Where to stay · Algarve · Portugal
Where to stay in Algarve
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bextrel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Lagos. Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast. Best alternatives — families: Albufeira; budget: Albufeira.
Key facts
- First visit
- Lagos
- Families
- Albufeira
- Budget
- Albufeira
- Nightlife
- Lagos
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Lagos | Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast |
| Families | Albufeira | The Algarve's biggest resort, with an old town above the beach and a lively strip |
| Couples | Lagos | Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast |
| Budget | Albufeira | The Algarve's biggest resort, with an old town above the beach and a lively strip |
| Luxury | Vilamoura | Purpose-built marina resort with golf courses and upscale hotels |
| Nightlife | Lagos | Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast |
| Food lovers | Faro | Regional capital with a walled old town and ferries into the lagoon |
| Solo travellers | Lagos | Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast |
| Quiet stays | Tavira | Elegant riverside town of churches, a Roman-era bridge and island beaches |
| Beach | Lagos | Walled old town, marina and cliff coves at the western end of the resort coast |
Algarve neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples, beach and solo travellers
Lagos
Lagos combines a historic walled centre of cobbled streets with a marina, a long sandy beach at Meia Praia and the coves and rock arches of Praia do Camilo and Ponta da Piedade a short walk south. It has a young, international crowd, plenty of bars and boat and kayak trips into the grottoes.
- Good
- Walkable town with character; Spectacular coves nearby; Good train and bus links
- Watch out
- Crowded in July and August; Streets and coves busy with day-trippers
- Nearby
- Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Camilo, Meia Praia, Sagres
$$ · Best for families, nightlife, beach and budget
Albufeira
Albufeira's old town of whitewashed lanes sits above Praia dos Pescadores, reached by escalators and a tunnel, while 'the Strip' around Avenida Sá Carneiro in Areias de São João is packed with bars and clubs. Large resort hotels and beaches such as Praia da Falésia lie to the east, with Zoomarine and water parks nearby.
- Good
- Huge choice of accommodation; Central for the whole coast; Family attractions close by
- Watch out
- Very busy and commercial in summer; The Strip is rowdy at night
- Nearby
- Praia dos Pescadores, Praia da Falésia, Zoomarine, Guia
$$ · Best for culture, budget and food lovers
Faro
Faro is often skipped on the way from the airport, but its Cidade Velha behind the Arco da Vila holds the cathedral, cobbled squares and storks nesting on church towers. Boats leave from the old-town quay into the Ria Formosa and to Ilha Deserta and Ilha do Farol, and Praia de Faro is a short bus ride away.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Real city life and local restaurants; Lagoon boat trips from town
- Watch out
- No beach in the centre; Aircraft noise in parts of town
- Nearby
- Faro Cathedral, Arco da Vila, Ria Formosa, Praia de Faro
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, culture and families
Tavira
Straddling the Gilão river in the eastern Algarve, Tavira has more than 20 churches, a hilltop castle garden, tiled houses with hipped roofs and a multi-arched old bridge. Small ferries cross to Ilha de Tavira's long sandy beach, and the anchor cemetery at Praia do Barril is a short walk and miniature train ride away.
- Good
- Attractive, calm town; Wide sandy island beaches; Warmer sea than the west
- Watch out
- Far from the western cliffs; Quieter nightlife
- Nearby
- Ilha de Tavira, Praia do Barril, Cacela Velha, Santa Luzia
$$$ · Best for couples, families, quiet stays and beach
Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro's whitewashed houses tumble down to a small beach between cliffs, with the Algar Seco rock formations reached by a clifftop boardwalk. It is a convenient base for Benagil, Praia da Marinha and the Seven Hanging Valleys trail, with villas and apartment complexes on the surrounding hills.
- Good
- Close to the famous cliffs and caves; Village scale; Coastal walks from the door
- Watch out
- Very steep streets; Small beach crowded in summer
- Nearby
- Algar Seco, Benagil, Praia da Marinha, Slide & Splash
$$ · Best for beach, nightlife, budget and families
Praia da Rocha
Praia da Rocha, at the mouth of the Arade river in Portimão, has one of the Algarve's widest sandy beaches below ochre cliffs, lined by hotels, bars and a long promenade. Portimão's riverside is known for grilled sardines, and the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina overlooks the beach.
- Good
- Huge sandy beach; Plenty of hotels and restaurants; Lively in the evening
- Watch out
- Tower-block skyline; Little old-town character
- Nearby
- Portimão riverside, Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, Ferragudo, Alvor
$$ · Best for solo travellers, quiet stays, budget and beach
Sagres
Sagres, on the far south-western corner of the Algarve, is a low-key town of surf schools, seafood restaurants and wild beaches such as Tonel, Mareta and Beliche. The Fortress of Sagres and Cape St Vincent lighthouse are close by, and the Costa Vicentina natural park runs north along the west coast.
- Good
- Wild scenery and surf; Relaxed atmosphere; Fewer crowds
- Watch out
- Often windy and cooler; Far from the airport and central Algarve
- Nearby
- Cape St Vincent, Fortress of Sagres, Praia do Tonel, Praia do Beliche
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families and beach
Vilamoura
Vilamoura was developed around a large marina lined with restaurants and yachts, surrounded by golf courses, five-star hotels and Falésia beach to the west. The neighbouring 'Golden Triangle' around Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo is the Algarve's most exclusive resort area.
- Good
- High-end hotels and golf; Polished marina dining; Close to Faro Airport
- Watch out
- Expensive; Resort feel with little traditional character
- Nearby
- Vilamoura Marina, Praia da Falésia, Quinta do Lago, Loulé
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Lagos | $$$ | Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Camilo, Meia Praia, Sagres |
| Albufeira | $$ | Praia dos Pescadores, Praia da Falésia, Zoomarine, Guia |
| Faro | $$ | Faro Cathedral, Arco da Vila, Ria Formosa, Praia de Faro |
| Tavira | $$ | Ilha de Tavira, Praia do Barril, Cacela Velha, Santa Luzia |
| Carvoeiro | $$$ | Algar Seco, Benagil, Praia da Marinha, Slide & Splash |
| Praia da Rocha | $$ | Portimão riverside, Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, Ferragudo, Alvor |
| Sagres | $$ | Cape St Vincent, Fortress of Sagres, Praia do Tonel, Praia do Beliche |
| Vilamoura | $$$$ | Vilamoura Marina, Praia da Falésia, Quinta do Lago, Loulé |
Getting to your hotel
Faro Airport is about 7 km west of Faro city centre; local buses reach Faro in about 20 minutes, and taxis or transfers take about 15 minutes to Faro, 35–40 minutes to Albufeira and around 1 hour to Lagos. Lisbon Airport is about 280 km away, roughly 3 hours by car or by coach.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Algarve for first-time visitors?
Lagos. Lagos combines a historic walled centre of cobbled streets with a marina, a long sandy beach at Meia Praia and the coves and rock arches of Praia do Camilo and Ponta da Piedade a short walk south.
+Where should families stay in Algarve?
Albufeira: Huge choice of accommodation.
+Which area of Algarve is best for a budget stay?
Albufeira ($$): The Algarve's biggest resort, with an old town above the beach and a lively strip.