9 Most Beautiful Beaches in Algarve, Portugal (+ Map & Insider Tips)
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Looking for the best beaches in the Algarve? This guide covers the most beautiful and scenic beaches along Portugal’s southern coast, from famous cliff-backed beaches like Praia da Marinha and Praia dos Três Irmãos to long sandy beaches and smaller hidden coves. We also include some of our favorite rugged beaches along the Algarve’s western coast.
We visit the Algarve several times a year and have explored dozens of beaches all across the region. In this article, we share our favorite Algarve beaches that we think are worth visiting the most, especially if it’s your first trip to the area.
You’ll also find a map, practical tips for visiting each beach, information about accessibility and parking, plus hotel suggestions nearby to help you decide where to stay. For more accommodation recommendations by area, see our guide to the best places to stay in Algarve.
These are our favorite, most beautiful beaches in Algarve:
1. Praia da Prainha
Praia da Prainha is one of the most scenic beaches in the Algarve and a personal favorite for its dramatic coastline and unique setting. This tiny beach near Alvor is surrounded by rock formations, natural arches, and steep cliffs, giving it a much more secluded feel than many other beaches in the region.
It’s also one of our favorite beaches to show first-time visitors when we want to give them a real Algarve wow moment.
At low tide, you can walk between Prainha and the neighboring Praia dos Três Irmãos through tunnels and beneath the cliffs, which is one of the things that makes this area so special.
There’s also a small restaurant here, Caniço, built into the cliffs above the beach. The restaurant and the beach can be reached by elevator, adding to the whole experience.
TIP: Visit at low tide if you want to fully explore the coastline on foot. This is one of the best places in the Algarve for walking between hidden coves, tunnels, and rock formations.
WHERE TO STAY: Pestana Alvor Praia is one of the best-located resorts in this area, with direct beach access. Tivoli Alvor Algarve Resort is another good option nearby, especially for families.
2. Praia dos Três Irmãos
Right next to Praia da Prainha, Praia dos Três Irmãos is one of the most famous beaches in the Algarve. It’s one of those beaches that has it all, combining dramatic rock formations with a long sandy stretch that’s perfect for swimming, beach walks, and sunsets.
What makes this area so special is the variety. Around Prainha and Três Irmãos, you’ll find caves, arches, hidden passages, and smaller coves beneath the cliffs, but also wide sandy beaches that stretch all the way toward Alvor.
Unlike many other scenic Algarve beaches, Praia dos Três Irmãos is also very easy to access. There’s a large parking area nearby and no stairs to reach the beach, making it a great option for families or anyone looking for a more relaxed beach day.
TIP: This is one of the best beaches in the Algarve for long walks, especially at sunset outside the peak summer season. You can walk west toward the cliffs and Prainha Beach or east along the wide sandy beaches of Alvor.
WHERE TO STAY: Same area as Praia da Prainha. Pestana Blue Alvor Beach is a good all-inclusive option nearby, while Wyndham Residences Alvor Beach is closer to town and is a good choice if you prefer a more budget-friendly apartment-style accommodation.
3. Praia da Marinha
Praia da Marinha is one of the most famous beaches in the Algarve and also one of the most scenic coastal areas in the region. While the beach itself is beautiful, what makes this place truly special is the coastline around it.
This is where you’ll find some of the Algarve’s most impressive cliffs, sea arches, hidden coves, and viewpoints. The famous Seven Hanging Valleys Trail also starts here, connecting Praia da Marinha with Praia de Vale Centeanes, and countless smaller beaches along the coast via spectacular clifftop walking paths.
Good to know: Just like many scenic beaches in the Algarve, Praia da Marinha can only be reached via a steep staircase. But even if you don’t want to go down to the beach, the viewpoints and coastal walks on top of the cliffs are well worth a visit.
TIP: Praia da Marinha is located near the famous Benagil Cave, and is one of the best areas in the Algarve for kayaking. Seeing this coastline from the water is one of the best ways to appreciate the scale of the cliffs and sea caves in this area.
No matter which way you choose to visit, don’t miss this area. It’s one of the absolute highlights of the Algarve and a must in any Algarve itinerary. If driving here in the summer season, arrive early since parking fills up fast.
WHERE TO STAY: There are only a few hotels close to Praia da Marinha. Vila Alba Resort is the best choice close to the cliffs and hiking trails.
READ ALSO: Most Beautiful Places for Kayaking in Algarve
4. Praia do Camilo
Praia do Camilo has been one of our favorite beaches in the Algarve ever since our very first trip to the region. Located near Lagos, this small beach is surrounded by golden cliffs and turquoise water and feels much more secluded and picturesque than some of the larger beaches nearby.
Even though it’s just a short walk from the popular Praia de Dona Ana and the viewpoints of Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Camilo is usually quieter. This small beach is split into two small sections connected by a tunnel carved through the rocks, which makes it especially fun to explore.
See my short video below if you want to get a feel of what this beach is like before you go.
Good to know: Like many beaches in this part of the Algarve, Praia do Camilo is accessed via a long wooden staircase. But once you get down, the scenery is every bit as impressive as the famous photos make it look.
If you are visiting the Algarve mainly for dramatic coastal scenery, Camilo Beach definitely deserves a spot on your itinerary.
TIP: One of the best ways to see this coastline is from the water. If visiting in the warmer months, consider kayaking around Ponta da Piedade, where you can explore sea caves, grottos, and hidden beaches that can’t be reached on foot. See our guide to the best Ponta da Piedade kayak tours for more information.
WHERE TO STAY: Carvi Beach Hotel has an excellent location near both Praia do Camilo and Praia de Dona Ana and is one of the best-value options in this area of Lagos.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Lagos
5. Praia da Falésia
Praia da Falésia is one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in the Algarve. Stretching for more than 6 km (3.7 mi), this wide sandy beach is backed by colorful cliffs and pine trees, creating scenery that feels completely different from the smaller cove beaches elsewhere in the region.
Falésia Beach has also been ranked among the best beaches in the world multiple times over the years, and once you see the scenery here, it’s easy to understand why.
This is also our family’s absolute favorite beach in the Algarve for long walks. The beach is flat and long enough that you can make your walk as short or as long as you like. We often take a taxi to Vilamoura and walk back toward Olhos de Água, or the other way around. Sometimes we even end up walking both ways. There are several good beach restaurants and cafés along the route, making it easy to turn it into a relaxing half-day outing.
The eastern side near Praia da Rocha Baixinha (Vilamoura) has calmer, shallower water and is especially popular with families. But the entire beach is great for swimming, long walks, water sports, or simply relaxing by the sea. You can also take surf lessons here; our kids have done it several times over the years and always loved it.
Good to know: Because the beach is so large, Praia da Falésia rarely feels overcrowded, even in summer. Combined with its easy access, good facilities, and excellent location between Albufeira and Vilamoura, this is one of the best all-around beaches in Algarve.
WHERE TO STAY: Since Praia da Falésia is so long, there are many accommodation options nearby. EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel is one of the best-located luxury resorts. For a more affordable option with beautiful clifftop views, check PortoBay Falésia.
LEARN MORE: Falésia Beach: Complete Guide
6. Praia da Cordoama
No list of the best beaches in the Algarve would be complete without at least a few beaches from the region’s rugged western coast. The Atlantic Coast of the Algarve is much less developed than the resort areas further east, with bigger waves, steeper cliffs, fewer crowds, and a much wilder atmosphere overall.
You could say that the entire Algarve coastline is on the Atlantic Ocean, and technically that’s true. But the beaches on the western coast feel so different from those in southern Algarve that many people simply refer to this area as the Algarve’s Atlantic Coast.
Praia da Cordoama is our personal favorite beach on the western coast of the Algarve. It’s one of those places that immediately makes you stop and take in the scenery. The beach is huge, with a long stretch of sand backed by dramatic cliffs and powerful Atlantic waves. It’s especially popular with surfers, but even if you’re not planning to swim, this beach is well worth visiting for the scenery and the atmosphere. It’s also one of the best Algarve beaches for sunsets.
Good to know: There’s a small restaurant and bathroom facilities near the beach. In summer, it’s best to arrive earlier in the day or later in the afternoon since parking can fill up quickly.
TIP: Don’t miss the nearby Miradouro da Cordoama viewpoint overlooking the beach. The last stretch of road is gravel, but it’s usually accessible with a regular car, and the views are absolutely worth it.
WHERE TO STAY: There are no large resorts in this area, but you’ll find several smaller accommodations around Vila do Bispo and Sagres. Memmo Baleeira Design Hotel is one of the best hotels in Sagres and a great base for exploring the western Algarve coast.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Sagres
7. Praia Nova & Praia Nossa Senhora da Rocha
These two neighboring beaches near the small clifftop Nossa Senhora da Rocha Chapel are among the most scenic beaches in central Algarve. Since they are connected by a tunnel beneath the rocks, it’s easy to visit both in one trip. Just keep in mind that the tunnel is quite narrow and the ceiling gets very low in some places.
Praia Nova is the larger and wilder of the two, with steep cliffs, a long sandy beach, and more wind, which can actually feel very refreshing on a hot summer day. It’s a great beach for a longer, quieter beach day, but there are no facilities directly on the beach, and you’ll need to use a fairly long staircase to reach it (I counted about 90 steps).
On the other side of the chapel, Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha is smaller, easier to access, and still used by local fishermen, giving it a more traditional feel. There are also a few facilities here, including restaurants and beach rentals in summer.
One of the highlights of visiting this area is the scenery around the chapel itself. The views over both beaches are beautiful, especially around sunrise or sunset.
TIP: If you want to visit both beaches, park near the chapel, walk down the stairs to Praia Nova first, then take the tunnel through the rocks to Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha and return via the road.
WHERE TO STAY: Pestana Viking Beach & Spa Resort has one of the best locations in the area, right above the cliffs near Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha. You can see the resort in one of my photos below. The hotel’s pool area sits right on the coastal cliffs overlooking the beaches.
8. Praia de São Rafael & Praia dos Arrifes
These two neighboring beaches are among the most scenic beaches in Albufeira, and some of our favorite spots for kayaking and fall/winter sunsets in the Algarve.
Praia de São Rafael is especially popular because it combines beautiful scenery with relatively easy access. Unlike many Algarve beaches, you don’t have to deal with long staircases here, and there’s a fairly large parking area nearby (although it fills up quickly in summer).
The coastline around São Rafael is also one of the best places for kayaking in Albufeira. We’ve done kayak tours here several times over the years, and it’s a great way to see the cliffs, caves, and hidden beaches from the water.
Just a short walk away over the cliffs, Praia dos Arrifes is smaller, quieter, and a bit more sheltered thanks to the rock formations just offshore. It’s a nice place for swimming, snorkeling, or simply escaping some of the bigger crowds nearby.
Just beyond Praia dos Arrifes, you’ll find an even smaller beach called Praia da Vigia. At high tide, there’s barely any sand, but at lower tide, it becomes a nice little hidden cove that’s worth checking out, even if just for the scenery.
TIP: You could easily spend an entire day here swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring the coastline. There are also good seasonal restaurants at both beaches. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation, this is one of the best areas to stay in Albufeira.
WHERE TO STAY: Kimpton Atlantico Algarve by IHG has one of the best locations in the area, with direct access to the coastline and beaches nearby.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Albufeira
9. Praia da Bordeira
Praia da Bordeira is another spectacular beach on the Algarve’s western coast. It’s located just north of the village of Carrapateira, about 25 minutes drive north of Sagres, 40 minutes from Lagos, and about 1 hour from Monchique.
Surrounded by sand dunes, cliffs, and a small river lagoon, this beach feels completely different from the famous beaches along the southern Algarve coast. It’s also a bit more sheltered and usually calmer than the earlier-mentioned Praia da Cordoama, making it popular with both surfers and families. The beach is huge, so even in summer it rarely feels crowded.
One of the things we love most here is the scenery around the beach itself. The wooden boardwalks above the dunes offer beautiful coastal views and are worth visiting even if you’re not planning to spend time on the beach.
Good to know: There are very few facilities here apart from a small surf school. For restaurants and accommodation, you’ll need to head to nearby Carrapateira, a small laid-back surf town that feels very different from the bigger Algarve resort areas.
TIP: If you mainly want to enjoy the scenery, drive to the viewpoint and boardwalk area marked on our map below. It’s one of the best places to appreciate the scale of this coastline without having to walk all the way onto the beach.
WHERE TO STAY: Most accommodations in this area are smaller guesthouses and countryside lodges, such as Casa Presente Guesthouse or Monte Da Vilarinha. If you prefer a hotel and restaurants nearby, Sagres is the best base for exploring the western Algarve coast.
Map of the Best Beaches in Algarve
To help you plan your trip, I created a map showing all the beaches featured in this guide. While the Algarve coastline may not look very big on the map, the beaches are quite spread out, especially if you also want to visit the western coast.
If you are staying in the Algarve for several days and have a car, you can easily combine multiple beaches in the same area. For example:
- Alvor + Lagos beaches (Praia da Prainha, Praia dos Três Irmãos, Praia do Camilo, Praia de Dona Ana)
- Carvoeiro + Benagil area (Praia da Marinha, Praia Nova, Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha)
- Albufeira beaches (Praia da Falésia, Praia de São Rafael, Praia dos Arrifes)
- Western Algarve beaches (Praia da Cordoama, Praia da Bordeira)
Good to know: Renting a car is by far the easiest way to explore the Algarve, especially if you want to visit some of the more scenic beaches and viewpoints outside the main resort towns. We always rent a car when visiting the Algarve and always use Booking.com’s car rental site to compare prices and find the best deals.
TIP: For a first trip, we usually recommend staying somewhere around Lagos or Albufeira. This gives you easy access to most of the beaches in this guide, plus plenty of restaurants, tours, and accommodation options.
READ ALSO: Visiting Algarve: Travel Tips & Tricks for Your First Trip
How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.
More Beautiful Beaches in the Algarve
The Algarve has hundreds of beaches, so this list is just a small selection. We focused on the beaches we personally find the most scenic, memorable, and worth visiting, especially for a first trip to the region.
If you have more time, there are many other beautiful beaches worth checking out as well. Some additional favorites include Praia de Dona Ana, Praia do Carvalho, Praia de Benagil, Praia do Castelo, Praia da Coelha, Praia Grande, and Praia da Rocha.
If you want to see more of the Algarve’s rugged Atlantic coastline, look into beaches like Praia do Amado, Praia da Arrifana, and Praia do Castelejo as well.
No matter which part of the Algarve you visit, you’re never far from an amazing beach.
READ ALSO: Top Places to See in Algarve
More inspiration and tips for your trip to the Algarve region:
- Best Towns to Visit in Algarve:
- Family trip:
- Seasonal guides:
TIP: If you are planning a bigger trip to Portugal, check our Portugal travel guide for more destination ideas, itinerary suggestions, and practical travel tips.
TIP: If you found this post useful, save this guide for later, share it with your friends, or pin it to Pinterest so you can easily come back to it when planning your trip to the Algarve.
Hello! We have loved reading your articles, very helpful as we plan our first trip to Portugal. We are staying in the Tavira area for a few days. Do you have any tips for that area? Favorite beach, places to stay, places to visit, places to eat? Thank you for your help!
Hi Suzy, please take a look at our guide to Tavira for some ideas of what to see and do in town and nearby. That said, if you are interested in sightseeing and not just lazing on the beach, I highly recommend visiting at least a few of the stunning beaches of the central/western Algarve as well, even if just for a day. It’s a totally different scenery, not comparable to the flat white-sand beaches of eastern Algarve.
Have a great time in Algarve!
Which are the best beaches for snorkelling? We are going in a couple of weeks’ time (mid October)
Hi Lucy, snorkelling isn’t that popular in Algarve. That said, the best beaches for this are the ones where you have some cliffs and rocks close to the shore. Try Praia dos Arrifes in Albufeira. Alternatively, Praia dos Aveiros. Arrifes is bigger and easier to get to and park the car.
We are just finishing up our 3 days in Algarve. We used this list and visited 5 of the 7. They were all amazing but several were full of seaweed and the smell caused us not to stay. Camilo was the biggest bummer. Down all those steps just to turn around. Our favorites were Donna Ana and Marinha. You should add Prai Dos Tres Irmaos and Prai nossa senhora da rocha. They were amazing. We went to the 2 on the list in Albueferia today and the seaweed was awful. We found Pria dos alemaes. That was wonderful. The whole seaweed situation caught us off guard. Was not prepared but we subbed and swam in 2 different beaches each day!
Hi Marc, it’s the Atlantic Ocean and the seaweed comes and goes all the time. You can find the whole beach covered in it and then just a few hours later it’s all gone again. There’s just no way to know in advance. Usually, going at high tide is better, but you just never know. It’s also not really beach or season-dependant, since we’ve seen it all over the place and in all seasons, but luckily, it never stays long. So it’s a bit of a bad luck on your side…
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip nonetheless.
Looks great.!!
Have a great time in Algarve, David! It’s a beautiful place!
Hello Jurga, fully enjoy this article as i’m planning a trip to the Algarve hopefully before end of this year. I can’t print this info because rick clicking has been disabled? I’m just confused how to best use the info you’ve provided. tku!
Hi Marina, you can save the map we provide to your Google account or simply access it on the internet. In addition, you can also print (parts of) our blog posts by saving them to pdf first (try the ‘print to pdf’ option on your computer). Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
@Jurga, thank you Jurga. I’m so used to right clicking in order to print and save as a pdf typically, but did figure out how to print/save as a pdf from the browser. Your blog is really one of the best that I’ve found and so appreciate all the effort you put into the details and information you include, not to mention beautiful photos!! TKU!! Keep on traveling!!
Thank you, Marina. Appreciate the kind words and glad you found the way to print the info you wanted.
Have a great time in Algarve!
Praia D’Ana was much nicer but removal of rock face has improved safety but it’s much less attractive. Camilo is accessed by very steep steps, and is usually mobbed.
Both the above are on the outskirts of a Lagos, but the other side of the town you have Meia Praia which offers about 6miles kf golden sands, is never modded, and parking is easy. Hands down my favourite.
Thanks for sharing your favorite beach near Lagos with us, Michael.
There are just SO many beautiful beaches in Algarve, one more beautiful than the other, but I’m sure there are many more hidden gems that are just as pretty as all the famous beaches that everyone wants to visit.
Are these beaches all swimmable and are there lifeguards? Should we pack a lunch and take our own umbrella to most of these?
Hi Rose, yes, the beaches are all real ‘swimmable’ beaches and in high season there are lifeguards at most of them as well. Some places have restaurants and cafes, others – not so much. So it can be nice to pack a picnic or take a look on Google Maps to see if there are any restaurants nearby. As for umbrellas and chairs, at most places, you can also rent them in the high season, but that will depend on the beach and the exact time when you travel.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga,
Thanks for the great information. I am heading to this area at the end of September. I like to take pictures at sunrise. Are all these beaches open early? Do they have any specific hours when you can visit them? Thanks for your help.
Hi Ellen, I don’t think the beaches have opening times. I haven’t seen any signs, so I think you can just go there whenever you want to.
Enjoy your trip!