Algarve’s Top 15 Beaches: A West-to-East Guide
- Micah
- Mar 31
- 5 min read
Key Takeaways
15 beaches ranked from west (Sagres) to east (Tavira)
Each beach has unique quirks: caves, surfing, hidden paths, or calm water.
Tips include parking hacks, kid-friendly spots, and secret local snacks.
Praia do Beliche (Sagres)
Best for: Surfing, sunsets, dramatic cliffs.A windy beach with waves that punch like a boxer. Surfers love it, but swimmers should stay close to shore. The stairs down are steep—hold the rail! Local snack shack sells bifanas (pork sandwiches) for €3. Go at sunset; the cliffs glow orange.
Praia do Tonel (Sagres)
Best for: Bodyboarding, rock pools. Tonel’s waves are shorter but faster. At low tide, explore rock pools with crabs and tiny fish. Parking’s free if you park uphill past the surf school. Watch out: No lifeguards in winter.
Praia da Mareta (Sagres)
Best for: Families and snorkeling. It is calmer than Beliche but still has waves. The sand is speckled with shells. The tide goes out really far here—you can walk 100 meters and still be knee-deep. Local tip: Bring water shoes; rocks near the shore are slippery.
Praia do Amado (Near Carrapateira)
Best for: Surf lessons, wild vibes. A wide beach with surf schools lined up like toy trucks. Rent a board for €10/hour. The café here makes killer tostas mistas (ham/cheese toast). Funny story: I once saw a sheep wander onto the beach—they’re from nearby farms!
Praia da Arrifana (Aljezur)
Best for: Hippie vibes, long walks.A crescent-shaped beach with cliffs wrapped around it. Popular with backpackers—you’ll hear guitars playing at sunset. The water’s colder here (Atlantic currents). Parking fills by 11 AM; arrive early.
Praia do Camilo (Lagos)
Best for: Photos, tiny coves.200 wooden steps lead down to this postcard beach. Swim through a rock tunnel to a secret cove. Gets crowded—go before 9 AM. No toilets, but there’s a seafood restaurant at the top with garlic shrimp.
Praia Dona Ana (Lagos)
Best for: Swimming, golden cliffs. The cliffs here have stripes like tiger fur. Water’s calm and clear—great for floating. Parking costs €5, but free if you park near the Lidl and walk 10 mins. Avoid weekends; locals swarm here.
Praia de Porto de Mós (Lagos)
Best for: Jogging, sunset runs.A loooong stretch of sand with firm ground. Locals run here at low tide. The waves can get rough, but there’s a lifeguard tower in summer. Secret: At the west end, a cliff path leads to a hidden nudist beach.
Praia de Benagil (Near Lagoa)
Best for: Benagil Cave visits. The beach itself is pebbly, but everyone comes here to kayak to Benagil Cave. Rent a kayak for €15/hour. Go at 8 AM—tour boats arrive by 10 AM. Tiny café sells pastries; try the queijada (sweet cheese tart).
Praia do Carvalho (Lagoa)
Best for: Exploring, snorkeling.A hidden beach with a tunnel through the cliff. At low tide, crawl through the tunnel (it’s short—no bending!). Water’s full of fish; bring snorkels. Parking is a dirt lot that fits 10 cars—come early.
Praia da Marinha (Near Lagoa)
Best for: Iconic Algarve views. The “M” shaped cliffs are on every postcard. Walk the cliff trail for insane photos. Tide pools here have sea anemones that stick to your fingers. Parking costs €4, but it’s worth it.
Praia de São Rafael (Albufeira)
Best for: Families, rock formations. Weird rock pillars rise from the water like a giant’s teeth. Sand is as soft as flour. The beach bar does sell cheap ice cream (€1.50 a scoop). Avoid July—it’s packed with tourists.
Praia da Rocha (Portimão)
Best for: Nightlife, long boardwalks.A busy beach with a loooong boardwalk. At night, bars play music and sell cocktails. Water’s calm, but the sand slopes steeply—little kids might trip. Parking? Nightmare. Take the train from Portimão instead.
Praia do Barril (Tavira)
Best for: History, lazy days. Ride the mini-train (€2) to this beach with an anchor “graveyard” left by old tuna fishermen. The sand is flat, so toddlers can run safely. Café Tip: Try the gelado de figo (fig ice cream).
Ilha de Tavira (Tavira)
Best for: Calm water, island vibes. Take a 15-minute ferry (€2) to this skinny island. Water’s shallow and warm—like a bath. You’ll see baby crabs skittering sideways. No cliffs here, just dunes and beach shacks.
FAQs
What Makes Algarve Beaches Special?
Imagine beaches where the sand glows like gold coins and cliffs look like giant cookie stacks. Algarve’s beaches aren’t just pretty—they’re weirdly shaped. The rocks here get carved by wind and waves into arches and caves you can swim through. My first time at Praia da Marinha, I dropped my sunglasses cause I was staring at the cliffs—they’re that tall!
But it’s not just looks. The water’s warmer here than in other parts of Portugal. Why? The coastline curves like a smile, sheltering bays from cold Atlantic currents. Oh, and secret tip: Local fishermen say west-facing beaches (like near Sagres) get the best sunsets.
Which Beaches Let You Explore Caves?
Not all beaches have caves you can reach without a boat. At Praia de Benagil, is the a famous cave with a hole in its roof? You gotta swim or kayak there—no walking. I once kayaked at 7 AM and had the cave all to myself. By 10 AM, it’s packed with tour boats.
Praia da Marinha has tiny caves at low tide. Kids love poking around the rock pools here. For a bigger adventure, Praia do Carvalho has a hidden tunnel through the cliffs. You’ll miss it if you don’t look for the narrow stairway behind the parking lot!
Where Can Families Splash Safely?
Beaches near Tavira, like Ilha de Tavira, have water so calm it’s like a kiddie pool. The sand stretches for miles, so there’s space even when it’s busy. Praia do Barril has a mini-train that takes you from the parking lot to the beach—kids think it’s a rollercoaster!
But avoid Praia do Beliche with little ones. The waves are rough, and the stairs down are steep. My niece tripped there once and scraped her knee badly. Stick to eastern beaches (closer to Spain) for gentle waves.
Which Beaches Are Secret (But Worth Finding)?
Praia do Camilo near Lagos is tiny but has a wooden staircase that makes you feel like a pirate descending to treasure. Only 200 people fit here, so go early. Another secret: Praia do Vale do Olival near Porches. No signs point to it—just park near the chicken farm (yes, really) and follow the dirt path.
Local trick: If a beach name starts with "Ilha" (like Ilha da Culatra), it’s on a sandbar. You need a ferry, but they’re cheap. Ferry costs €3 round-trip from Olhão.
Where Do Surfers Go?
Surfers love the wilder beaches near Sagres. Praia do Tonel has waves that can grow taller than a house in winter! But beginners should try Praia da Mareta—smaller waves and a surf school rents boards for €15/hour.
Funny story: I once saw a surfer at Praia do Amado try to ride a wave with his dog. The dog hated it. Stick to human-only surfing.
What Beaches Have the Weirdest Stuff?
Praia do Barril has a creepy-cool anchor cemetery. Hundreds of old, rusted anchors are stuck in the sand from when tuna fishing was big here. Feels like a metal monster graveyard.
At Praia da Dona Ana, the cliffs have stripes like a candy cane. Geologists say it’s from different rock layers. I say it looks like Mother Nature painted them.
When Should You Visit Which Beaches?
Summer (July-Aug) gets crowded. Beaches near Albufeira? Packed. But head west to Praia da Arrifana—it’s bigger, so you’ll find space. Spring (April-June) is best for cave exploring—tides are lower.
Winter beaches? Only for brave souls. Water’s freezing, but Praia do Beliche gets epic storm watching. Bring a raincoat!
How Do You Get to Tavira’s Island Beaches?
Ilha de Tavira is on a sandbar. From Tavira town, take the ferry (€2) or a water taxi (€5). Ferries leave every hour, but the last one back is at 7 PM. Miss it? You’re sleeping on the beach!
