The Best Beaches in the Algarve
As soon as you arrive at your holiday accommodation, whichever beach you find yourself near will be, in your considered opinion the best one. But it usually isn’t the best on offer after a week of local excursions.
Until that it is you travel around the region and visit the next one along the coast and then the next one. All of the beaches here are stunning, ideal spots for finally unwinding and relaxing. With a good variety of water sports on offer and activities for all of the family to enjoy the beaches here are excellent. No matter what you want from your beach experience: waves for surfing, seclusion for relaxing or a place for family fun, you will certainly find it in the Algarve. Listed here are five of the best beaches in the Algarve.
Praia da Marinha, Lagoa
Fabulous rocky formations decorate Praia da Marinha beach and make for interesting photographic opportunities. The waters are calm and the perfect shade of blue. Everything that you want for your beach experience is here. It is by no means the biggest beach in the Algarve but because it’s only accessible by a set of rather steep steps it’s never crowded. This is the perfect beach for a romantic afternoon together as parents tend not to tackle the steps with small children and their associated baggage.
Ilha da Barreta, Faro
This is a large and expansive beach, though in a central location it manages to feel remote and secluded. The beach is part of the Ria Formosa National Park and is surrounded by lagoons and dunes which are a haven for wildlife. Ilha da Barreta is the beach for the diehard sun worshipper; shade is limited so remember to pack a parasol or make a point of hiring one. Ten minutes by boat from Faro the waters here are excellent for snorkelling and other activities.
Praia da Bordeira, Carrapateira
Fabulous sand and majestic cliffs make Praia da Bordeira a stunning beach location. Sand dunes stretch back from the beach right towards the village of Carrapareira. It can be a bit breezy on this beach however this makes it a popular place for surfing and other water sports like windsurfing. There are not many amenities here but if it’s waves and water sports that you came for then this is the perfect beach experience for you.
Armação de Pêra
This is one of the most popular resorts in the Algarve for family holidays. Here you will find a beautiful long sandy beach which reaches right across to Praia da Gale. The pirates that used to attack the fishing fleet here are long gone, but the 17th Century fort still stands looking out across the beach. The western end of the beach has natural caves and rock formations to explore. This really is a family beach made for relaxing and enjoying the resorts facilities, of which there are many.
Praia Grande, Central Lisboa
This is a beach that you will need to hire a car to get to and depending on which direction you are travelling from you may find yourself getting caught up in the beauty of the scenery before you even get there. The beach here offers excellent surfing for even the most experienced enthusiast. Quiet through the week it tends to be a little more crowded on the weekend as it is popular with the locals as well as tourists.
To make the most out of your beach holiday in the Algarve, you need to make sure you stay in some fabulous accommodation. Vale do Lobo Villas top the list and are the ideal place for both families and couples.
