Vila do Bispo is a small town in the Western Algarve, and is situated roughly 8 km from Sagres which is on the Southwestern tip of the Algarve. It’s also just a short drive from many wonderful beaches: Praia do Castelejo (4.3 km), Praia do Martinhal (9.2 km), Praia da Mareta (10 km), and Praia da Cordoama (4.8 km). The town itself is very small and very peaceful. It attracts a few surfers, walkers, and
Vilamoura is very different from the rest of the towns on the Algarve. While most of the others were originally fishing villages that were transformed into beach resorts, Vilamoura is a completely new development. It’s characterised by carefully manicured lawns, modern apartment blocks, luxury hotels, golf-themed pubs, and of course the marina that the town is built around. You’ll also find plenty of beach clubs and golf courses, a casino, and plenty of companies offering
Tavira is a scenic town on the Eastern Algarve with a beautiful riverfront and numerous historical attractions including a castle and several churches. Tavira does have some great beaches close by (including Praia da Ilha de Tavira), but they’re not as easily accessible as the beaches in other Algarve towns. Praia da Ilha de Tavira, for example, is 2 km from Tavira and can be reached by taking a ferry or walking across a footbridge.
With a big, long sandy beach and the 2 km long palm tree-lined promenade that runs behind it, Quarteira is a popular resort town in the Central Algarve. Quarteira’s main selling points are it’s long beach (it’s actually made up of several beaches), calm waters, proximity to Faro Airport and nearby historical towns like Faro and Loulé, and easy access to attractions like Vilamoura’s golf courses and Aquashow Water Park. It doesn’t have the historical
Praia da Rocha is one of the largest and most popular beach resort towns on the Algarve. Named after the very long and very beautiful beach that this town is centred on, Praia da Rocha is a lively town with plenty of bars, restaurants, and cafés. The town is known for its long, wide sandy beach, high-rise blocks of apartments, many of which are holiday rentals, and the family-friendly but lively atmosphere there in the
Monte Gordo is a popular beach resort on the Eastern side of the Algarve, close to the border with Spain. It has characterised by its long and white, sandy beach and the tall apartment blocks and hotels that sit behind it. That’s just one side of Monte Gordo, however. Although the town largely revolves around the tourist industry, it’s also home to several thousand local Portuguese many of which live in colourful cottages several streets
High up in the hills, and away from the beaches, coastal resort towns, and all of the other things that you associate with the Algarve, is the little town of Monchique. Monchique is a popular destination with walkers, and there are several great hikes through the nearby forests. It main claim to fame, however, is the nearby spa town of Caldas de Monchique. Once even popular with Portuguese royalty, this now modern spa offers a wide
Porches is a very small town in the Central Algarve that’s primarily famous for its pottery but also its wine. The town itself has a population of around 2,000 people, and is very small and quiet with just a few bars, restaurants, and small shops. Despite the town’s small size, Porches is home to many high end and popular restaurants like O Leão de Porches and VILA VITA Parc Biergarten. If you’re looking for somewhere
Lagos is one of the most popular towns on the Algarve, and one that is consistently recommended by people who both stay and live here. The town is popular with travellers in their 20s and 30s, especially backpackers and surfers, but it really attracts people from all walks of life. Lagos has a very welcoming feel to it, which is why so many people come back every year. As coastal towns go, Lagos is mildly
Lagoa is a small, quiet, and relatively non-touristy town that’s situated 10 minutes inland from more popular beach resort towns like Carvoeiro and Ferragudo. Although there are charming parts to the town, including the main square, its main selling point is its location rather than anything in the town itself. It is just 10-15 minutes drive from some of the best beaches on the Algarve including Praia da Marina, Praia de Benagil, and Praia de
