The 20 Must-See Places in Algarve Portugal
Algarve is one of the most beautiful and famous regions of Portugal. It has so much to offer from beautiful landscapes, historic monuments to beautiful beaches. We’ve selected 20 places you don’t want to miss while visiting the Algarve Portugal. And yes it will make you fall in love with the country. If you aren’t already 😉
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Lagos – Algarve, Portugal
Lagos is the city in Algarve that has maintained its Portugal authenticity. It was the former capital of the Algarve and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Portugal. And we understand why. Lagos has fantastic restaurants, nightlife and other great activities to offer and a big plus: you can explore a lot of history in Lagos as well. Back in the day. Lagos dominated the African Trade market, so the city is full of beautiful architecture and monuments that date back to the times of adventurous seas explorers.
Also, the beaches of Lagos are known to be the best in the Algarve region of Portugal. For a beautiful view head towards Ponta da Piedade and for some history go to Fort of Ponta da Bandeira and Chapel of Santa Barbara. Don’t forget to visit the Mercado Municipal which is a lovely city market. And the beautiful beach Praia da Balança nearby Ponta da Piedade.
Useful links Lagos Portugal
- Cheap car rental Portugal
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Sagres
Sagres is a southwestern town in Algarve Portugal. It’s well known for its beauty. It’s a place for adventurous travellers who like raw nature and dramatic landscapes. This town feels more remote and doesn’t have the over-developed holiday feel a lot of towns in Algarve have. You should explore Sagres Fortress that was built to protect the Sagres territory. And visit Cape St. Vincent the most south-western point of the mainland of Europe. Because when can you ever do that? You can see a beautiful sunset at what looks like the end of the world.
Useful links Sagres Portugal
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Alvor
On your travels through the Algarve, you should visit the cute town Alvor. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns that you will come across in the Algarve region of Portugal. It has a very low-key vibe to it and not overrun by tourists like other parts of the Algarve. Wander around the narrow streets and visit the Misericordia Church, Ria De Alvor River Mouth or relax on Alvor Beach.
Portimao
Next to Alvor is the second largest city in the Algarve, Portimao. This old city of Algarve is now one of the most popular spots in Portugal. The beautiful beaches and the museums of Portimao gravitate a massive number of people each year. It used the be an old-fashioned fishermen’s town and started to blossom through tourism and the canning industry in the 19th and 20th century. Hit to the beautiful beaches of Praia da Rocha, Praia do Vau and Alvor. Learn more about the history and culture of Portimao at the Portimao Museum, and Igreja do Colégio. Explore Ribeirinha, Jardim 1º de Dezembro and the liveliest square at night Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes.
Useful links Portimao Portugal
- Cheap car rental Portugal
- Best places to stay in Portimao Portugal
- Book your activities for Portimao Portugal
Ferragudo
This is a beautiful small town in Algarve which falls under the Lagon Municipality of Portugal. Ferragudo has a unique charm to it, and it’s unspoilt even though it’s right across the famous town of Portimao. Wander around the riverside area, visit the charming main square Praça Rainha Dona Leonor and enjoy the beautiful beach Praia da Angrinha and the Sao Joao De Arade Castle.
Useful links Ferragudo Portugal
Serra De Monchique – the hidden gem
Serra de Monchique is known as the hidden gem of the Algarve. Monchique is a beautiful town in the Algarve located in the mountain range area known as Serra de Monchique, with the most stunning views and landscapes of Portugal. Situated in the countryside far away from the beaches you can enjoy this hidden treasure of the Algarve. Walk through the picturesque alleys of Monchique and hike up the highest peak of Serra De Monchique to Foia. It is a paradise for nature lovers who love to explore this lesser-travelled part of Algarve, Portugal.
Don’t forget to visit Caldas De Monchique; it is a thermal village that traces back to the Roman occupation. The Romans discovered the healing potential of the 31 degrees Celsius spa water that runs downwards the mountain. People to this day say the water heals the human body. Maybe you want to try it out as well? Let us know if you are magically cured of something!
Useful links Serra de Monchique
Carvoeiro – Algarve, Portugal
If you are a beach lover, then Carvoeiro is your stop in the Algarve region of Portugal. It is the most scenic beach town where you will find amazing beaches such as Carvoeiro Beach and Vale Centeanes Beach. To enjoy the landscape, we would suggest you take a walk to the ruins of Nossa Senhora da Encarnacao Fort and from there head to the Algar Seco which is a 600-meter walk. Do not leave Carvoeiro without visiting Algar De Benagil. It’s an oceanic cave, and it is only accessible by sea. Algar De Benagil is one of the most beautiful spots in Algarve, Portugal which we will tell more about later in this blog.
Useful links Carvoeiro Portugal
Silves – Algarve, Portugal
Silves is one of the oldest cities in Portugal and a must-see area of the Algarve. This fortified town is famous for its castle: Silves Castle. This castle is also known as the Red Fortress and was built between the 8th and 10th century. The town was once the ancient capital of the Algarve during the Arabic occupation. And Silves is probably one of the best places in the Algarve to experience authentic Portugal. You can visit the cathedral Sé. This cathedral used to be a mosque during Arabic times but later transformed into a cathedral. Now it’s one of the most important churches of the Algarve region in Portugal.
Useful links Silves Portugal
Alte – Algarve, Portugal
Alte located in the heart of Algarve, and it is another treasure of Portugal that you should want to explore. It’s the most characteristic town of the Algarve. This charming town is filled with beautiful white painted houses and colourful windows. Visit the Nossa Senhora da Assuncao Church which was built during the 13th century and has a Manueline Style portal and interior décor. Yeah sure, because everyone knows what Manueline Style means….. But hey I just wanted to put this info out there. The postcard surroundings of the church are beautiful. 😉
Hanging Valleys – Algarve, Portugal
If you are a landscape lover like us, then don’t leave Algarve without visiting the seven hanging valleys. It is a 5.7 km walking route amid the cliffs from Marinha Beach to Vale Centeanes Beach. This walking route is very scenic and peaceful and something you don’t want to miss while visiting Algarve, Portugal.foto
Sao Lourenco De Almancil Church – Algarve, Portugal
You can find the Sao Lourenco De Almancil Church in the town Almancil. It was built in honour of Sao Lourenco. Of course, that doesn’t ring a bell, or maybe it does… But let me tell you a little bit more about this guy. Saint Lawrence was the earliest Christian version of Robin Hood. He became a real legend: he gave money to the poor and got punished and tortured because of that. His life scenes are on the walls and ceiling of the church. You can spot his life scenes on the traditional Portuguese blue and white tiles. From the outside, this church seems to be like any other church in Portugal, but the magnificent interior is what makes this church so beautiful and is considered as one of the greatest artistic treasures in the Algarve.
Ria Formosa National Park – Algarve, Portugal
Ria Formosa is part of three protected areas in the Algarve. It has become a natural reserve since 1978. The wetland Ria Formosa is constantly changing due to the constant movement of winds, currents and tides. This area is a paradise for bird watchers as it is the home to many species. You can hike the national park and witness the different flora and fauna or book a boat tour that leaves from Fago.
Useful links Rio Formosa National Park
Faro – Algarve, Portugal
Faro is the gateway to the Algarve region of Portugal. If your travelling to the Algarve this town will be your first destination because of the International Airport. This city gets often overlooked. But Faro has a relaxed Portuguese charm to it, and there are great activities to do. Faro is very scenic and has a historic walled city centre with a beautiful cathedral. As I mentioned, it’s close to Ria Formosa, where you can explore a series of saltwater lagoons, mudflats and wildlife. It’s easy to spend half a day wandering around in the centre and exploring the Ria Formosa nature park in the afternoon. A lot of tours and ferries depart from the small harbour in Fago to Ria Formosa and the deserted beaches on the sandbar islands.
Useful links Faro Portugal
Estoi Palace – Algarve, Portugal
Estoi is the home of the Rococo Style Estoi Palace in the Algarve region of Portugal. It’s only 10km away and is easily accessible because of the regular and inexpensive bus service that connects Faro with Estoi. This pink palace is a top-rated attraction in the Algarve region of Portugal. Built in the 19th century and the beautiful surroundings of the palace are what makes it so popular. Apart from the lush green garden, you will find fountains, lakes, and statues surrounding the palace.
Tavira – Algarve, Portugal
Tavira is a beautiful city in Algarve that date backs to the Roman occupation of Portugal. From the Roman bridge, you will have a beautiful view, and you can get your history fix at the many ruins, old Arab quarters and 21 churches Tavira has to offer. Don’t expect beautiful beaches at walking distance. You have to take the ferry to get to one of the pristine beaches near Tavira. And if you love crazy nightlife during your travels than Tavira is not for you. It’s not that kind of town. But as the popularity of the Algarve grows so can Tavira change as well.
Benagil Caves – Algarve, Portugal
So as I mentioned in this blog before. The Benagil Caves are one of the most beautiful spots in Algarve, Portugal. It’s a beautiful place in the Algarve, so it’s a must-see while you’re are in Portugal. The Benagil caves are only accessible with boats or kayaks, but if you’re a more an adventurous traveller like me, you can try to swim to Benagil Beach and visit the caves by yourself. It’s quite risky as well, but you will have a fantastic view once you enter the caves.
Note: it’s now forbidden to disembark in the Benagil cave. The boats only stay in the caves for a couple of minutes because it can be hectic. So our advice is to go in the morning as early as possible to visit the caves. And don’t forget to visit Praia da Marinha, one of the most beautiful beaches of Portugal and very close to the Benagil Caves of the Algarve.
Aljezur – Algarve, Portugal
If you want to spend some quiet time during your travels in the Algarve region of Portugal. Then you should surely visit Aljezur as the beaches in this region are very quiet and occupied by just a handful of people. Make sure to go to the beautiful beaches of Arrifana, Monte Clérigo and Carrapateira. They are all part of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. A stunning strip of coastline protected from development.
Useful links Aljezur
Alcoutim – Algarve, Portugal
Alcoutim is the most peaceful town in the Algarve with only 3000 inhabitants. You can visit the Castle of Alcoutim. This medieval castle was build in the 13th century. They predominantly built it to protect the city from Spanish Troops and to control the river traffic. Apart from the castle, you can also visit the churches Igreja Matriz de Alcoutim and Nossa Senhora da Conceição.
Useful links Alcoutim Portugal
Loule – Algarve, Portugal
Loule is the best place if you like to visit lively markets and wander around medieval towns. On Saturday’s there are two different markets: the gipsy market and the more traditional Portuguese market. This weekly market is the largest market in the Algarve region and is one of the biggest attractions of Loule. If you’re visiting Loule in the summer make sure to check out the dates for Festival Med. This annual summer event is in Loulé’s historic centre where you can experience the best of Mediterranean culture.
Useful links Loule Portugal
Albufeira – Algarve, Portugal
With a lively nightlife, great restaurants and fabulous beaches Albufeira is the most dynamic city of the Algarve region of Portugal. It’s the number one holiday destination in Portugal, so that’s why Albufeira is on this list of 20 must-see places in the Algarve. Albufeira main focus is on mass-tourism. This famous Algarve city attracts a lot of families, couples and group of friends who like to party. So you can expect a lot of English menu boards and rowdy bars at night. So if you’re into that: Albufeira is your destination in Portugal. With cheap package deals, a lot of tourists from Europe fly into Albufeira for a sunny holiday. If you want to enjoy Albufeira more peacefully, we advise you to book your hotel away from the bar strip of Albufeira.
Useful links Albufeira Portugal
Portugal Travel Planning Guide
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for Portugal?
100% YES! — With basic coverage averaging just $2 USD daily, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Safety Wing, one of the biggest names in travel insurance.
💧Can you drink tap water in Portugal?
Yes — However, drinking bottled water in Portugal is generally recommended. Most locals drink bottled water, which is readily available and affordable throughout the country. Tap water is safe for drinking, showering, and brushing teeth, but tap water in Portugal contains a lot of chlorine. So the taste is not good, and if you decide to drink tap water, make sure you use a water filter that can filter out the chlorine and other contaminants. When we’re on the road, we always use the Zero Water Filter, which we can easily take with us.
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car in Portugal?
Yes — Renting a car in Portugal is one of the best ways to see the country. I always rent with Rentalcars, which checks international and local Portuguese companies, so you get the best rates.
🏩 What’s the best way to book places to stay in Portugal?
For Portugal hotels, Booking.com is the best site.
🛫 What’s the best site to buy Portugal flights?
Lisbon International Airport and Faro International Airport offer many connections throughout the day. To find the best flights to Portugal, I recommend using Skyscanner.
⛵️ Where to book the best tours in Portugal?
For the best tours in Portugal, I highly recommend booking your trips at Get Your Guide.
🛂 Do I need a visa for Portugal?
Maybe — When you don’t hold a Schengen Passport you need to apply for a Portugal Schengen Visa. Most travelers receive a 90-day (single entry) or 180-day (multiple entry) visa that allows you to visit both Portugal and all the countries within the Schengen Area for as long as your Visa is valid. When you hold a Schengen Passport you are allowed to travel free within the Schengen Area. Find more information on the government site of Portugal.
😃 Is Portugal safe to visit?
Portugal is considered a safe country to travel to, just like in every country, you must be aware when you visit larger cities.
🗣 Do they speak English in Portugal?
Yes – but not in all parts of the country. The Algarve region, the most southern part of Portugal, almost everyone speaks English. Lisbon and Porto region you’ll also find many people that can speak English. However, when you visit the Portuguese countryside you’ll find that most people only speak Portuguese. Read more in our article Is English Widely Spoken in Portugal?
⭐️ What is the best time to visit Portugal?
Portugal is a great destination all year round. The southern region Algarve has the most sunshine days of Europe. During the winter months, it gets 18-20°C on average. When we’re in Portugal during winter we celebrate NYE always on the beach!
If you want to visit the countryside and northern part of Portugal best time to visit is between April and September, since the winter months can be very rainy and cold in that area of the country.