Travel guide · Portugal
Algarve travel guide
Golden sea cliffs, lagoon islands and grilled-fish lunches on Portugal's south coast
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
The Algarve is Portugal's southern coast, about 150 km from the Spanish border at the Guadiana River to Cape St Vincent, Europe's south-western tip. West of Faro, the coast breaks into honey-coloured cliffs, sea caves and coves such as Benagil and Ponta da Piedade, with resort towns like Albufeira, Lagos and Carvoeiro; east of Faro, the Ria Formosa lagoon shelters long sandy barrier islands reached by ferry from Olhão and Tavira. Inland, the hills around Monchique, Silves and Loulé hold Moorish castles, cork forests and markets, and the region has more than 300 sunny days a year. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Portugal
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 7 days
- Main airports
- FAO, LIS
- Mid-range daily budget
- $130–$250 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Sea cliffs and caves, Golden beaches, Cataplana and Golf
Why visit Algarve
- Cliff-backed beaches and sea caves such as Praia da Marinha, Benagil and Ponta da Piedade are among Europe's most photographed coastlines.
- The Ria Formosa lagoon has car-free barrier islands with sandy beaches reached by short ferry rides.
- Seafood is central to the menu, from cataplana and grilled sardines to octopus in Santa Luzia and goose barnacles in Sagres.
- Summers are hot and dry, while winters stay mild, with Faro's January highs averaging around 16 °C.
- Seville and Lisbon are both within reach for a long day trip or an add-on stay.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Nature · Lagoa
Benagil Cave
A domed sea cave with a round hole in its roof opening onto the sky, a small sandy beach inside and light pouring down onto the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours by boat or kayak
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
Viewpoint · Lagos
Ponta da Piedade
South of Lagos, a headland of sandstone pillars, arches and grottoes stands above turquoise water, with a lighthouse and a long wooden stairway down to a small landing stage.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Nature · Lagoa
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
This clifftop path runs about 6 km each way between Praia da Marinha and Praia do Vale Centeanes, past sinkholes, rock arches and dry 'hanging' valleys that end abruptly above the sea.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Nature
Viewpoint · Sagres
Cape St Vincent
Mainland Europe's south-western tip is a headland of high cliffs topped by one of Europe's most powerful lighthouses.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Sagres
Fortress of Sagres
On a flat promontory jutting into the Atlantic, this fortress is associated with Prince Henry the Navigator and the early Portuguese voyages of discovery.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Faro
Ria Formosa Natural Park
A protected lagoon of salt marshes, channels and barrier islands stretching about 60 km along the eastern Algarve.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Lagos is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples, beach and solo travellers
Lagos
Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast
$$ · Best for families, nightlife, beach and budget
Albufeira
The Algarve's biggest resort, with an old town above the beach and a lively strip
$$ · Best for culture, budget and food lovers
Faro
Regional capital with a walled old town and ferries into the lagoon
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, culture and families
Tavira
Elegant riverside town of churches, a Roman-era bridge and island beaches
What to eat
- Cataplana — A seafood stew of clams, prawns, fish and sometimes pork, cooked with tomato, onion, garlic and wine in a clam-shaped copper pan that is opened at the table.
- Grilled sardines — Fresh sardines grilled whole over charcoal and eaten with boiled potatoes, salad of tomato and peppers, and bread.
- Piri-piri chicken — Spatchcocked chicken grilled over charcoal and basted with a chilli oil sauce made with piri-piri peppers, served with fries and salad.
- Octopus — Octopus caught in traditional clay pots is cooked as a salad, grilled with olive oil and garlic (polvo à lagareiro) or stewed with rice.
- Clams with garlic and coriander — Clams from the Ria Formosa steamed open with olive oil, garlic, coriander and lemon, served with bread to soak up the juices.
- Goose barnacles — Harvested by hand from wave-battered rocks on the west coast, these barnacles are boiled in salted water and eaten by twisting off the tough skin to reach the sweet flesh.
When to go
The best time to visit the Algarve is May, June and September, when it is sunny and warm, the sea is pleasant and beaches are less crowded than in July and August. Spring and autumn are ideal for cliff walks and sightseeing, while winter is mild and quiet but many beach businesses close.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Wildflowers, comfortable walking weather and moderate prices; sea still cool for swimming. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, dry and reliably sunny, with the warmest sea, packed beaches and peak prices in July and August. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea and fewer people in September and October, with rain returning in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild and often sunny but quiet, with many beach restaurants closed; popular for golf and long stays. |
Getting there and around
Faro Airport is about 7 km west of Faro city centre; local buses reach Faro in about 20 minutes, and taxis or transfers take about 15 minutes to Faro, 35–40 minutes to Albufeira and around 1 hour to Lagos. Lisbon Airport is about 280 km away, roughly 3 hours by car or by coach.
The Algarve is about 150 km from east to west, linked by the A22 motorway and the slower EN125 road. Most visitors hire a car, since trains and buses connect the main towns but many beaches, trailheads and villages are hard to reach without one.
Plan your days
Four days lets you see the cliffs and caves around Lagos and Carvoeiro and one Ria Formosa island. A week allows a relaxed mix of beach days, Cape St Vincent and Sagres, Tavira, and inland Silves and Monchique; many visitors base themselves in one or two towns rather than moving every night.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Portuguese
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many people prefer bottled water for taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is modest: around 5–10% in restaurants for good service, or round up the bill.
The main risks are natural: strong currents and waves on west-coast and exposed beaches, unstable cliff edges and rockfalls, and intense summer heat. Thefts from parked cars at beaches and viewpoints are common, so leave nothing visible inside.
Flights to Algarve
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Algarve?
Four days lets you see the cliffs and caves around Lagos and Carvoeiro and one Ria Formosa island. A week allows a relaxed mix of beach days, Cape St Vincent and Sagres, Tavira, and inland Silves and Monchique; many visitors base themselves in one or two towns rather than moving every night. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Algarve?
The best time to visit the Algarve is May, June and September, when it is sunny and warm, the sea is pleasant and beaches are less crowded than in July and August. Spring and autumn are ideal for cliff walks and sightseeing, while winter is mild and quiet but many beach businesses close.
+What is Algarve known for?
Sea cliffs and caves, Golden beaches, Cataplana, Golf, Ria Formosa lagoon, Surfing on the west coast and Grilled sardines. Cliff-backed beaches and sea caves such as Praia da Marinha, Benagil and Ponta da Piedade are among Europe's most photographed coastlines.
+Is Algarve expensive?
Algarve is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $130–$250 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Algarve?
Recommended for most visitors, since it makes cliff beaches, trails and inland villages easy to reach. If you stay in one town such as Lagos, Faro or Tavira and focus on its beaches and boat trips, you can manage with trains, buses and tours.