Looking for places to eat in the Algarve? Be sure to check out and save my Good Grub guide for The Algarve.
Eastern Algarve
From the Spanish Border to Albufeira
The beaches are flatter in this area and there are some gems of small towns to visit.
Tavira
@amyposey
A great combination of long sandy flat beaches and history, Tavira is a small coastal city and has a medieval castle.
Details
Olhão
@amyposey
Olhão is a charming and artsy village--it's got lots of murals and ceramic stores. It's focused on fishing, there's a good market, and cute art galleries and shops.
Details
Olhão is a great place to launch a boat to the Ria Formosa park.
Ria Formosa Nature Park
@amyposey
Four islands make up the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve. It's a great place to enjoy a day on the water.
Details
You'll likely fly in to the Faro airport (unless you're arriving from Lisbon). Faro is the capital of the Algarve, but it's reasonably small and walkable and filled with some cool historical spots. The city center is pretty relaxed and there a few nice pedestrian streets.
Faro
@amyposey
The "capital" of the Eastern Algarve, Faro is still quite small and quaint. A charming old town, large marina, and international airport make it a great place as a stepping off point for your time in the Algarve.
Details
Details
Loulé is a drive into the hills from Faro and worth planning a visit on a Saturday to enjoy the local market. From there, it's quick access to the cross-Algarve hiking trails.
Loulé
@amyposey
A quaint town in the mountains above the Eastern Algarve with a fantastic Saturday market. Tree lined streets, cute architecture, nice cafes, and a relaxed vibe.
Details
Loulé Saturday Market
@amyposey
The Loulé Saturday market is outstanding. The market building has plenty on offer, and on Saturday, the streets are lined with local farmers with their produce and products. Worth a visit to get fresh fruit, veg, and fish. Combine it with a hike in the local mountains for a great Saturday.
Details
Explore the market and experience a cooking class-Loulé is the place to do it!
Paisagem Protegida Local da Fonte da Benémola
@amyposey
North of Loulé, a great spot for a pleasant hike near the waterfall of Benémola. Places to picnic next to the river and it's well-signed.
Details
Further west from Faro and Loulé, you can explore Quarteira and its quaint beach town and nice stretches of sand or visit more upscale Villamoura and the harbor lined with restaurants and shops. Both can keep you occupied for a few hours or a nice meal.
Quarteira
@amyposey
A relaxed a local beach town with long stretches of beach and a boardwalk area.
Details
Vilamoura
@amyposey
The upscale golf/marina village of Villamoura has a harbor lined with restaurants, some big hotel resorts, options for boat trips and access to the stunning Praia da Falésia beach. Good for a nice waterfront lunch.
Details
For me, Praia da Falésia is the queen of all beaches. A stunning 6km stretch of beautiful sand and gorgeous cliffs. I love it so much and consider myself lucky that it's in my backyard. :)
Praia da Falésia
@amyposey
One of the top beaches in the world, the orange cliffs of Praia de Falésia are gorgeous. This stunning beach has 6km of wide open sand backed against impressive cliffs. You can enter the beach from a few cliffside points, and I usually head in closer to Olhos d'Agua. A few beach clubs dot the beach, but for the most part, you can find yourself a huge, uncrowded patch of sand to enjoy.
Details
As someone who loves to paraglide, seeing the Algarve from the sky is incredible. If you're adventurous, I'd recommend a flight!
Olhos de Água
@amyposey
A charming seaside town (that I happen to live in part time) with a few restaurants, great ice cream, a picturesque beach, and some fishing shacks that still get used today by local fishermen. A charming spot in contrast to the much livelier Albufeira and much more bougie Villamoura beaches.
Details
Central Algarve
From Albufeira to Lagos
Albufeira feels a bit over the top in terms of being touristy--much more so than the other towns in the Algarve. It's got a party-town reputation (well earned) if you're looking to enjoy that vibe. That said, it's worth a few hours and some good restaurants can be found if you weed through the tourist spots.
Albufeira Old Town
@amyposey
Albufeira is the Algarve's "party town" for sure, and you can find that vibe in the new town. But the old town is filled with winding streets, restaurants and bars, and a lively vibe, particularly in summer. Worth a visit to explore and enjoy Albufeira's large beaches, but be prepared to be inundated with the tourist crowds. It is a good spot to head out on a boat cruise--lots of options base in Albufeira.
Details
Albufeira is a great jumping off point for boat trips in the area, particularly to visit the famed Bengal Caves and check out the beautiful craggy coastline. Plenty of options available from bigger catamaran boats (they can't get in Benagil as deeply) to tiny dingy boats (you can explore more places, but you're gonna get wet!).
Benagil Caves
@amyposey
An absolute must-see in the Algarve--a gorgeous cave structure. There are different options to visit, including catamarans, small boats, and kayaks/sups. Watch the wave forecast as in big waves or windy days, it's difficult to visit.
Details
A great 3 hour cruise from Albufeira harbor.
Armação de Pêra
@amyposey
Some of the more upscale resorts and restaurants are near here--a great set of small beaches and coves to explore.
Details
Carvoeiro
@amyposey
Fantastic secluded beaches and a village made for meandering around.
Details
Portimão
@amyposey
Portimão is a great jumping off point to visit the Benagil caves
Details
A small group tour to an estate for a farm lunch is a great way to round out your visit to Portimão.
Western Algarve
From Lagos to the End of the World
Perhaps the most scenic part of the Algarve, as you move west, the area is more rugged. Lagos is perhaps the most charming of Algarve towns and a visit out to the "End of the World" in Sagres is a must for visitors. The land is protected and the views are beautiful.
Lagos
@amyposey
Old town Lagos is a charming set of winding streets with great restaurants and shops as well as a charming marina. A must-visit!
Details
Praia da Luz
@amyposey
Smaller than Lagos, Praia da Luz is a quaint beachfront town with some surf-side cafes and a very chill vibe.
Details
Sagres
@amyposey
A delightful surf town that is charming and also stunningly beautiful. Worth a trip to the Fortress and the viewpoints around the city. Grab a quick lunch and soak up the surf vibes.
Details
If you don't end up renting a car on your own, you can join a nice group tour to enjoy the sunset and explore the western coast.
Cordoama Viewpoint
@amyposey
I find the Cordorama viewpoint one of the best in the Algarve. It's worth the drive, absolutely gorgeous, and if the winds are good, you might see a few of us paragliding out there! There's a beautiful series of beaches a quick drive down from the viewpoint.
Details
* * *
