Beaches · Algarve · Portugal
The best beaches in and near Algarve
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marc Ryckaert ( MJJR ), CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Praia da Marinha (About 10 km east of Carvoeiro). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in July–September.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 7
- Swimming season
- July–September
- Warmest sea
- 22°C (72°F)
The beaches
About 10 km east of Carvoeiro · Scenery and snorkelling
1.Praia da Marinha
Golden sand below striking cliffs and sea stacks, reached by a stairway, with clear water for snorkelling on calm days.
About 2 km south of Lagos · Photogenic swims
2.Praia do Camilo
A small cove south of Lagos reached by a long wooden staircase, with turquoise water and rock arches.
About 10 km east of Albufeira · Long walks and space
3.Praia da Falésia
A long sandy beach below red and white cliffs stretching for kilometres between Olhos de Água and Vilamoura.
In Portimão · Families and facilities
4.Praia da Rocha
A very wide sandy beach in Portimão with plenty of facilities, sunbeds and beach bars below ochre cliffs.
Short ferry ride from Tavira · Families and calm swimming
5.Ilha de Tavira
Kilometres of soft sand on a car-free barrier island, with calm, warmer water and seafood cafés near the ferry jetty.
About 4 km west of Sagres · Surfing and wild scenery
6.Praia do Beliche
A sheltered cove beneath tall cliffs on the road to Cape St Vincent, popular with surfers and reached by steps.
About 1 km east of Lagos · Space and watersports
7.Meia Praia
A long, straight sandy beach east of Lagos with beach bars and watersports, and plenty of space even in summer.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C (61°F) | 16°C (61°F) |
| February | 15°C (59°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| March | 16°C (61°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| April | 17°C (63°F) | 21°C (70°F) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| June | 20°C (68°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| July | 21°C (70°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| August | 22°C (72°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| September | 22°C (72°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| October | 20°C (68°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| November | 18°C (64°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| December | 17°C (63°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples, beach and solo travellers
Lagos
Lagos combines a historic walled centre of cobbled streets with a marina, a long sandy beach at Meia Praia and the coves and rock arches of Praia do Camilo and Ponta da Piedade a short walk south. It has a young, international crowd, plenty of bars and boat and kayak trips into the grottoes.
- Good
- Walkable town with character; Spectacular coves nearby; Good train and bus links
- Watch out
- Crowded in July and August; Streets and coves busy with day-trippers
- Nearby
- Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Camilo, Meia Praia, Sagres
Getting to the beaches
- Car — A car is the easiest way to explore beaches, cliffs and inland villages.
- Train — The regional line runs from Lagos to Vila Real de Santo António via Portimão, Albufeira, Faro, Olhão and Tavira, with a connection at Tunes for intercity trains to Lisbon.
- Bus — Regional buses link the coastal towns and some inland villages, with local town buses in Faro, Albufeira and Lagos; services are reduced in winter and on Sundays.
- Ferry — Small ferries cross to the Ria Formosa islands from Faro, Olhão and Tavira, and water taxis run in summer.
- Boat — Boat tours from Lagos, Portimão, Armação de Pêra, Albufeira and Vilamoura visit the sea caves and cliffs, including Benagil.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in June–September. The busiest of those is July, so book early.
Beach safety
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. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Algarve have beaches?
Yes: Praia da Marinha, Praia do Camilo, Praia da Falésia, Praia da Rocha, Ilha de Tavira, Praia do Beliche and Meia Praia.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Algarve?
Usually July–September, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Algarve?
Praia da Marinha: Golden sand below striking cliffs and sea stacks, reached by a stairway, with clear water for snorkelling on calm days.