The Algarve, Portugal - A Travel Guide
Last Updated: August 11, 2023
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ABOUT ALGARVE | SHOULD I GO? | WHAT TO DO | WHERE TO STAY | WHERE TO EAT | WHERE TO PARTY
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Sun, Sea and Sand
The Algarve area of Portugal is the southernmost of all the provinces and spans from the Spanish border to the shorelines of the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Famed for its great weather, long golden beaches, stunning hotel resorts and world-beating golf courses, this is the place to come and relax.
The delightful seaside towns on the south coast include Faro, Portimao, Lagos, Vilamoura and probably most famously Albufeira. These gorgeous little white-walled towns are not only picturesque, they are also vibrant, lively and exciting. Whilst they may not have the draw or the appeal of the bigger cities such as Lisbon and Porto, they have a great ambience. The small towns that make up the Algarve now draw in over 7 million visitors a year.
Back to the Algarve, We Go
Having travelled around most of the Algarve, from Vilamoura to the westernmost tip of the Algarve at the Cabo De Sao Vicente Lighthouse, we can safely say we love it. We have visited the Algarve on a few occasions now, and long may it continue.
Whilst we do enjoy exploring and finding new cultures, people and food, sometimes it’s nice to just sit down and relax, lapping up the sun's rays with a cocktail in hand and not having to worry about anything other than "Should I swim or not?".
One of the things I love about the small towns in the Algarve is that, whilst they are small, they all centre around two things. Firstly, the beach during the day, and secondly, the small town square in the evening. As the sun drops past the horizon, people migrate from the beaches to the bars. The bars and restaurants spill out into the main square, and the atmosphere is just great fun.
One of the funniest stories from the Algarve is from our most recent trip with a work friend. We booked a cheap 4-night getaway, expecting to be staying in a standard resort. Upon arrival and a bit of mick-taking about who is staying in such a posh place, we found ourselves being called off the bus.
We thought it was all wrong but somehow we had booked into paradise on the cheap. It was only when we
got to our room to find that we had ordered a double bed, and a bathroom with a glass shower door, and a toilet that could pretty much be seen from the bed that we had realised it had all gone badly wrong. We laughed so much we nearly cried.
So Should I Go There?
Yes, there is no real downside to this intriguing and enchanting area of Portugal. The weather is on the whole perfect, the people are friendly and the beaches are heavenly. This is all helped with cheaper prices for food and drink than in the other more popular tourist destinations around western Europe.
If you enjoy relaxing or sunning yourself on a beach or around a pool then you probably should look to book a trip very soon. If you prefer a city break or an adventure dipping your toes into other cultures, then maybe it’s not the right place for you. That still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come, particularly if you are in need of a quick, cheap, relaxing break where you can get away from the daily grind.
The is something about the Algarve that draws us back time after time, and other than the obvious, we think it is the way and pace of life out here. No one is in a rush, there is no pressure and things will get done when they get done. The people seem to be so much happier with that and we can fully understand that.
The other big reason to come to the Algarve is the food. Whilst they do the standard fries and pizza, their fish dishes and fresh seafood is delicious. Foods are treated as a serious business out here and some of the restaurants hidden away are amongst the best we have been to.
If golf is your game, then you will be spoiled for choice as the south coast has a number of award-winning courses ranging inability.
What to do when Backpacking The Algarve
The Algarve is a large area and covers a long coastline, however, that still doesn’t mean there are a large number of things to do. The area is all about relaxing and enjoying the finer things in life, after a bit of sunshine and sport comes the olives and breads, maybe followed by a glass of wine or two. That said, there are still a few things worth getting out of the sun lounger for.
Cabo De Sao Vicente Lighthouse
Located on the Westernmost tip of Algarve, this lighthouse guides ships safely from the Atlantic Ocean and points them in the direction of the Strait of Gibraltar. Whilst there has been a beacon or structure on this point for hundreds of years, it has not always been easy. Previous towers have been destroyed by the likes of Francis Drake, as well as being allowed to fall into disrepair in the late 1800s. The lighthouse we see today has been standing and operational (with a few modifications) for over 100 years.
It for us was one of the best things to see and do in the Algarve, with good parking, amazing views, stunning walks and an insight into the history of the area. We highly recommend you take a car and come down to the lighthouse, although buses do take large groups all day too should that suit you better. If you want to beat the crowds, the earlier the better: get there around 9 A.M. You have to pay for the toilets but it's less than a euro. Well worth the 1 hour 15-minute drive from Albufeira.
Beach Days
One thing the Algarve has in abundance is long, golden beaches with wonderful rocky cliffs and coves in which to relax and soak up the sun. You could literally have a different beach for every day of your trip, there are that many.
The most magical part about the golden beaches isn’t the cooling sea, the stunning cliffs or the sand, it is that regardless of the 7 million-plus visitors each year the beaches are clean, tidy and uncrowded. It really is a delight to find such uninterrupted beauty within a major tourist destination. A few of our preferred beaches for you include São Rafael as a relaxing enjoyable beach with a lovely little restaurant, Praia da Marinha for cave exploring and snorkelling, and Praia da Amoreira for good surf.
FIESA
Slightly inland just north of a town called Pera you will find the FIESA, the international sand sculpture festival. Again, from the town of Albufeira, you are looking at a 20-minute drive. This is a wonderful display of sand sculptures that all merge together to create a stunning piece of art. At night the sculptures all light up making for a very impressive display. The best time to see them is in the summer, as by November they start to deteriorate due to the weather, but are still impressive.
Water Parks
There's an unsurprisingly high a number of amazing waterparks in the Algarve, great for the young-minded as well as young. It really is just what you need in the heat of the summer sun down here. We haven't been to them all but can highly recommend Slide and Splash. It had more than enough to keep all the ages entertained.
Other than those few things, we would be clutching at straws with what to do or advise on things to do, so head into the towns and chill with a nice drink around the main squares in the heat of the sun and people watch. It really is a case of relax and do nothing, unless that is you like a spot of golf.
Where to Stay Whilst Backpacking The Algarve
Over the years our trips to the Algarve area have taken us around 3 or 4 of the beautiful little towns, and each has its own charm and character. It would be hard to pick one over any of the others; you will find great accommodation in all of them, so we will not suggest you chose one town over another.
The decision you have to make is; a villa or hotel? Only once have we ever stayed in anything other than a villa. We always think having your own place to come back to is brilliant: your own pool, no children running around screaming, and it is always nice to cook on your own BBQ or head out for dinner. By not having a hotel, you are more likely to make your way out to experience the real towns, restaurants and bars.
Having said that, during the most recent trip we did stay in a beautiful hotel called São Rafael Atlântico, and one I would stay at again. Not only that, but our room was within a 10-minute walk to our favourite beach. The facilities were fantastic, the pools were clean, surrounded by palm trees and the food was delightful. Everything about this hotel was great, other than the fact we had a bathroom fit for a couple.
It was set slightly out of town, and whilst during the evening it was a pleasant walk in, it was too hot to walk in during the day. The hotel has even thought of this by putting on a free shuttle a few times a day, which is very reliable and clean.
All of this comes at a very good price of around £90 a night based on a double room, depending on which site you book.
Where to Eat When Backpacking The Algarve
This is a tricky one to answer, as the Algarve is a massive place and covers the whole south coast of Portugal. The answer really depends on where within the Algarve you chose to stay, and if you have transport during your time in the area which we recommend if you want to explore anyway.
However we shall shout out a few of our favourite places from different areas, and if you are near them, pop in and give them a try.
Our first one is Ruccula in the small town of Alvor, whilst it may not look overly spectacular it more than makes up for this in taste, food presentation, the amazing staff, and the overall character. Whilst you will pay a bit more here for a meal than most other restaurants with similar standards of food, we think it is worth it. The fish and the steak are mouth-watering and the option I would go back for again.
There is only one issue with this place and that is, it’s so good you have to book a few days minimum prior, otherwise, you are relying on sheer luck as to getting a table.
Casa Da Fonte is in one of my favourite areas (Albufeira) brings the outside in. This wonderful-looking building and fascinating interior are matched by the levels of food. The restaurant specialised in seafood and they certainly know what they are doing with it. Whilst there are a number of grilled fish on the menu, their shellfish tastes wonderful. The prices are really good as well averaging around 15 euros (£12) for the main meal. If you are a fish fan, we think this really is the best place in town to come.
Our last recommendation is Le Cro in the town of Carvoeiro. This wonderful little winery serves up some of the best meals in the region. Not only will you receive fantastic food, but you’ll be given advice and guidance on what wines accompany your meal. Everything about this little place is ideal, the staff and owners really care about the food and wines, the atmosphere is great and the tapas are stunning, all polished off with a couple of glasses of wine.
The evening here couldn’t have been any better. There isn’t a lot to choose from, but that adds to the brilliance of the place. What they do cook, they cook to perfection. The prices were really good too when you consider how good the whole experience was. Very similar to above if you look at around 15-20 euros (£12-£15) for the mains you won’t be too far off.
There are so many other places to eat within the small towns, offering all the standard, pizza, chips and the odd curry house but the three above are places with great local dishes, an overall fantastic evening and at a good value. You will find whatever you want within the little towns, and we have eaten at some lovely places but we feel these three jump out at us more than the others.
Where to Drink and Party when Backpacking The Algarve
Being one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations there are so many places to party the night away with the stag and hen dos, but there are also wonderful bars, with views out to see, stunning atmosphere and the ability to enjoy a couple of sociable drinks.
Much like the section above, it all depends on where you are staying and what you are looking for. Each town has many great bars dotted around the coast and or in the town square allowing you to people watch over a cold beer, cocktail or spirit. However, Albufeira seems to be the nightlife capital, with more clubs and late night bars than the others.
In Albufeira, there is one area with partying and clubbing in mind and that’s at the southern part of Avenue Sá Carneiro, just off the main roundabout. This is where you will find the bar crawls, a couple of clubs and a few of the bars to kick the night on. It is also where you will find the rowdy hens and stags. Whilst most serve food as well it really isn’t somewhere we are going to recommend for a nice meal, but for drinks it’s perfect.
Some of the bars you may want to visit are:
Matt’s Bar, with a wicked outdoor area, and whacky colourful interior you are sure to be in for a good night.
Libertos Lounge Club is another great place for a few drinks, especially if you decide you want to move on from beers, with a lot more choice of whisky, gins etc…
If a more stylish (slightly more local) drink was something you were after, then stroll out of Albufeira to the harbour where you will find Sangria Bar lounge. This is where you’ll find a lovely sangria (I know, the name gives it away) and a few other delicious cocktails.
What You'll Need to Blend In
Sun Cream
Speedos
A love of golf
Sunhat
