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We visited the Algarve for 6 nights in late March 2024. We had a car rental, which made things much easier to get to than public transit. While we found 5 full days enough, we imagine you could easily spend more time here if you were hitting the beach (something we couldn’t do due to terrible weather). The towns are small and don’t need a ton of time to wander around each one, so we were able to spend a morning or afternoon in each of the towns listed and felt this was enough time.
We will sort things to do and places to visit by city/town and include a list of extra stops you could make at the end of the post. A map is included at the end of the post that you can use to help you plan your route and where to stay. For where we ate gluten free, you can find our gluten free guide here.
One recommendation we have is to book a tour of the Benagil Caves. We booked one, but had high wind warnings that caused all water activities to be cancelled for days in a row and despite many times rescheduling, we sadly did not get to do our cave tour.
Information for the following cities/towns is in this guide:
Also included in this guide:
When is the best time to visit the Algarve?
In general, there really is no bad time to visit the Algarve! Despite many of our pictures looking sunny, when we visited in late March we had mostly horrendous weather (think 70km/h winds and torrential rainstorms). However, we have family who visited during the same month the previous year and had wonderful sunny weather in the low 20’s (Celsius). We have friends who visited in October and had similarly wonderful weather.
If you’re looking to spend time at the beach with guaranteed sunny days, the summer (June – August) would be your best bet. It’s warm and the ocean is pleasant, but is also the most crowded and expensive time to visit. To still get nice weather but with fewer people and slightly lower costs, try visiting during the shoulder season, (April, May, September, and October). You’ll still have pleasant weather and temperatures for walking, cycling, and exploring, but it may be a tad cold for the beach. November is considered the rainiest month, and November to March are the low season. You can expect to have shorter days, lower costs, cooler temperatures, and possibly less desirable weather (as we experienced).
Where to stay in the Algarve?
Our first 4 nights were spent at an AirBNB in the town of Portimão. We wanted to be central without being in the most touristy towns. While the town was fairly central for what we wanted, we’re not sure we would pick Portimão again, and would probably opt for Lagos instead. Our last 2 nights, we stayed at the Ozadi Tavira Hotel in Tavira. We loved this hotel and would recommend it. The breakfast was amazing, the room beautiful, and it had a pool. The only downside is it’s kind of far out of the main part of town.
We had family stay in Luz, which they loved, but it looked a bit too small for our liking. Lagos will be mentioned in most travel blogs as the place to stay in the Algarve, but since it’s the most popular town to stay in, prices are a bit higher. We had family stay at the Carvi Beach Hotel in Lagos and they loved it. Carvoeiro is quite central, and Albufeira is a good option if you want a party town. Faro is the capital of the Algarve, and further to the east, but we had friends who told us it wasn’t worth staying in.
Explore Algarve accommodation availability below:
Lagos
We did not stay in Lagos but spent an afternoon exploring. However, if we were to visit the Algarve again, we’d consider staying here. There are many tours that leave from Lagos, lots of shops, and tons of restaurant options. The only downfall to staying in Lagos would be that it’s far west, so it can be a bit of a drive to get to the towns in central Algarve.
What to See & Do in and around Lagos:
1. Old Town Lagos
It might be hard to find parking, but Old Town Lagos is well worth exploring. The buildings are colourful, and the walkways all tiled. There are lots of cute shops to pop in and out of, and there is so much energy in the streets.
2. Castle of Lagos
The Castle of Lagos is right by the sea, and its walls surround the entire city. Because of this, you’re bound to walk by portions of the castle walls as you explore the city. Open 24 hours a day, this isn’t the type of castle you “go in”, but rather just the remains of the castle and the city walls.
3. Forte da Ponta da Bandeira
A fortress on the water with a draw bridge, they often host art exhibitions and events. We didn’t get to go in as we showed up about 5 minutes before closing time, but you can go inside the fortress.
4. Praia da Batata & Praia dos Estudantes
Two popular beaches in Lagos, if the tide is in the wrong spot, you won’t be able to make your way out to the beach. In English, the names are “potato beach” and “student beach”. One is just a bit further down than the other, but they’re basically in the same spot, just connected by a tunnel formed by the rocks. These are easily walkable from the Old Town and nice for a short stroll.
5. Ponta da Piedade
The best spot in town for sunsets! We made our way here but got rained out, so didn’t get to experience the famed sunsets from here. Apparently, this is a very rocky area, so watch your step! It is also common to get boat tours out here to see the cliffside.
6. Sagres Fortress
About a 40-minute drive west of Lagos, the Sagres Fortress sits on a southern tip of Portugal. It is only 3 Euro to enter per adult (cash only), and the views were spectacular. There is a small museum that tells you about the Portuguese and Spanish explorers to the Americas. It was well worth the trip.
7. Luz
A tiny town that won’t take long to wander through, there is a beautiful beach in Luz (Praia da Luz) that is popular with surfers. We have family who stayed here and loved the town, but we found it quite small. The boardwalk along the water is a nice stroll, though!
8. Go to the Beach
While we didn’t visit beaches for a “beach day” due to weather, heading to the beach is a popular activity while in Lagos and the Algarve in general. Here are some highly recommended beaches for relaxing or water activities:
Portimão
We stayed in Portimão for 4 nights, and felt it was central to be able to drive to Sagres, Lagos, Luz, Ferragudo, Carvoeiro, and Albufeira. We unfortunately didn’t spend much time exploring the town of Portimão much, but we still have a small list of things to do here.
What to See & Do in and around Portimão:
1. Fort of Santa Catarina
You can park nearby and walk to the fort for stunning views over the marina and the water.
2. Ferragudo
This is a small fishing village just to the east of Portimão. It was super cute to walk through, and there are many small restaurants and cafes where you can stop for a bite. Within Ferragudo, make sure to wander through the Old Town, catch the views from the terrace in front of the church on the hill, and walk along Cais dos Pescadores de Ferragudo.
3. Take a tour of Benagil Caves
We had signed up for a tour for our first day in the Algarve, but high winds caused all water activities to be cancelled. While we were rescheduled, the winds lasted for the duration of our stay in Portimão and we didn’t end up getting to take our tour. This was one of the most highly recommended activities to us by people we knew who had travelled to the Algarve.
There are many tour operators and possible tours that leave from the marina in Portimão, but more options from Lagos. Book ahead, but also be prepared for cancellations due to weather in the off season. Our parents signed up for a tour on their trip after we missed ours and loved it.
4. Go to the Beach
There are many beaches in and around Portimão, but we didn’t spend time at any due to exploring nearby towns and having terrible weather. Here are some beaches you could try:
Carvoeiro
We did not stay in Carvoeiro but spent a morning exploring. The main draw to the town is its beautiful views, cliff walks, and beaches. However, due to extreme weather, we were not able to spend time at the beaches (we did get to see them from afar!).
What to See & Do in and around Carvoeiro:
1. Carvoeiro Boardwalk
This is a wooden walkway along the coastline with beautiful views of the sea over the cliffs. Toward the end of the boardwalk, you’ll find the Algar Seco rocks which are quite something. Wear good shoes! It can be very slippery if wet (or if you experience torrential rain and 70km/h winds like we did).
2. Algar Seco
Rock formations towards the end of the Carvoeiro boardwalk. There’s a restaurant here if you want to enjoy the view a little longer. These are quite a sight and well worth visiting!
3. Forte de Nossa Senhora da Encarnacao
An old church along the cliffside, with spectacular views. We didn’t go inside or anything (not sure if you even can), but the views from here were great and we were passing by it anyways.
4. Praia do Carvalho
Due to weather, we did not spend any time here, but we caught a glimpse through the rain and fog. Looks like a beautiful beach! There may be a bit of a hike to actually get here, so it doesn’t sound very accessible if you have mobility issues.
5. Farol de Alfanzina
A lighthouse that supposedly has a beautiful view. It is open for tours only in the summer, and open to visit on Wednesdays only during the off season. This meant it was closed when we tried to visit (we couldn’t even walk up to it).
6. Benagil Caves
These are a must see. We only got to see these from above, and the view is limited. However, you can take boat tours right into the caves (ours was cancelled when we visited due to extreme winds). Worth a trip as there is a beautiful pathway you can walk along the cliffside as well.
7. Praia da Corredoura
Not too far from Benagil Caves, you’ll find this beautiful beach surrounded by cliffs and isolated from the nearby pathways. This is one of the best beaches in the Algarve for privacy. Again, we didn’t visit the beach due to weather, but we were able to get a view of it from the nearby cliffs.
Albufeira
We did not stay in Albufeira but spent an afternoon exploring. We will admit that Albufeira was probably our least favourite of the Algarve towns we visited due to its party vibe. To us, it felt like the Las Vegas, Puerto Vallarta, or Ibiza of the Algarve. It was very touristy, with lots of American/British-style party pubs. While we’re glad we visited, we personally wouldn’t return. However, if partying and a vibrant night life is what you’re looking for, you will love Albufeira.
What to See & Do in and around Albufeira:
1. Albufeira Old Town
Whitewashed buildings and tiled streets, this is an area of the town worth wandering through. You’ll find many plazas, souvenir shops, and restaurants in this area of town.
2. Igreja Matriz de Albufeira
A large church in town, you can visit the inside or just pass by. The interior is apparently quite nice, but we didn’t go inside. There is a statue of a patron stain of fisherman in front.
3. Largo Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco
One of the largest plazas in town, there was a stage with live music when we visited. Many little shops, souvenir stores, and American-style pubs in this area.
4. Praia dos Pescadores
Also known as Fisherman’s Beach, this is one of the main beaches in town. The beach is lined with bars and restaurants, and there was lots going on when we stopped by, including a massive stage for live music.
5. Escalator to Albufeira Old Town
A literal escalator that takes you from the beach up the cliffside to the street level.
6. Miraduoro do Pau da Bandeira
Beautiful views of the water, at the top of the escalator. Quite a busy miraduoro with buskers and a café.
7. Marina de Albufeira
Super colourful with lots of restaurants. There are many tours leaving from here.
8. The Strip
A main street in Albufeira that is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. This area is known for its nightlife, and where you’ll find the most popular bars and clubs.
9. Miraduora Rossio
A smaller square with a lookout of the water. Much less crowded than many other locations in Albufeira. We visited as it was nearby to a gluten free café we ate at, but we enjoyed the lovely views without battling crowds.
Tavira
We stayed in Tavira for 2 nights, at the Ozadi Tavira Hotel. We quite liked the hotel, and the town was very cute. One full day was enough to explore the town and some nearby areas, though no time for the beach. The beach is not accessible by car or by foot, you take a boat to get there. If you want more time for Faro (we simply stopped on the way to Tavira), or more time for beaches in the area, you’ll want to stay more than 2 nights.
What to See & Do in and around Tavira:
1. Praca da Republica
In the center of Tavira, this is a main plaza that is a great place to start your exploration of the town center. Surrounded by restaurants, with cute streets branching off and tiled roads.
2. Jardim do Coreto
A small garden, you can walk along the river through the garden as part of your exploration of the town center. Also known as the Public Garden of Tavira.
3. Castelo de Tavira
More like ruins than an actual castle, it is free to enter the grounds. There is a cute garden, and you can climb the walls to get a beautiful view over the town. You don’t need long here, maybe 30 minutes.
4. Santa Luzia
A small fishing village, this is only about a 10-minute drive from Tavira. It was completely empty, with only one restaurant open on the Sunday afternoon we visited. We only spent about 30 minutes here.
5. Tavira Old Bridge
The main bridge crossing the river in Tavira, we highly suggest crossing from the town center to the other side to explore a bit more. We found it was less busy here and there were tons of shops and restaurants.
6. Pego do Inferno
About 15 minutes north of Tavira, we had read that a beautiful waterfall was here. While the waterfall was underwhelming, we found the surrounding area full of orange trees and rolling hills quite beautiful. Because of this, we’d recommend a visit here, if only for a stroll in the countryside.
7. Praia de Cabana
The main beach in Tavira, you can only get here by boat. The water taxis are not expensive, and you purchase return tickets. Cash is suggested. At the beach, you can find sunbed rentals, a café, and toilet facilities.
Other Stops & Towns in the Algarve
Here are some other places we stopped or visited during our time in the Algarve:
- Faro (capital of the Algarve, not our favourite town but worth a short stop)
- Designer Outlet Algarve & MAR Shopping
- Marinha Beach (beautiful cliffs here!)
- Arcos Naturais (double arches in the cliffs – a must see!)
MAP of our Algarve Suggestions
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Helpful Planning Tips
I rely on these tools when planning my trips:
- Get Your Guide – book skip-the-line or timed entry tickets for experiences like the Benagil Caves, boat cruises, and more!
- Airalo eSIM – get Portuguese mobile data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
- Stay22 – compare hotels across the Algarve, near towns like Lagos, Portimao, and Tavira
- Wanderlog – organize your itinerary and map your Algarve days efficiently
