Burgau
Praia do Burgau is a lovely little sandy beach located in the small (and relatively unspoiled) fishing village of Burgau. The beach is backed by high, sloping cliffs and all but disappears when the tide comes in. Roughly halfway between Sagres and Lagos the beach isn't too far off the beaten track and is well worth a visit. It can however get fairly busy during the summer. You'll find most things you need in the village and along the beachfront, with a few cafes and bars here. Finding...
Faro Olhão
Can Stock Photo Inc/Transocean007
The Ilha da Cultura is a small, but very sandy island located just beyond the Ria Formosa nature reserve off the coast of Faro. It is only accessible by a ferry from Faro which guarantees it never gets super busy. However, unlike the neighboring Ilha Deserta (Deserted Island) there are a few permanent residents at the western end of the island in Farol - which is Portuguese for...
Cascais
Can Stock Photo Inc. / anshar
Cresmina beach (Praia da Cresmina) is located right next to the bigger, much better known Guincho beach - in fact it is sometimes referred to as "Little Guincho". A small rocky headland separates the two beaches upon which stands the Fortaleza do Guincho Hotel.
Both beaches are the located just around the corner from Cascais on the wild Atlantic coast and this means both are exposed to the powerful...
Carvoeiro
Can Stock Photo Inc. / mike66
Once, just a typical Algarve fishing village nestled in a valley and flanked by high limestone cliffs, Carvoeiro is now a popular, ever expanding resort town. That said the beach is still the focus of the town and this area retains much of its charm. Whitewashed, terracotta-tiled villas and cottages cling to the cliff sides forming a kind of amphitheatre with all eyes on Carvoeiro's prime asset - the beach. The Praia do Carvoeiro is a smallish sweep of fine golden sand sheltered by high,...
Nazare
Nazare is a fascinating place, steeped in history, but sadly overwhelmed by tourism. Very crowded in summer, with a sprawl of holiday apartment buildings obscuring much of the town's former unique atmosphere, this is a crowded, raucous beach resort with all the hustle, bustle and hassle that goes with it. Formerly known for the traditional costumes worn by fishermen and their wives, old women can still be seen standing on street corners in traditional headscarves and aprons...
Albufeira Vilamoura
Karl Egger
Boasting more than six kilometres of golden sand, stretching from Vilamoura in the west to Olhos do Agua in the east, Praia da Falesia is home to one of the longest beaches in Portugal.
This sleepy residential town is known by the locals as 'beach town' and has managed to preserve something of its traditional Portuguese lifestyle. Backed by cliffs (falesia is Portuguese for cliff) decorated with pine trees the beach is...
Aljezur
Filipe Varela / 123RF
Sixteen kilometres north of Carrapateira lies the village of Aljezur, which is considerably larger than Carrapateira and probably one of the prettiest and liveliest towns on the western Algarve. From here buses run to a couple of outstanding beaches, the largest of which is Praia da Arrifana, ten kilometres to the south west.
Arrifana village, which spreads itself over the cliffs above the beach, has been turned largely over to...
Lagos
Manuelvbotelho | BY-SA
Literally translating to 'half beach', this vast expanse of sand near the interesting old town of Lagos wraps itself around one of the biggest bays in Europe. The wide bay offers protection from rough seas, which makes this long beach of soft, white sand particularly popular with families.
Meia Praia is dotted with snack bars and restaurants, making it an ideal choice for those of you who enjoy long, sandy walks, while the absence of rocks under...
Portimão
Consisting of nearly two kilometres of sand punctuated by jagged rock formations rising from the sea and backed by steep limestone cliffs, Praia da Rocha was one of the first places in the Algarve to be developed for tourism. As a result it is not the prettiest of towns. Purpose-built multi-storey apartment blocks dominate the cliffs behind the beach while discos, casinos, bars and restaurants line the main street, the Avenida Tomas Cabreira...
Vilamoura
Sven Grüne
Praia de Garrao is one of the principal beaches that serve a collection of high-end resorts known as the 'Golden Triangle'. Originally consisting of little more than sandy beach and pine forest, the Vale do Lobo was developed for tourism in the 1960s, closely followed by the neighbouring Quinta do Lago. The Vale do Lobo boasts a riding school, which offers fantastic rides along the beach, and the most famous tennis...