads which I highly recommend trying! This tour was a great insight into local life and included the type of information and locations you may miss on a regular sightseeing tour. For something similar, check out this one: Historical and Fun Lagos Walking Tour.
Alternatively, travel around Lagos in style on a Segway Tour of the city!
Rent a kayak
Spend the afternoon exploring the small caves and grottoes under your own steam paddle!
Determine your own course and stop on empty hidden beaches to enjoy the peace, quiet and sunshine. Many beaches along the coast can only be accessed from the sea, so you’re in luck! You can book a kayak at a local agency or at one of the stands in the marina. Prices start at around €25 per person for the day.
Have dinner at Reis
If you love fresh seafood, you’re in luck in Lagos! You absolutely have to try the tuna steak at a restaurant called Reis in the heart of Lagos. It’s a cool place where the tables are out on the street and that tuna steak was unbelievable… so good that I went back twice actually!
For reference, a dinner for two with drinks was €38, so not the most budget friendly option… but it’s good to treat yourself now and then!
Day 5 - Portimao
Today its time to head for the city of Portimao, but first a stop at the beach in Alvor.
Praia Dos Três Irmãos
Praia dos Tres Irmanos, meaning “beach of the three brothers”, is famous for its clear waters, large natural rock arch and snorkelling possibilities.
As with all the beaches in the Algarve, the rock formations and high cliffs here are beautiful and it’s an ideal stop on your drive to Portimao.
Portimao
Portimao is the second largest city in the Algarve where there are some great things to do in the afternoon.
Praia de Rocha is a popular attraction, with a massive beach and trendy promenade with cafes and shops. Take a beach walk to Praia do Vau, window shop for a nice yacht in the marina and check out the Fort of Santa Catarina which was built in the 16th century and is nearby as well. Entrance to the fortress is €3 and inside you can find a viewpoint called Miradoura de Santa Catarina with an excellent view over the beach.
Day 6 - Sunrise and Albufeira
Another early rise to get the best light and watch another stunning sunrise in south Portugal.
Sunrise at Praia de Marinha
Praia de Marinha is out-of-this-world beautiful and is probably my favourite spot of the whole itinerary, not to mention at sunset.
Wake up early and drive 40km to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world where the stand-out feature is the ‘M rock’ at one end of the beach. A popular photo from above is to form a love-heart with the ‘M’ before heading to the left side of the beach to find the stairs down the cliffs to the sand.
There are so many amazing viewpoints and photography spots not far from the car park and all along the coastline above the actual beach itself, so you should allow around 1-2 hours here to check out both.
Albandeira Natural Arch and Beach
5km down the road from Praia de Marinha you’ll find Albandeira Natural Arch, or ‘Arco de Albandeira’, and Praia de Albandeira next door which are both unmissable locations.
Praia de Albandeira is only about 80 metres long and remains pretty off the grid in terms of the other beaches in the Algarve. It offers a refreshing bit of peace and quiet, but for me the highlight was the large natural sea arch which my partner and I had to share with absolitely noone… again!
Albufeira
What was once a peaceful fishing village is now a bustling resort town (the largest in the Algarve) that attracts thousands of tourists to its shores every year.
Have brunch after a stunning sunrise and wander the streets of the Old Town’s charming and picturesque white buildings and cobbled roads before heading to the beach. At one end of the beach is a viewpoint (see photo below) which is the perfect place to start or finish your walk around town. Near to the beach is a strip of bars and venues which, in my opinion, is best to stay away from in the daytime if you’d like to remember the beauty of Albufeira and not the drunk, shirtless and rowdy men who fill the streets 24/7.
There are loads of watersports opportunities available at the beach like jet-skiing, parasailing, and kayaking too, providing the perfect distraction from the party side of town.
Boat tour from Albufeira Marina
Head to the colourful Albufeira Marina here to discover a range of boat tours on offer in town.
I booked a 2 hour dolphin and cave tour which took us to see dolphin pods not far from the coast, the famous Benagil Cave and many beaches that are inaccessible by road. Some of the rock formations and general scenery from this perspective look even grander and even more impressive, especially when you get up close!
Book a tour below.
Day 7
Spend your last day at your favourite beach or jump on a group tour. Catch up on anything you want to do again, squeeze in one last sunset or tuna steak before packing up and heading to the airport in Faro to drop off your car and wave goodbye to the Algarve!
My experience at the Algarve
Although massively popular with families and sun-seeking beach goers, the Algarve is such an underrated photography destination in Europe and I loved me week here.
It’s predominantly a family holiday destination for many reasons but I found to be perfect for a week of photography and adventure as well as a few days of beach relaxation. Food is relatively cheap, as are many of the activities.
Hiring a car (for only £90!) made my time so much easier and allowed me to truly explore the region at whatever speed I liked. I’d hate to rely on buses and public transport to get to some of these often far from the road spots as well. The driving style is chill and I had no issues (apart from a speed camera or two giving me a flash…).
Getting up early for sunrises on empty beaches was definitely a good plan to avoid the masses. It’s amazing how the beaches fill up during the day and how harsh the light becomes. The colours of the sky in the last couple of hours of the day were arguably more impressive than sunrises here though, even though both were epic!
The only place I didn’t really rate was Albufeira, which felt to me like a ‘lads holiday’ kinda destination where football fans, bars and swarms of topless British sunseekers made it feel a like Magaluf.
One thing’s for sure, you’ll never be bored in the Algarve!
5 Algarve packing essentials
- Dry bag: Dry bags are great for water-based activities like beach days or boat trips. Keep everything safe and, you guessed it, dry with one of these.
- GoPro: Capture the surroundings in stabilised high quality with a trusty waterproof GoPro, perfect for wet adventures. Get the new GoPro HERO 11 here.
- Travel towel: Having a compact travel towel is essential for the Algarve for obvious reasons!
- Drone: The Algarve is somewhere that deserves to be seen from above and with a small, lightweight drone like the Mavic Mini 3 you’ll be amazed at the quality of shots you get.
- Portable charger: Charge you tech on the move with one of these long lasting, high speed portable chargers.
Best tours around the Algarve
Thank you for reading this travel guide - I hope you found it helpful!
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible 
Happy travelling!
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Accommodation: Booking.com, Hostelworld
Tours: GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook, TripAdvisor
Transport: 12Go, Omio, Trip.com, Rome2Rio
WHO IN THE WORLD IS JAMES?
Click below to learn more about my story, including 5 random facts about me, some travel FAQ’s and my entire travel history.
