The Algarve has better beaches than almost anywhere else in Europe. The sand is golden and as fine as caster sugar, there is variety — everything from hidden coves to huge expanses popular with the surfing set — and the honey-coloured limestone rock formations and seemingly endless sunshine form a wonderfully inviting backdrop to proceedings. The key thing is to zone in on what you want from your beach and target spots accordingly. Kite-surfers, sun-worshippers, foodies and even amateur palaeontologists — every tribe has its stretch.
Main photo: Praia da Salema, the western Algarve (Alamy)
1. Praia da Salema, Salema
Set in the western Algarve, within the Costa Vincentina Natural Park, Salema is one of the few really authentic fishing villages left in the Algarve. Here you can see the little fishing boats being pulled up on the beach by tractors and the fishermen mending their nets. Away from the restaurants and bars on the east of the beach are cliff walls made from limestone. Explore the shelves that jut out from this and you’ll likely spot a footprint or two from the dinosaurs that roamed here millions of years ago.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
2. Praia do Alvor, Alvor
As important as finding the beach at the end of the rainbow is whether you will be able to park there. At the blue flag beach of Alvor you certainly won’t struggle. It is a long stretch of sand and versatile too. Kite-surfers come for the reliable on-shore breezes, while families appreciate the calmers parts. There are several excellent options if you want to eat on the beach, from fresh fish at Dunas to snacks at the cafés on the edge of the golden sand.
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Café Y
Family-friendly Y
3. Praia da Marinha, Lagoa
Even if you don’t want to lie on the beach you should come to Praia da Marinha just to admire what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches on the Algarve, and one captured on many a postcard. It is surrounded by steep cliffs and accessed via a long staircase that acts as a natural filter (many visitors give it a miss in favour of nearby, more accessible beaches). For those who know a good Insta post when they see one, a heart shape can be formed from lining up a section of rocks at the top with the famous m-shaped double arch far below. Definitely worth a like or two.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
4. Praia da Arrifana, Aljezur
Located within a national park in the northwest Algarve, this beach is renowned among surfers. It feels the full force of the Atlantic, providing the waves and swell that surfers need, and also a reliable spectacle for anyone who likes a bit of dynamism to their shoreline. It’s beautiful in a rugged rather than a manicured sort of way, with wildflowers scattered across the clifftops in spring.
Café N
Family-friendly N
5. Praia da Cacela Velha, Tavira
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White houses are framed by cobalt-blue waters on Praia da Cacela Velha, located at the eastern end of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and based around a wide lagoon and spit of sand. You can walk here at low tide or take a boat. Wind and tide shape the golden sand into myriad formations. There are no lifeguards or café, but families love the warm, shallow water and sense of space.
Café N
Family-friendly Y
6. Praia de Albandeira, Lagoa
This is a pocket handkerchief of a beach, but the lucky few who can bag a spot on this little stretch of sand are in for a treat. It’s hemmed in by cliffs, ensuring calm, clear waters of dazzling blue that are just as good for a snorkel as a paddle. There are caves behind where you can escape the heat of the day, natural pools for children to play in and, on stilts at the top of the beach, a simple restaurant.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
7. Praia da Rocha, Portimao
Stretching for more than half a mile, this beach is a hub on the Algarve, with a number of wide walkways allowing easy access. Here you will find surfing schools doing their thing in the shallows, basketball hoops on the beach, and crowds of young people who come to chill out. Dominating the skyline is the fortress of Santa Catarina. The marina is well served with restaurants and bars by the beach.
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Café Y
Family-friendly Y
8. Praia de Ancao, Quinta do Lago
Free parking, a calm blue flag beach, lifeguards and protected sand dunes — it’s easy to see why this Quinta do Lago strand is so popular with families. There are sun loungers to rent, boat rides on offer and great water-skiing too. The beach forms the western boundary of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, ensuring the sand dunes are pristine. Stop at the much-loved 2 Passos restaurant for a plate of perfectly cooked fresh fish when you visit.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
9. Praia do Martinhal, Sagres
Praia do Martinhal is wide, sandy and relatively sheltered, meaning the waters here are calmer than off the beaches just around the headland, which face the full glare of the Atlantic. Small limestone islets just out to sea are popular with snorkellers and divers (water visibility is as good as anywhere in Europe) while, a little further out, the waters are plied by wind-surfers and paddleboarders. Lifeguard supervision provides peace of mind.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
10. Praia do Barril, Tavira
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Around three miles from the town of Tavira and part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Praia do Barril is one of Portugal’s most atmospheric beaches. The rather eerie Cemiterio das Ancoras (anchor graveyard) — dozens of rusting anchors arranged in rows — speaks to the once-flourishing, long-since declined tuna fishing days. There’s little in the way of shelter, so bring your own, and there’s a miniature train that arrives here via the marshy surrounds.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
11. Praia de Odeceixe, Aljezur
This striking blue flag beach is located in the very northwest of the Algarve on its border with the Alentejo and was voted one of the seven Natural Wonders of Portugal in a national competition. What makes it so remarkable is the combination of sea and river (this is the mouth of the River Seixe), where currents and tides blend to create a mesmerising, swirling attraction of blue and turquoise waters running through the golden sands. Quite a sight.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
12. Praia do Camilo, Lagos
The rock formations of the Ponte da Piedade protect this tiny beach from waves from the southwest, resulting in extremely calm water. Warm too. It is ideal for swimming, but also for exploring the caves and tunnels in the surrounding rocks. Access is via a wooden staircase with almost 200 steps, so not one for toddlers or those intent on a hearty picnic.
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Café N
Family-friendly N
13. Meia Praia, Lagos
The advantage of Meia Praia is that even in peak season you should find your own little pocket of sand here — it’s three miles long and spans the entire bay. Access is straightforward, with the pretty whitewashed town of Lagos within walking distance. And it has plenty of infrastructure, from water sports, particularly wind-surfing, to restaurants and bars, which more than makes up for a certain lack of charm.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
14. Praia Grande, Ferragudo
This beach in the central Algarve borders the Atlantic and the River Arade. Gentle waves make it a perfect destination for less-confident swimmers. There is a small play park for children in the sand, rocks to climb and even a sports pitch at one end. What brings the crowds, though, even by water taxi, is the live music and entertainment at the weekend.
Café Y
Family-friendly Y
• Best things to do in the Algarve
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• Best villas in the Algarve
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