Beaches in the Algarve
Do you know that some of the world’s best and most beautiful beaches are to be found in the Algarve? There are so many lovely interesting sandy beaches in the Algarve that you will find amongst them a good selection on which to enjoy your holiday.
Along its 200-kilometre coastline, these beaches vary from the small sheltered coves to broad endless stretches of sea washed sand, and the entire coast enjoys a Mediterranean-style micro-climate with temperatures that vary from 15º C in winter through to 30º C in summer.. Hardly surprising then that the region is a favourite for sun-seekers coming from the most diverse locations. As you travel from east to west along the coast, the beaches tend to become more subject to seasonal currents.
As some excellent beaches are not immediately accessible from the holiday towns, and because it’s difficult to choose one from among approximately 150 named beaches, I’m going to give you a list of the Top 10 Algarve Beaches first and then I will leave the rest for you to discover.
Ilha de Tavira
To some, Tavira Island is considered the jewel in the crown of the Eastern side of the Alagarve — and I’m one of its advocates. It is also often locally referred to as Praia das Cascas — since Tavira Island is the whole 3Km Island extension including Praia do Barril. A few minutes boat trip will take visitors from the jetty of Tavira located just outside the town across to this attractive sandy bar.
The water quality is excellent, and children in particular appreciate the warm still waters of the lagoon. For visitors with naturist inclinations there is an area reserved especially for their needs which is about one kilometer walk to the west end of this beach. More detailed information about it can be found in our Tavira Guide site where you can read all about Tavira Island and its amenities.
Notes: Care is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong. In order to help preserve the sand dunes, you should use the already existing footpaths.
Beach access: There are boats to the island from Cais das Quatro Águas in Tavira (EN 125). The parking area is fairly large and organised. The beach has basic support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. It faces south-east.
Praia do Barril
This beach is really an extension of the above beach known as Praia Ilha de Tavira. However, this section is easily reached from the tourist villages of Santa Luzia and Pedras del Rey. From the later village a small train takes the visitor across the intervening water to the sandy island bar in a slow journey which reminds everyone that they are definitely on holiday!
Access: To the beach is on foot, or on the small tourist train from Pedras D´el Rei (signposted and roughly one kilometre from the EN 125). There is a fairly large parking area near the village. The beach has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. It is classified as an accessible beach. Praia do Homem Nu has no support facilities or supervision. The beach faces south-east.
Praia da Armona
The three Islands of Armona, Culatra and Farol act as a barrier to the sea and on the inland side there are the extensive lagoons forming the nature reserve of Ria Formosa. Reaching these beaches can only be done by Ferryboat which leaves from the fishing port of Olhão. The journeys can takes some 30 minutes and leave at about 15 minute intervals during the day – in season each ferry with the destination to one of the three islands. As you can imagine once you arrive at the chosen Island you are going to find yourself as one of the limited number of humans visitors.
Access: The beach can be reached by boat, with regular services from Faro, Olhão and Fuseta. It has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces south-east.
Meia Praia
This beach forms the other half of the previous walk from Alvor to Lagos. It takes its name from being part of this walk as “Meia” indicates the word “half”. The approach to this beach is from the town of Lagos and it is easily accessed. This beach is popular with windsurfers and surfers alike as it faces the open Bay of Lagos and also protected to the west by the promontory of Ponta da Piedade. The beach is possibly a little longer than that of the Alvor and there are many small beach bars to satisfy the thirst for those who wish to walk its length.
Access: There is a tarmac road leading to the beach from Lagos, heading towards the Marina. Meia Praia is signposted from this road. There is a fairly large and partly organised parking area near the beach, which has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces south-east.
Praia Verde
You can find it just to the west of Monte Gordo and stretching to the West towards Tavira. This beach takes its name from its surrounding greenery, composed by a line of trees and bushes that line the land side of the broad endless beach. Ideally suitable for most families with their children.
Access: There is a tarmac road from the EN 125, heading in the direction of Praia Verde for 1500 metres. There is a fairly large and organised parking area and a footpath from there to the beach (100 metres). The beach has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces south-east.
Ilha de Faro
This beach is a long narrow sandy bar that is accessed by a road traversing a lagoon just south of the Faro airport. Being near to the principal town of the Algarve it is usually very busy and there are many water sports faculties and plenty of restaurants.
Access: There is a tarmac road from Faro, heading towards the airport (roughly 8Km away). There is an organised parking area and the beach has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. During the summer, it is also possible to travel to the beach by boat from Faro (leaving from Cais da Porta do Sol). Ilha de Faro is classified as an accessible beach. Ria and Barrinha are not supervised. The main beach faces south-west.
Praia da Rocha
This is probably the oldest and best know beach in the Algarve. It is located just south of the main town of Portimão and was originally much shorter in width and with a lot more charm. This beach in the past has been seriously enlarged with the sand that was pumped out during the dredging of the Portimão Harbor and at the same time meeting the needs of the many visiting tourists to this area.
Access: There is a tarmac road to the beach through the city of Portimão, following the signs to Praia da Rocha. There is an organised parking area near the beach, which has a wide variety of different support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces south/south-west.
Praia da Galé
Another long sandy stretch but as there are no cliffs it has many point of easy access by road. This beach is located to the west of Albufeira and runs round the Bay of Armação de Pera to the town.
Access: There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road connecting Guia to Galé. There is a fairly large but disorganised parking area at Galé Oeste, 200 metres from the beach, and a large but organised car park at Galé Leste, 100 metres from the beach, as well as a very small parking area near the beach itself. The beach has basic support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season, both at Galé Oeste and at Galé Leste. Galé Leste is classified as an accessible beach. The beach faces south-west.
Praia da Falesia
This beach takes its name from the fascinating gouged red cliffs that form a backdrop to the endless stretch of sand. As these cliffs are not very tall it makes access convenient whilst acting as a suitable barrier to any winds from the north during the out-of-season. This beach is to be found west of Vilamoura before reaching Olhos de Água.
Access: There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road connecting Guia to Galé. There is a fairly large but disorganised parking area at Galé Oeste, 200 metres from the beach, and a large but organised car park at Galé Leste, 100 metres from the beach, as well as a very small parking area near the beach itself. The beach has basic support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season, both at Galé Oeste and at Galé Leste. Galé Leste is classified as an accessible beach. The beach faces south-west.
Praia da Bordeira
This beach is on the west coast of the Algarve and can be reached by traveling north from Vila do Bispo, then after passing the small village of Carrapateira turn seaward where there is a sign that reads “Praia”. Virtually a long sandy beach with many sand dunes and very often virtually deserted out of the season. Enjoy the feeling of being open to nature and exploring the surrounding area on foot.
Access: There is a road starting at the northern entrance to Carrapateira and leading to the beach, roughly two and a half kilometres away. It starts out as a tarmac road, but it ends in a dirt track. Parking is not organised and there are no support facilities, but the beach is supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces north-west / north.
