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Hotels in Algarve

150 kilometres of cliffs, coves and fishing towns

Algarve

LanguagePortuguese
CurrencyEUR
TimezoneEurope/Lisbon
Temperature12-28 °C
Dial Code+351
Population10.3M
Area92,212 km²
SocketsType C / Type F
Tap waterDrinkable

Discover Algarve

The Algarve is Portugal's southernmost region and the one place in the country where a summer beach holiday can run from April to November. The coastline stretches 150 km and splits into 3 quite different stretches. The east, from Faro to the Spanish border, is flat, with the Ria Formosa lagoon and sand islands reached only by boat. The central stretch between Albufeira and Lagos is what people know from the photos: orange sandstone cliffs pierced by arches, caves and dozens of small coves. The west, beyond Sagres, is wild, windswept and largely undeveloped, since it lies within a nature park and faces straight into the open Atlantic. Inland, just a few kilometres from the beaches, the hills of Monchique rise up, covered in cork oaks and dotted with villages where lunch prices fall by half. The water is Atlantic, so cooler than the air temperature would suggest.

What to see

The places worth your time in Algarve, and what to expect at each

Ponta da Piedade

Ponta da Piedade

Lagos, western Algarve

A rocky headland south of Lagos, where the sandstone has eroded into towers, arches and tunnels rising from turquoise water. A 200-step staircase leads down from the lighthouse to the water, where rowing boats wait to ferry visitors among the rocks.

Tip: It photographs best in the morning, when the sun lights the rocks from the east; in the afternoon the cliffs are backlit. Rowing boats are arranged at the lower platform and priced per boat, not per person — it's worth teaming up with other visitors.

Admission:
free, rowing boat from €20
Time needed:
2–3 h
Benagil Cave

Benagil Cave

Lagoa, central Algarve

A sea cave with a vaulted ceiling, a circular opening above and its own sandy beach inside. Light falls in from overhead and, at midday, lights up the sand. It lies 200 m from the village of Benagil and can't be reached from land.

Tip: Large tour boats aren't allowed inside and stop outside the entrance. To stand on the sand inside, rent a kayak or paddleboard in Benagil — and set off before 9am, before the wind picks up.

Admission:
kayak from €25
Time needed:
2 h
Praia da Marinha

Praia da Marinha

Lagoa, central Algarve

A beach beneath a 100-metre cliff with 2 rock arches that, seen from above, form a double heart. The sand is white and the water exceptionally clear, thanks to a rocky seabed that stirs up no silt.

Tip: Above the beach begins the Sete Vales Suspensos trail — 7 km along the clifftop as far as Praia da Falésia near Carvoeiro. The first kilometre to the arch viewpoint takes 10 minutes and is the best view in the Algarve.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half day
Cabo de São Vicente and Sagres

Cabo de São Vicente and Sagres

Vila do Bispo, western Algarve

The southwesternmost point of mainland Europe: a 60-metre cliff with a lighthouse, against which waves from the open ocean break. Nearby stands Sagres Fortress, with a giant stone wind compass 40 m across.

Tip: It's windy at the cape even in August, and around 5°C cooler than on the beaches — bring a jacket. A van by the car park sells hot dogs, billed as the last one before America.

Admission:
cape free, fortress from €5
Time needed:
3 h
Lagos

Lagos

western Algarve

A walled port town from which 15th-century voyages of discovery set sail, and site of the first European slave market — its building now houses a museum. Inside the walls stands the Church of Santo António, its Baroque interior covered in gilded woodcarving.

Tip: You can't drive into the centre — the historic core is pedestrianised. Park for free at the large car park by the marina across the bridge and walk over the footbridge; it takes 5 minutes and saves an hour of circling for a space.

Admission:
free, museum from €3
Time needed:
half day
Tavira

Tavira

eastern Algarve

The best-preserved town in the Algarve, having survived the 1755 earthquake better than most. A bridge on Roman foundations crosses the Gilão river, the remains of a castle stand on a hill, and the town has 37 churches. Tourist numbers are half those of the west.

Tip: A ferry runs from town to Ilha de Tavira — a sand island with 5 km of beach and only a handful of restaurants. The last return crossing is usually around 7pm, after which you're stuck on the island.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half day
Silves Castle

Silves Castle

Silves, interior

A sprawling red sandstone fortress above the former capital of Moorish Algarve. Inside the walls is a 10-metre-deep cistern and an archaeological site; the ramparts look out over the Arade river valley and its orange groves.

Tip: A combined ticket with the town's archaeological museum works out cheaper. In August the town holds a medieval festival, when the whole place dresses in costume and the castle stays open into the evening.

Admission:
from €3
Time needed:
2 h
Ria Formosa

Ria Formosa

eastern Algarve

A 60-km lagoon separated from the sea by a chain of sand islands, protected as a nature park. It's home to the common chameleon, thousands of nesting birds, and most of Portugal's mussel and oyster farming.

Tip: Boat trips leave from Faro, Olhão and Fuseta, differing mainly in how many islands they cover. At low tide the trip gets shorter, since the channels dry out — ask about tide times, not just the departure hour.

Admission:
tour from €25
Time needed:
half day
Monchique and Fóia peak

Monchique and Fóia peak

interior, 25 km from Portimão

An inland mountain range holding the Algarve's highest point, Fóia, at 920 m. Its slopes are covered in cork oaks and eucalyptus, and the village of Caldas de Monchique has thermal baths that date back to Roman times.

Tip: You can drive all the way up Fóia, and above 800 m there's often morning fog that clears by 11am. In the village, pick up medronho — a spirit distilled from strawberry-tree fruit that's harder to find elsewhere in the country.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half day

Photos: Ponta da Piedade — Arne Müseler (CC BY-SA 3.0 de) · Benagil Cave — Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Praia da Marinha — Klugschnacker (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Cabo de São Vicente and Sagres — The original uploader was Husond at English Wikipedia. (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Lagos — Bextrel (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tavira — Panarria (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Silves Castle — Bextrel (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ria Formosa — Ricardo Oliveira (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Monchique and Fóia peak — RHaworth (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Eastern Algarve (Faro, Olhão, Tavira)

Best for: calm, the lagoon and authentic towns

The flat stretch from Faro to the Spanish border, with the Ria Formosa lagoon. Beaches lie on sand islands reachable only by boat, so they're never crowded. The towns have kept a normal daily life even outside season, and prices are the lowest in the region. The drawback is that you can't walk to the sea from your hotel.

Central Algarve (Albufeira, Vilamoura, Carvoeiro)

Best for: package holidays and families

The most densely built-up stretch, with most of the hotels, water parks and golf courses. From here, Benagil Cave and the most photogenic beaches are just tens of minutes away. It's the most expensive and busiest stretch, but with the best infrastructure and the shortest airport transfer.

Western Algarve (Lagos, Sagres, Vila do Bispo)

Best for: road trips and surfing

A rocky coastline of coves between cliffs, ending at Cabo de São Vicente. Beyond the cape the coast turns north and faces the open ocean — waves, wind and surf schools. This stretch is hard to reach without a car; buses run only a few times a day.

The interior (Silves, Monchique, Alte)

Best for: cheap food and escaping the heat

Hills 20–30 km from the coast, with whitewashed villages, cork oaks and the castle at Silves. Lunch prices run roughly half those at the beach, and tourists are few. In July, though, it's around 5°C hotter here than by the sea, since there's no sea breeze.

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Getting around

From the airport

The whole Algarve is served by a single airport, in Faro, which receives charter and low-cost flights from across Europe in season. From the airport it's 40 km to Albufeira, 90 km to Lagos and 40 km the other way to Tavira; the A22 motorway covers the region from the Spanish border to Sagres in about 1.5 hours. A railway also runs along the coast from Faro to Lagos with cheap tickets, though stations tend to sit on the edge of town. Seville, 2.5 hours away, is also reachable by car.

Faro (FAO) · 40 km

  • Hotel transfer· 20–90 min depending on resort· included in stay
  • Rental car· straight from the terminal· €30 / day
  • Train on the coastal line· 40 min to Albufeira, 1 h 45 to Lagos· €5
  • Vamus bus· 1–2 h· €8

Around town

The Algarve runs 150 km long, and without a car you'll only see the area around your resort. The A22 motorway runs parallel to the coast and uses electronic tolls, which the rental company handles as a flat daily charge. The parallel, toll-free N125 road is slower, but passes through the towns. The Faro–Lagos coastal railway is the cheapest way to move between towns, though it runs only about once every 1.5 hours. Vamus buses also serve the interior, but with minimal frequency at weekends.

Rental carThe only way to reach the west and the interior. Rental companies handle the A22 toll as a flat fee. · €30 / day
Faro–Lagos trainA coastal line via Albufeira, Silves and Portimão; cheap, but stations sit outside town centres. · €3
Vamus busA regional network reaching towns and the interior; timetables are in the app, sparse at weekends. · €3
Boat taxi to the islandsFrom Faro, Olhão, Fuseta and Tavira to the lagoon's sand islands; the last return trip is usually in the early evening. · €5

Useful apps: Google Maps, Moovit, Bolt, IPMA

When to go

The Algarve has the longest season in Europe: from April to November you can be outdoors in a T-shirt, and even January air temperatures reach 16°C. The swimming season is shorter, since the sea doesn't warm to 20°C until June and peaks at 22°C in August and September. May, June and September are best — warm, with long days and prices around half those of August. July and August are the most expensive, with the central-stretch beaches packed. Winter is wet and green, ideal for sightseeing and golf.

Best time

May, June and September

What to avoid

August for the prices and crowds

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day16°17°19°20°23°26°29°29°27°23°19°17°
Night9°9°10°11°13°17°19°19°18°15°12°10°
Rainy days655531003667
Sea16°16°16°17°18°20°21°22°22°20°18°17°

Food & drink

Algarve cuisine is built on fish and seafood from the Atlantic, most often simply grilled over charcoal and drizzled with olive oil. Fish is charged by weight, so ask the price per kilo up front. The region's speciality is cataplana — seafood stewed in a sealed copper pot — along with almond and fig sweets brought here by the Moors. Inland, black pork and wild boar replace fish on the menu. Lunch is served from noon to 3pm, and dinner starts at 6.30pm, 2 hours earlier than in Spain.

What to try

Cataplana

Seafood stewed with sausage and peppers in the sealed copper pot that gives the dish its name. It's cooked for 2 or more and takes 40 minutes to prepare, so it's ordered right at the start of the meal.

Sardinhas assadas

Sardines grilled over charcoal, eaten with bread and boiled potatoes. The season runs from June to October; outside it they're frozen and not worth ordering.

Arroz de marisco

A loose seafood rice, served in a clay bowl, thicker than soup and looser than a risotto. Ordered for 2, it's the best value-for-money dish on the Portuguese coast.

Frango piri-piri

Chicken grilled with a hot marinade made from African bird's-eye chillies, Portugal's number-one fast food. You can ask for it milder, but the grill house will assume you want it full strength.

Percebes

Goose barnacles gathered from rocks in the surf, one of the most expensive ingredients in the country. You pull off the leathery stalk and suck out the meat; it tastes like concentrated sea. Priced by weight, at over €50 a kilo.

Bacalhau

Dried, salted cod, Portugal's national ingredient, prepared in hundreds of ways. The most common are bacalhau à brás (shredded with matchstick fries and egg) and bacalhau com natas. It's desalted for 2 days before cooking, so it's not something you can make from scratch on a whim.

Pastel de nata

A flaky pastry case with custard filling, served warm with cinnamon and icing sugar. Around €1.20 at a bakery, double that near the beach.

Ginjinha

A sweet liqueur made from sour cherries macerated in aguardente, drunk as a shot after a meal, sometimes with a cherry in the glass. In the Algarve, medronho, a spirit distilled from strawberry-tree fruit, is more often on offer instead.

What it costs

Espresso (bica)

€0.80–1.20

Set lunch menu inland

€8–12

Grilled fish at a seaside restaurant

€18–30 by weight

0.33 l beer

€2–3.50

2 sun loungers with umbrella

€15–20

Kayak to Benagil Cave

€25–35

Rental car per day

€30–50

Night in a 4* hotel in season

€100–180

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage230V / 50Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water is safe and monitored throughout Portugal, but in the south and on the islands it's hard and can taste of chlorine. Bottled water costs around 30 cents per 1.5 litres at a supermarket. Restaurants don't usually serve tap water — order 'água' and you'll get a bottle, which is charged.
TippingTipping isn't expected in Portugal, and locals themselves leave little — small change at a café, 5% or a round-up at a restaurant. 10% is generous and reserved for genuinely good service. Card machines usually have no tip option, so it's left in cash on the table.
Driving on theright
SafetyPortugal is one of the safest countries in Europe, and violent crime is rare. The real risk is pickpocketing on the promenade and belongings left under a towel on the beach. Never leave visible luggage in a parked car. The Atlantic is the bigger concern: currents are strong and waves higher than in the Mediterranean, so follow the flags flown by the lifeguard station — a red flag means no swimming and is enforced with fines. The emergency number is 112.
Opening hoursShops in the resorts are open from 10am to 7 or 8pm, including Sundays in season; supermarkets until 10pm. Restaurants serve lunch from noon to 3pm and dinner from 6.30pm to 10pm, with the kitchen closed in between. Museums and monuments close on Mondays, and last entry is usually half an hour before closing.
Customs & etiquetteLunch is eaten between noon and 2pm, dinner after 7.30pm — Portuguese eat earlier than the Spanish. Anything the waiter brings to the table unordered (olives, pâté, cheese, bread) is the couvert and will be charged; if you don't want it, simply return it politely and it won't appear on the bill. Greetings are a handshake, or 2 kisses between acquaintances. Swimwear belongs on the beach, not in shops or at a promenade café.
A few local wordsHello — Bom diaThank you (said by a man / a woman) — Obrigado / ObrigadaPlease — Por favorThe bill, please — A conta, por favorCheers — Saúde

How to plan your days

1 day

A day on the central coast

  1. 1Morning at Praia da Marinha and the double-arch viewpoint.
  2. 2Late morning kayak to Benagil Cave from the village beneath the cliffs.
  3. 3Lunch in Carvoeiro, then an afternoon swim at one of the nearby coves.
  4. 4Early evening in Silves: the red sandstone castle and dinner beneath its walls.

2 days

2 days including the west

  1. 1First day as above.
  2. 2Second day in Lagos: the city walls, the Church of Santo António and the former slave market.
  3. 3Afternoon at Ponta da Piedade, the staircase to the water and a rowing boat among the rocks.
  4. 4Towards evening, Cabo de São Vicente for sunset over the ocean.

3 days

3 days across the region

  1. 1First 2 days as above.
  2. 2Third day heading east: Tavira, the Roman bridge and a walk through the historic centre.
  3. 3Ferry to Ilha de Tavira for a few hours on the sand island.
  4. 4On the way back, Olhão and the fish market by the harbour.
  5. 5With an extra day to spare, Monchique and the summit of Fóia for views over the whole coast.

Day trips

Seville, Spain

200 km · 2 h 30 min

Andalusia's capital is closer from the eastern Algarve than Lisbon is. The cathedral with Columbus's tomb, the Alcázar palace and the Santa Cruz quarter can all be covered in 1 long day. Watch out for the time difference — Spain is an hour ahead of Portugal.

Lisbon

280 km · 2 h 45 min

Via the A2 motorway and the Vasco da Gama bridge, the capital is under 3 hours away, with direct buses also running from Albufeira and Faro. It's a lot for a single day, but works well as a 2-night break in the middle of a beach holiday.

Alentejo and Évora

220 km · 2 h 15 min

A region of cork oaks, wheat fields and whitewashed towns north of the Algarve. Évora has a Roman temple, a cathedral and a chapel built from the bones of 5,000 monks. On the way, stop at the inland Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Europe.

Frequently asked questions

Which part of the Algarve is best?+

It depends what you're after. The central stretch around Albufeira and Carvoeiro has the prettiest beaches beneath the cliffs and the most hotels. The east near Tavira is quieter, cheaper and more authentic, though reaching the beach means taking a boat. The west near Lagos and Sagres suits those with a car who want surf and nature.

How warm is the sea in the Algarve?+

Cooler than the air temperature would suggest, because it's the Atlantic. It reaches 20°C in June and tops out at 22°C in August and September. From November to May it drops below 18°C. Anyone wanting warm water needs the hotel pool, or should expect getting in to take a moment.

Do I need a car in the Algarve?+

If you want to see more than just your resort, yes. The region stretches 150 km, and public transport between resorts is slow. Heading west past Lagos or into the interior without a car is difficult. For a stay at 1 hotel with guided excursions, a car isn't necessary.

How do I get to Benagil Cave?+

Only by water — there's no route from land. Large boats stop outside the entrance; the only way onto the sand inside is by kayak or paddleboard, both rented right in Benagil. Set off early in the morning, since the wind picks up by late morning and entry isn't allowed when there's swell.

When is the Algarve cheapest?+

From November to March, when accommodation prices drop to a third of August's. The weather is mild, 15–18°C, but not warm enough for swimming. Within the main season, the cheapest windows are the second half of June and the second half of September, when it's still warm but prices are past their peak.

Is there a toll on the A22 motorway?+

Yes, and it's electronic — the toll gates have no staff or barriers. Rental companies handle it with a transponder, charging a flat fee of around €2 a day plus the distance covered. The parallel N125 road is free, but it passes through every town and is significantly slower.

Is the Algarve good for families with children?+

Yes, it's among the best in Europe. Beaches are sandy, resorts in the central stretch have pools and water parks, and transfers from the airport are short. Bear in mind that many beaches are reached by steps down a cliff, and the swell tends to be stronger than in the Mediterranean.

How many days are enough for the Algarve?+

A week is enough for 1 resort and its surroundings. To cover the whole region from Tavira to Sagres, including the interior, allow 10 days and a car. The coast alone can be driven in 3 days, but that's more a tour of car parks than a holiday.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police112Ambulance112Fire112

Language

Portuguese

Currency

EUR

Timezone

Europe/Lisbon

Dial Code

+351

Population

10.3M

Area

92,212 km²

Voltage

230V / 50Hz

Driving Side

Right

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