Best things to do in the Algarve, Portugal

Ría Formosa Natural Park

The Ria Formosa Natural Park stretches from almost the Spanish border to the vicinity of Faro. It is a unique coastal lagoon that changes constantly due to the continuous movement of winds, currents and tides.

The Formosa Estuary covers an area of more than 18,000 hectares and is protected from the sea by five barrier islands and two peninsulas. This impressive area is considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal and extends through the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.

Tavira

Tavira is a very beautiful fishing village, for me, one of the most charming villages of the Algarve because it preserves its essence and is not as exploited as Portimao and Albufeira.

Tavira, a city of Roman origin with a later Muslim presence, possesses great monumental and artistic wealth that can be appreciated in its historic center, on top of the small hill in the center of the city. At its feet, the Gilao River divides the city into two and the main districts of the city are located on its banks. On its shore, the most pleasant area of the city, there are gardens lined with cafes until you reach the Mercado del Puerto and invite you to a quiet stroll.

Tavira is full of restaurants and fishermen’s bars where you can taste excellent menus in which there will almost always be a large filet of tuna, whose fishing continues to be the main economic support of its inhabitants.

In front of Tavira, we have the famous Ilha de Tavira or Tavira Island. It is a wonderful island that is accessed by ferry/boat (costs 2 € round trip). It offers miles of dune beaches dotted with bars and restaurants where you can taste the fishing of the day. In this beach, there is also a campsite, so it can be a good option for the more adventurous.

Olhao

Olhao is located very close to Faro. Olhao is a much more urban and modern city than Tavira, although it still preserves a very authentic fishermen’s quarter.

As in Tavira, despite having a marina, the water that limits it to the south belongs to the Natural Park of the Ria Formosa, so it is also necessary to take a boat to reach the nearby islands of Culatra or da Armona, where we can enjoy excellent beaches, such as do Farol.

Faro

The city of Faro is the capital of the region and its artistic and monumental center. It is home to Faro’s international airport and it is precisely for this reason that many people pass by and do not visit the city. For most tourists, Faro is just a passing city, although, in reality, it is a city with a unique charm and a long history behind it that has managed to overcome invasions and earthquakes as well as tourism.

Faro has a small and picturesque walled historic center with a cathedral worth visiting. The modern city situated around the wall has the most important university in the south of Portugal.

In addition to its historic center and the adjacent small marina, Faro stands out as an ideal starting point for excursions to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, as it is surrounded by lagoons, canals, small islands and salt flats, where many species of birds nest -among them flamingos- and where, during low tide, it is frequent to see shellfishermen collecting clams. There are tourist boats with specific routes through the marshes. See more about Faro.

Albufeira

The Albufeira is the most important city in the central region of the Algarve and where most of the sun and beach tourism is concentrated.

It may be a good place to party someday, but it’s not a representative destination for the real Algarve.

Quarteira and Vilamoura, towns near the Albufeira have copied their tourism model although for people with higher purchasing power.

They are cities facing the beach, with numerous blocks of high apartments and shops for tourists.

Vilamoura also has services focused on the enjoyment of golf and tourism with high purchasing power. Vilamoura could resemble a Portuguese Marbella.

Pera

Pera is a fairly normal city that lies between Albufeira and Portimao. The most remarkable thing about Pera is its exhibition of sand sculptures that has been carried out for more than 15 years.

The exhibition is almost a small town full of sand sculptures several meters high. The exhibition is usually open from April to October and opens around 10 a.m., although the closing time depends on the month. The price is around 9 € for adults and 4.5 € for children.

In addition, there are also workshops where children and adults can take some classes and dare to work with sand to create their own sculptures.

For more information, you can visit their official website.

Portimao

Portimao is one of the largest towns in the Algarve and has an important fishing port at the mouth of the River Arade. The most interesting parts of Portimao are the city center, the river bank and Rocha Beach (to the south of the city).

Praia da Rocha, one of the first tourist enclaves of the Algarve. The beach is situated between magnificent cliffs and an ancient fort.

In order to eat, I advise avoiding doing it in Praia da Rocha since it is too tourist and the relation quality price is not very good. However, next to the river, next to the bridge, there is an enormous offer of restaurants that serve delicious fresh fish.

Lagos

Already in the west of the Algarve we find Lagos a city that everyone should visit.

Founded as a fishing village, Lagos soon became a major commercial and tourist port. Part of its legacy can be seen in the Municipal Museum.

Inside the wall is the historic centre which is now pedestrianized and where you can find small pubs and bars. As there aren’t too many hotels in the city, you won’t feel the overwhelming sensation that occurs in other tourist cities.

Lagos also has wide beaches and small hidden coves with turquoise blue water as Dona Ana or Do Camilo.

Lagos is an example of how well sun and beach tourism can be integrated while preserving the city’s historical and traditional legacy.

Also noteworthy of Lagos is Ponta da Piedade, one of the most beautiful areas of the Algarve and from where you can discover some of the best caves of the Algarve.

Silves

Silves, on the other hand, has no coast, but it does have an important historical attraction: a perfectly conserved castle in the upper part of a traditional village. Small and very pleasant to stroll or sit down to eat in one of its restaurants.

Sagres

Sagres is the last city we meet before reaching the confines of the world and falling into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Although there is nothing special about the city, it has a very curious young and surfing atmosphere.

Sagres also has a formidable fort at Cabo de Sagres to lose yourself in and from where you can take spectacular photographs of the surrounding cliffs.

Nearby is the Cape of San Vicente, presided over by its historic lighthouse and famous for being visited by many tourists and locals to enjoy the sunset from their cliffs.

Of course, Sagres has wonderful beaches such as Beliche, Martinhal and Mareta ideal to enjoy with the family and others like the beach of Tonel only suitable for more experienced surfers.

As a curious fact, from the beach of Tonel, located between Cape Sagres and Cape San Vicente, departed most of the journeys of the brave sailors and discoverers from Portugal. In fact, the prestigious School of Navigation was established here, from which great discoverers such as Fernando Magallanes, Pedro Álvares Cabral and Vasco de Gama would emerge.

Summary

Remember, this is for guidance only:

• Best General Destination: Lagos, Albufeira or Praia da Rocha
• For Families: Albufeira, Praia da Rocha, most of the central Algarve
• Historical and Cultural: Lagos, Tavira, Faro and Silves (as an excursion)
• Surf: Sagres
• Relaxing Holidays: Tavira, Alvor, Praia da Luz o Carvoeiro
• Where to party: Albufeira, Praia da Rocha and Lagos
• Golf: Vilamoura and Albufeira
• For Christmas: Albufeira, Praia da Rocha or Lagos

The Portuguese Algarve has something that hooks, whether by its landscapes, its people or its food, do not fail to enjoy your visit to this magical land.