My 4 favourite beaches in the Algarve

May 12, 2019

I recently visited the Algarve with my family on our annual villa holiday. We love Portugal and, since we’ve been going for six years now, it definitely feels like a second home and one of my favourite things about the area is its beautiful beaches.

I haven’t visited ALL of the beaches in the Algarve but these are four of my favourite ones that I’ve visited so far. We always visit at the end of April and it’s a really good time for a trip to Portugal as the weather is usually quite good (but not too hot!) and the resorts are quieter than later on in the season.

Albufeira

The beach at Albufeira Old Town is large and sandy with a lift down from the top promenade to the beach and plenty of room for sunbathing. This year there was a new bar on the beach which wasn’t open yet but looks like it will be a great place to enjoy a cocktail later on in the season.

We have noticed over the years that even Albufeira Old Town has become a bit more of a stag and hen do destination which is a vibe that I’m not that keen on, so it’s probably best to avoid this beach during the weekends.

Olhos de Agua

This is my parents’ favourite resort in the Algarve. It has quite a small sandy beach with boats and beach huts at one end.

We went for a late night stroll on this beach following dinner in the town.

Praia do Castelo

We have stayed near this resort for a couple of years. It’s quite small with a beach, a couple of hotels and a couple of restaurants and it is popular with German tourists.

The main beach at Praia do Castelo is nice – there is a cafe set into the cliff above the beach and the scenery is stunning.

Hunkemoller swimwear — Swimwear from Hunkemoller

But my favourite beach is just around the corner from the main one. If you walk around the cliffs to the left of the main beach, you’ll find a hidden gem, accessible by a steep cliff path.

This little cove was absolutely deserted when we got there, so it was like a private beach just for us.

Praia de Pera

This is a huge sandy beach and we like to walk from one end to the other which is a couple of miles, while dipping our toes in the cool Atlantic Ocean. I think even later on in the season, the size of this beach will mean that you’ll be able to find some space with a bit of privacy.

Don’t forget to grab an ice cream or a cold drink at the other end before you set off back.

Just keep your eyes peeled for the naked locals that like to sunbathe on this beach!

So that’s it – my favourite beaches in the Algarve. Are there any beaches that you think should be included?

Let me know and I’ll pop them on my itinerary for my next trip to the Algarve.

Places to stay in the Algarve

Tours from Albufeira

Here are some tours that you can do near to Albufeira. This section contains affiliate links. These don’t cost you anything but I will earn a little bit of commission if you do decide to book one.