The Beaches of Algarve
25-06-2009
On the south coast of Portugal, in southwesternmost corner of Europe, lies the Algarve coast. In Algarve, the sun shines 3000 hours a year; the temperature lies between 15 degrees Celsius in winter and a comfortable 30 degrees in the summer; and not least, the beaches lie like pearls on an almost 200 km long string.
No other region in Portugal has as many and as different beaches as Algarve. From the western Algarve’s wild, golden cliffs with its sheltered little coves, to the eastern Algarve’s long, beautiful sandy beaches. From beaches with many people and a lot of activity to lonely, quiet hideaways.
Getting to Algarve’s main city, Faro, by plain is easy
Find your cheap flight tickets to Algarve with Travelmarket
In this mini guide to Algarve, you will find beaches to suit every taste:
Romantic Beaches:
Among the many beaches of Algarve, you will of course find beaches perfect for a romantic couple.
Spend romantic nights and days close to cities with restaurants, bars and other forms of entertainment, e.g. the beaches Praia da Mareta in Sagres and Praia da Luz in Lagos. Both Mareta and Praia da Luz are popular beaches with a lot of activity in the summer.
If the perfect romantic day includes a good meal in a restaurant with a wonderful view over the ocean and the cliffs in the sunset, the beaches of Baleeira in Sagres; Porto de Mós and Meia Praia in Lagos, Salgados, São Rafael and Santa Eulália in Albufeira; and Barril and Praia Verde in Tavira are among the best.
For those romantic souls who prefer to be alone on a beach of scenic beauty, the beaches of Esteveira and Vale Figueira in Aljezur; Bordoeira (or Carrapateira) in Carrapateira; Barranco das Canas (or Praia do Alemão) in Vila do Bispo; Salgados and Castelo in Albufeira; and Cacela Velha in Tavira are really good choices.
Beaches With Cliffs and Caves:
In the western part of the Barlaventa region there are some fantastic areas of golden cliffs, formed by the movements of the water into towers, caves, tunnels and beautiful golden beaches.
Among these beaches, the motions of the sea have caved out ravines, formed little sandy beaches sometimes connected by tunnels dug out by the water, e.g. the beaches of Solaria, Batata, Estudantes, Três Irmãos and Alvor.
In several places the sea has not only dug tunnels, but underground systems of caves. Algar do Padre Vicente near Carvoeiro is a large cave connected to the sea where the sounds of the tide are dramatically magnified.
Some of the little beaches between the cliffs are very isolated and can be recommended if you enjoy peace and quiet, e.g. Camilo, Canavial, Porto de Mós and João de Arens, while other are more popular and crowded, e.g. Dona Ana and Praia da Rocha.
Beaches for the Active Holiday
The beaches of Algarve are like tailormade for an active holiday.
The wild west coast of Algarve at Costa Vicentina attracts anglers, surfers and bodyboarders. This is where Portugal’s best waves are found. Rent a boat and sail among rocks and reeves and take a closer look at the caves that the sea has dug out of the cliffs.
On the southern coast of Algarve, the water is calmer and the beaches bigger. It is easy to find a beach where you can rent equipment for diving, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing, jet-skiing, kite-surfing and much more. Start at Meia Praia, a 4 km long beach with rocks, reeves and natural caves where divers are still looking for Aztec treasures from sunken ships.
Nudist beaches
Two of Portugal’s five officially recognized nudist beaches are situated on the Algarve Coast: Ilha de Tavira and the Adegas beach in Odeceixe:
Ilha de Tavira, which is a part of the Ria Formosa reserve, is very popular because of the warm water and the clean sand. You get there either by the ferry leaving from Qatro Águas in Tavira or by the little train connecting the beaches of Pedras d’El Rei and Barril.
The all-year beach Praia da Adega is situated in a protected bay south of the main beach at Odeceixe. It is easily accessible and the surroundings are attractive.
Besides these two official beaches, there are several places where nudism is tolerated, either because the beaches are a little isolated or are not easily accessible. According the Portuguese nudist association, this includes beaches such as Amado and Murração in the Carrapateira area; Cardoama, Zavial and Furnas Figueira beaches around Vila do Bispo; the Beliche beach in Sagres, the Pinheiros beach in Lagos and the Ilha da Armona beach in Olhão.
And we would like to add, that most of Portugal’s beaches have the blue flag.
No other region in Portugal has as many and as different beaches as Algarve. From the western Algarve’s wild, golden cliffs with its sheltered little coves, to the eastern Algarve’s long, beautiful sandy beaches. From beaches with many people and a lot of activity to lonely, quiet hideaways.
Getting to Algarve’s main city, Faro, by plain is easy
Find your cheap flight tickets to Algarve with Travelmarket
In this mini guide to Algarve, you will find beaches to suit every taste:
Romantic Beaches:
Among the many beaches of Algarve, you will of course find beaches perfect for a romantic couple.
Spend romantic nights and days close to cities with restaurants, bars and other forms of entertainment, e.g. the beaches Praia da Mareta in Sagres and Praia da Luz in Lagos. Both Mareta and Praia da Luz are popular beaches with a lot of activity in the summer.
If the perfect romantic day includes a good meal in a restaurant with a wonderful view over the ocean and the cliffs in the sunset, the beaches of Baleeira in Sagres; Porto de Mós and Meia Praia in Lagos, Salgados, São Rafael and Santa Eulália in Albufeira; and Barril and Praia Verde in Tavira are among the best.
For those romantic souls who prefer to be alone on a beach of scenic beauty, the beaches of Esteveira and Vale Figueira in Aljezur; Bordoeira (or Carrapateira) in Carrapateira; Barranco das Canas (or Praia do Alemão) in Vila do Bispo; Salgados and Castelo in Albufeira; and Cacela Velha in Tavira are really good choices.
Beaches With Cliffs and Caves:
In the western part of the Barlaventa region there are some fantastic areas of golden cliffs, formed by the movements of the water into towers, caves, tunnels and beautiful golden beaches.
Among these beaches, the motions of the sea have caved out ravines, formed little sandy beaches sometimes connected by tunnels dug out by the water, e.g. the beaches of Solaria, Batata, Estudantes, Três Irmãos and Alvor.
In several places the sea has not only dug tunnels, but underground systems of caves. Algar do Padre Vicente near Carvoeiro is a large cave connected to the sea where the sounds of the tide are dramatically magnified.
Some of the little beaches between the cliffs are very isolated and can be recommended if you enjoy peace and quiet, e.g. Camilo, Canavial, Porto de Mós and João de Arens, while other are more popular and crowded, e.g. Dona Ana and Praia da Rocha.
Beaches for the Active Holiday
The beaches of Algarve are like tailormade for an active holiday.
The wild west coast of Algarve at Costa Vicentina attracts anglers, surfers and bodyboarders. This is where Portugal’s best waves are found. Rent a boat and sail among rocks and reeves and take a closer look at the caves that the sea has dug out of the cliffs.
On the southern coast of Algarve, the water is calmer and the beaches bigger. It is easy to find a beach where you can rent equipment for diving, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing, jet-skiing, kite-surfing and much more. Start at Meia Praia, a 4 km long beach with rocks, reeves and natural caves where divers are still looking for Aztec treasures from sunken ships.
Nudist beaches
Two of Portugal’s five officially recognized nudist beaches are situated on the Algarve Coast: Ilha de Tavira and the Adegas beach in Odeceixe:
Ilha de Tavira, which is a part of the Ria Formosa reserve, is very popular because of the warm water and the clean sand. You get there either by the ferry leaving from Qatro Águas in Tavira or by the little train connecting the beaches of Pedras d’El Rei and Barril.
The all-year beach Praia da Adega is situated in a protected bay south of the main beach at Odeceixe. It is easily accessible and the surroundings are attractive.
Besides these two official beaches, there are several places where nudism is tolerated, either because the beaches are a little isolated or are not easily accessible. According the Portuguese nudist association, this includes beaches such as Amado and Murração in the Carrapateira area; Cardoama, Zavial and Furnas Figueira beaches around Vila do Bispo; the Beliche beach in Sagres, the Pinheiros beach in Lagos and the Ilha da Armona beach in Olhão.
And we would like to add, that most of Portugal’s beaches have the blue flag.
