By air
Faro (FAO), ~1 h to Lagos
Europe · Portugal
Algarve, Portugal
Golden cliffs and sea caves
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to June and September to October — warm, calmer
Don't miss
Ponta da Piedade
The Benagil cave
Praia da Marinha
Lagos old town
Things to do
Beach-hopping
Kayaking into the sea caves
The Seven Hanging Valleys trail
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Jose A. · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
Tavira's old town and island beach
Questions travellers ask
When is the Algarve at its best?
May to June and September to October, when it is warm and calmer.
Which airport should I fly into for the Algarve?
Faro (FAO). Lagos is about an hour from there.
What are the Algarve's must-sees?
Ponta da Piedade, the Benagil cave, Praia da Marinha and Lagos old town. Kayak into the sea caves, walk the Seven Hanging Valleys trail, and pack swimwear for the beach-hopping.
Is there a quieter side to the Algarve?
Head to Tavira for its old town and island beach. Wherever you end up, try the cataplana seafood stew.
About Algarve
- Coastal
Where it is
The Algarve is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, with about 155 km of south-facing Atlantic coast running east from Cape St Vincent to the Guadiana river, which marks the border with Spain; its capital is Faro.
History
After centuries of Moorish rule, the region was taken by Afonso III of Portugal, who captured Faro in 1249 and began calling himself King of Portugal and the Algarve. In the 15th century Henry the Navigator based himself near Lagos, from where Gil Eanes sailed in 1434 to round Cape Bojador; the 1755 earthquake and tsunami damaged the coast, and tourism grew from the 1960s.
People
Algarvios speak Portuguese in a regional dialect. Fishing, salt-making and the farming of figs, almonds, oranges and carob shaped traditional life, cork oaks grow in the hills, medronho, a brandy distilled from strawberry-tree berries, is a local speciality, and ornate chimneys crown many old houses.
Known for
- Golden cliffs and sea caves such as Benagil
- Ponta da Piedade near Lagos
- The Ria Formosa lagoon
- Cataplana stews and grilled sardines
- The old towns of Tavira and Lagos
Did you know?
The name Algarve comes from the Arabic al-Gharb, meaning the west, the name the region carried during its centuries under Moorish rule.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.