These are the 21 most beautiful beaches in the Algarve [2024 update]
The Portuguese Algarve is rich in a wide range of beautiful beaches where you can easily spend a whole day in the warm sun and blue water. Lie down in a quiet spot under a parasol and completely relax, snorkel among the fish or step aboard a boat and take a nice watery excursion!
Most of the beaches in the Algarve are easily accessible by car or are located directly at a village, but for some you will have to drive a short (or sometimes quite a bit) (off-road) distance to get there. The advantage of this last category is that you will encounter very few other people. You might even have the beach completely to yourself!
Below you will find what I consider to be the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve that are definitely worth a visit during your adventure in Portugal. They are not necessarily in order, but they all have something unique that makes them worth discovering. You will also find recommendations for nearby restaurants and cafes, so you can make the most of your day at the beach. Which beach in the Algarve will you visit first?
🏖 My favourite two beaches in the Algarve (click to expand)
”One of the reasons I fell in love with the Algarve is the beautiful and varied beaches that can be found there. The beautiful light sand and the versatile character of the sea that is crystal clear blue in the summer and produces waves that you can’t believe your eyes in the autumn, surprises me time and time again.
In the summer, ‘we’ share the beaches mainly with sun seekers, in the other seasons only with locals, expats and surfers. There is a friendly atmosphere and while floating in the water waiting for the next wave I regularly meet familiar faces. On a good surfing day I can be found on the west coast at Praia do Tonel, Praia do Castelejo or Praia do Amado. Is the forecast for the west coast above 2 meters? Then I look for the south coast and go into the water at Praia de Porto Mós or Praia da Luz, where it is often half as much. Also a surfer? Then read this page about surfing in the Algarve.
I prefer to lie in the water rather than on the sand, but if I had to choose two favourite beaches, they would be Praia do Burgau and Praia da Arrifana.
Praia do Burgau is small and friendly, which makes it the perfect location for me to make the most of a relaxing day of sun or surfing and then end it with a drink at the tiny A Prateleira café.
Praia da Arrifana is a bit of a drive, but I like to go there because the surfing is good all year round and the view of the beach from above is phenomenal. What’s more, the drive there is also an adventure, as you wind your way through the Algarve’s interior past sleepy villages and valleys with grazing cattle.”
Map with the 21 most beautiful beaches in the Algarve
On the interactive map below, you will find my favorite beaches of the Algarve in one image. Of course, I have visited them all several times for a walk, surf session or to watch the sunset.
📌 Click on a pin to read its name and a short description.
👇 Scroll down for more information about each beach.
💡 Save this page to come back later for inspiration!
Below you will find a list of the most beautiful beaches of the Algarve. Of course, it is a bit like comparing apples and oranges, so the number 1 is not necessarily ‘better’ than the last. One thing is for sure: if the beach makes this list, it is definitely a beautiful beach and worth a visit!
These are the 21 most beautiful beaches in the Algarve plus explanations:
1. Praia do Camilo – Lagos
Praia do Camilo is one of the most beautiful beaches the Algarve has to offer. This small sandy beach is hidden on the outskirts of Lagos in a picturesque landscape of yellow-orange rocks and cliffs. It is reached by a wooden winding staircase that leads down to the sand.
Thanks to all its natural beauty, it is a popular destination for a photo or a day of relaxing on the beach. at high tide sometimes there is no where to sit.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Restaurante Camilo
⭐ Things to do: Boat trip or
kayak adventure
2. Praia da Marinha
Praia da Marinha is one of the most beautiful beaches the Algarve has to offer. It is located between Armação de Pêra and Carvoeiro and is easily accessible by public transport or rental car. On three sides are towering cliffs, worn out by centuries of erosion.
Walk along the crystal clear waters and see rock pillars rising from the water here and there. Praia da Marinha is a popular stop for visitors to the Algarve for a day of sun, snorkeling or hiking along one of the many trails.
This beach is also the starting or ending point of the Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos : a walking route of about 6 kilometers from this beach to Praia do Vale de Centeanes.
🥘 Restaurant tip : Pashmina
⭐ What to do: Pirate boat tour
3. Praia de Benagil and Benagil
At just 70 metres wide, Praia de Benagil may not be the ideal beach for a relaxing day of sunbathing, but it is the best location to hire a SUP, kayak or canoe to explore nearby caves and hidden gems.
Since 2024, it is no longer allowed to enter the cave by sup, kayak or swimming, due to the crowds and the risk of accidents.
Tip: Still want to visit the Benagil cave? You can still do so by boat! Discover the best Benagil cave boat trips here.
🥘 Restaurant tip : Dumar d’benagil
⭐ Things to do: Boat trip to the Benagil Cave
4. Praia do Zavial – Raposeira
Praia do Zavial is an easily accessible surf and relax beach located between Lagos and Sagres. Due to its south-westerly orientation, this beach offers smaller waves than the west coast when there is swell, making it a popular spot for beginning surfers when the south coast is flat. Please note that there is no surfboard rental here. However, a number of nearby surf schools come here for lessons. If you want to rent a surfboard, stop along the way at The Bunker, a surf shop with an adjoining restaurant.
There is a parking lot right on the beach, but it fills up quickly, so the verge to it is also used as an overflow parking lot. In the weekend and high season you want to be there early to get a parking spot.
Adjacent to the beach you will find the eponymous restaurant Zavial, where you can enjoy a delicious meal after a day of sun or surf worship.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Zavial
⭐Things to do: Coasteering adventure
5. Praia do Tonel – Sagres
Praia do Tonel is one of the most popular beaches in Sagres – and for good reason. Beautifully situated at the foot of impressive cliffs, the beach, within walking distance, offers surf waves almost every day, ranging in size from knee-high to 3 meters in the autumn. This is also a popular beach for learning to surf.
Are you just coming for the sun? Then you’ll be fine here thanks to the shelter provided by the cliffs. Be careful not to lie too close to the wall – rocks can sometimes crumble and fall down.
In high season there is a pop-up bar on a jetty where you can order drinks and simple dishes. Parking is possible on the road to the beach, or just past the last exit on the huge parking lot of Fortaleza de Sagres.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Three Little Birds (3 minute drive)
⭐ Things to do: Take a surfing lesson
6. Praia do Castelejo – Vila do Bispo
Praia do Castelejo is a wide west coast beach that merges into Praia do Cordoama to the north. Situated on steep cliffs with an impressive rock formation adjacent, this beach is popular for sunset pictures, surfing or a beach walk. When the tide is low, you can climb the rock that is half in the water and view the beach from above.
Popular with surfers, you’ll often find surf schools here when the waves are small, and the pros on shortboards when towers of 3+ meters roll by.
Adjacent to the parking lot is restaurant Castelejo, where they serve various Portuguese fish and meat dishes. In high season (and certainly in combination a weekend) the paved + unpaved parking lots fill up quickly, so arrive before 10:00 or after 17:00 if you want to avoid parking stress.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Restaurant Castelejo
⭐ Things to do: Jeep tour along the coast
📸 Viewpoint tip : Cordoama viewpoint
7. Praia do Amado – Carrapateira
Praia do Amado is located on the west coast, just outside the town of Carrapateira. Easily accessible via a paved road, this wide sandy beach is a wonderful destination for a full day of water fun. In addition to two simple eateries, you can take surfing lessons here or brave the waves on your own with a rented surfboard.
There are two large car parks with ample space, so you can find a parking spot all year round.
🥘 Restaurant tip : More of a snack bar than a restaurant, but just before the path to the beach you can get simple but fine sandwiches and toasties at this shack on the right, or a cup of coffee with a Pastel de Nata. If the weather is nice, there are a number of sun loungers from which you can gaze at the beautiful beach.
⭐Things to do :
Surfing lessons or
horse riding !
Click to unfold & watch my video
8. Praia da Arrifana – Arrifana
Praia da Arrifana is a personal favorite beach. Although parking directly on the beach is impossible (only accessible to residents and guests of the accommodations), it is worth the descent and later the climb on foot.
Sheltered on the north and south sides by huge and impressive cliffs, here often roll in somewhat milder waves than at the southern neighboring beach Amado. In Arrifana you will find many surf schools and longboarders, but just relaxing in the sun is certainly an option as well.
At the end of the path down, before you walk onto the beach, you will find a toilet building and a little further up you can have a bite to eat or a drink in one of the small restaurants.
🥘 Restaurant tip : Cal Arrifana
⭐ Things to do :
Surfing lessons for beginners
9. Praia da Luz – Luz
Directly adjacent to the atmospheric boulevard of the village of Luz, you will find the medium-sized Praia da Luz . In the summer months you can do a number of water activities here, such as sitting on a banana boat or taking a boat trip; in the low season, locals, digital nomads & expats play volleyball here and there is a lot of surfing.
On the east side you can walk up the mountain to the ‘Rocha Negra’, from where you can see Lagos on one side and Luz on the other from above.
The boulevard is a paradise for food lovers , because you can find delicious fresh Portuguese fish and meat dishes here. In high season, make sure to book (a few days) in advance to get a table.
🥘 Restaurant tips : Boaty’s Tapas & Latitude
⭐ Things to do :
Boat trip along Luz from Lagos
10. Praia dos Três Irmãos – Alvor
Praia dos Três Irmãos is a nice beach full of cliffs, rocks and tunnels that are so typical for the Algarve. Located just outside Alvor, this beach is easily accessible by parking the car in the parking lot behind it.
Spread along the beach you will find a number of restaurants where you can enjoy cocktails, lunch or dinner.
Don’t forget to bring your snorkel and mask, because around the cliffs you can enjoy snorkeling and see countless colorful fish.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Restinga of Al Dente
⭐ Things to do: Skydive in Alvor
11. Meia Praia – Lagos
Within walking distance of the centre of Lagos you will find the large Meia Praia beach next to the Lagos Marina harbour. Easily accessible via the pedestrian bridge or by driving around the harbour, this is a popular beach among surfers & sun worshippers .
When there is a southerly swell, Meia Praia is popular with surfers and surf schools and is therefore an excellent place to learn to surf. In the dunes you will find a handful of restaurants where you can find typical Portuguese dishes, but of course also cocktails.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Bahia Beach Bar
⭐ Things to do :
Surfing lessons from Lagos
12. Praia da Ingrina – Raposeira
Just around the corner from the aforementioned Praia do Zavial, lies its little sister Praia da Ingrina. In the summer, this is an ideal beach for snorkeling, as on both sides of the bay, many fish swim around the underwater rock formations.
In the small restaurant Sebastião you can enjoy a sandwich, salad or fish dish while looking out over the clear water.
In the surfing season there is a good break on the left, but because the bay is so narrow it feels crowded with more than 5 surfers and the locals can sometimes get a bit competitive.
🥘Restaurant tip :
Sebastião. Even though they are the only restaurant at this beach with a monopoly and a sea view, they still serve excellent Portuguese food for a fair price.
⭐ Things to do: Coasteering adventure
13. Praia da Oura – Albufeira
Just around the corner from the busy Praia dos Pescadores in Albufeira is the quieter
Praia da Oura beach. If you don’t feel like being in the hustle and bustle, this beach on the east side is a great place to spend a day in the sun without too much noise. There are also plenty of fish to be found around the Pedra dos Bicos (the point) so if you have a snorkel mask, don’t forget to bring it! At the small
Casa Algarvia you can get a cold Superbock and a snack.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Beach Café for a good burger accompanied by a smoothie or Sangria.
⭐ Things to do:
Boat trip from Albufeira
14. Praia da Ilha de Tavira – Tavira
Off the coast of the eastern city of Tavira lies the island of the same name Ilha de Tavira . On this island lies the beautiful Praia da Ilha de Tavira . This beautiful sandy beach and the dunes behind it are a nice excursion from the city, since you can take a ferry from the center to the island.
A short 20-minute walk to the southwest will take you to Praia do Barril, where you will find the ‘anchor graveyard’: a cordoned-off section of dune with dozens of large old anchors that were once used in fishing.
From there you can take a small train through the dunes to arrive at a pedestrian bridge over the river. Once there, you can take an Uber or taxi back to Tavira to finish your loop!
🥘 Bar-tip: Xiri Beach Bar
⭐ Things to do : city tour by tuktuk!
15. Praia de Faro – Faro
Faro, the capital of the Algarve, is not directly on the sea and therefore has no beach within walking distance. However, step aboard one of the ferries in the harbour and for a few euros you will find yourself on the beautiful Praia de Faro !
This long sandy beach on the edge of the Ria Formosa nature park is a popular escape for locals and visitors to the capital for a day of sun & sea.
Praia de Faro can also be reached by car, if you drive around the airport and park here.
Where the island is connected to the mainland by a bridge you will find some buildings, but walk left or right along the coast and you will find an oasis of tranquility where the only buildings are sand castles.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Elementos
16. Praia da Bordeira – Aljezur
Praia da Bordeira is a fantastic beach located on the west coast of the Algarve. It is one of the few beaches in the Algarve with a large sand dune behind it and walking along the beach from the parking lot to the water you feel like you are in the Sahara or Tatooine.
At the south end of the beach is an estuary of a small river with the beautiful Pontal da Carrapateira behind it: a dramatic landscape consisting of high cliffs and rugged rock formations.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Microbar
⭐ Things to do : Horse riding
17. Praia do Carvoeiro – Carvoeiro
Praia do Carvoeiro is a nice little beach in the village of the same name. It is surrounded by cliffs and against the back wall there are a number of good restaurants. It is also a good snorkeling spot thanks to the underwater rocks and stones. In high season there are sunbeds for rent and a lifeguard is present.
Carvoeiro village is not big, but it has a number of nice studios where artists sell their pottery, clothing and other souvenirs.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Levels
⭐ Things to do : Slide & Splash waterpark
18. Praia do Beliche – Sagres
📽 Click to watch my short video
When the waves are too big at the neighbouring beach Praia do Tonel, many surfers seek out the smaller waves of Praia do Beliche . This beach is located on the west coast, a five-minute drive from Sagres. From the car park you walk via a (fairly steep) staircase towards the beach, which is well sheltered from the north-westerly wind. This means you can lie in the sun here without feeling a breath of wind.
Right on the beach you will find one restaurant: Beliche Beach Bar, which is built on stilts and where you can get lunch and drinks. For something a little more refined, I recommend Carme restaurant, which is opposite the parking lot.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Carme_Restaurant
⭐ Things to do : Sunset jeep tour
19. Praia de Porto Mós – Lagos
Praia de Porto Mós is one of the two largest sandy beaches in Lagos, the other being Meia Praia. It is a popular beach as it borders Lagos, but due to its wide width you can always find a quiet spot away from the crowds if you walk a few minutes across the sand towards the west. On either side of the beach you will find colourful cliffs which offer good protection from the often present north-westerly winds.
Praia de Porto Mós is easily reached from Lagos by car or on foot and there are two large unpaved car parks directly behind the beach. However, these can fill up quickly in high season so arrive before 10am or after 4.30pm when the first beach goers are returning to their accommodation.
There are a few beachside restaurants at Praia de Porto Mós with fresh fish and drinks to recover from a long day of lounging on the beach – or surfing the waves if there’s a southerly swell. Tip: go for a freshly caught fish at Campimar restaurant. Make sure to book a day in advance to avoid disappointment in high season.
🥘 Restaurant tip: Campimar
⭐ Things to do :
SUP along the coast
20. Praia do Cordoama – Vila do Bispo
Praia do Cordoama is located next to Praia do Castelejo on the west coast and is a popular surf spot thanks to its multiple breaks. In the summer you will find pleasant waves of 2-4 feet, but in the winter they quickly climb to 3 or 4 meters (!)
Stroll along the beach or sit on the terrace at the (only) restaurant for a drink. Eating is also possible, but back in Vila do Bispo the dishes at Ribeira do Poço are much more popular.
Warning: You won’t have phone reception here, so you’ll have to talk to each other 😉
🥘 Restaurant tip: Ribeira do Poço
⭐ Things to do:
Paragliding above the beach
21. Praia do Burgau – Burgau
Praia do Burgau is located at the foot of the picturesque village of Burgau, situated between Lagos and Sagres. Formerly a fishing port, today a popular chill and surf beach which is well sheltered from the north-westerly wind thanks to the cliffs.
Burgau is small but nice: there are two supermarkets and a handful of restaurants. Parking in high season is best done around the Mais Perto supermarket. If you arrive before 08:00, you can park down at the beach if you are lucky, although there are only a handful of parking spaces there.
When the swell comes from the southeast, you can surf here very well. Tip: try the freshly baked cinnamon bun at the Mais Perto bakery/supermarket. If you come around 10:00 they will probably still be warm!
🥘 Restaurant tip: Miam Burgau
⭐ Things to do : Snorkeling
More great tips for your Algarve holiday
In addition to the above-mentioned sights, this website is full of other great tips for your adventure to the Algarve. You will find a complete overview of all the activities you can undertake, discover special overnight locations and find the best car rental company in the Algarve. If you have any questions, feel free to send a message and I will be happy to help you!
Activity tips
Have you always wanted to see dolphins in the wild? Or visit a local vineyard? The Algarve is full of fun activities on land, at sea and in the air that you can do during your holiday. View all activities on the activities page.
Accommodation tips
Do you like to stay in a special accommodation? Besides many beautiful hotels and resorts, there are also a number of special glamping and tiny houses to be found in the Algarve. View all my accommodation tips on this page:
Rental car tips
Finding a good car rental company can be quite a challenge. After all, you don’t want to be faced with unexpected costs or strange surprises. The Algarve Specialist therefore works exclusively with the best rental company in the Algarve: Luzcar.
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