Top 5:
Places to visit in Portugal’s Algarve
This October I went for an amazing girls trip to the Algarve and would love to share with you the top places to visit in Portugal’s Algarve coast. As Algarve can be quite touristy in summer, I can definitely recommend visiting in October when it’s still nice and warm and much less crowded compared to high season in July and September. We first flew in to Faro airport, rented ourselves a nice little car, and started our 1-week journey along the coast. So without further ado, here are the places you can’t miss when visiting Algarve.
1. Lagos
Lagos is located slightly further on the west side of the Algarve coast. It’s the perfect place to stay during your visit as you’ll be in close proximity to a lot of the beautiful sites. However, it is much more than just a conveniently located city along the Algarve coast. Lagos has a lively vibe while still maintaining a chill and calm atmosphere. The old town offers a variety of cute restaurants, bars and shops where from where you can get the perfect souvenirs to bring home. You can also do a range of boat tours directly from Lagos that can take you along the beautiful coasts and among the cliffs and famous caves such as the Benigal. Lagos is truly the perfect hotspot for you to get around the Algarve while also enjoying the charm of the city.
2. Burgau
Burgau is a small but incredibly charming town only a 20 minutes drive away from Lagos. It was probably my favorite spot in the whole of the Algarve. In the town you’ll find the most picturesque hilly streets that will ensure you the perfect Instagram photo. With the blue and white surrounded by colorful flowers you almost get the feel of being in Greece coastal town such as Santorini. At the end of the town you’ll encounter a small beach with white sand sheltered perfectly by the surrounding cliffs. Burgau is the perfect place for a chill beach day.
3. Tavira
Unlike Lagos, Tavira is located on the east side of Faro very close to the border of Spain. However, this does not mean you have to choose either one or the other. The Algarve coast is not too far in distance, making it only 1,5 hours between Lagos and Tavira. Tavira is a beautiful city offering a completely different look than the more western towns of the Algarve. It is much less hilly, has tons of narrow streets, old castles and a clear river flowing all the way through it to the coast at the end. To reach the beach at Tavira you have to get a ferry to cross the canals of the river, making for a unique experience in and of itself.
4. Silves
If you want to get away from the coastal towns and see a different side to the Algarve, Silves is the place to go. Located slighty more North from the coast, Silves is a beautiful mountain town with colorful hilly streets that offer a true local atmosphere. With a river running through, you get an almost fairytale like feeling of the place. It is easy to get to directly from the coastal highway and therefore not much of a detour. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you have the time.
5. Albufeira
Albufeira is a bit of a funny one for me to include. It is one of those places I would have loved back in the day, but perhaps have grown out of a bit. That is also why I still choose to include it, as Albufeira is an iconic location along the Algarve and does offer something for the right audience. Albufeira is a very cute, but also very touristy town. It is the party place of the Algarve, so if you’re looking for a fun night out, this is the place to go. Just make sure you include one overnight stay while you visit, so you can get the most out of the nightlife.
Would I recommend travelling in the Algarve?
Most definitely! The Algarve coast of Portugal has so many beautiful places to visit. However, I will say, you need to know what type of holiday you are going for. Don’t expect the typical Portuguese architecture and atmosphere you find further in the North of Portugal. What makes the it so special is by far the beaches and the coastal views. Algarve is the perfect place to go if you enjoy swimming in the ocean, relaxing at the beach and going on boat trips. The coastal towns are cute, but I found they gave me more of a feeling of being in Greece. This is of course not a bad thing at all, merely to set the expectations of what the Algarve has to offer. I would 100% go back, but with the mindset of setting off more time to spend on the actual beaches.
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