Road Trip - AlgarveFrom golden beaches and dramatic cliffs to charming whitewashed villages and vibrant nightlife, the Algarve is a coastal paradise waiting to be explored. Whether you’re chasing the sunset over Praia da Marinha or diving into the caves of Benagil, this roadtrip will be one that you will never forget.AuthorsTristanTravels
DestinationsAlgarveItinerary

Albufeira & Olhos de Agua

Praia da Falésia
Praia da Falésia is the most beautiful beach I have already visited. Located between Albufeira and Vilamoura, it is where we usually stay to explore the Algarve. The beach is lined by beautiful high cliffs, from above you have beautiful views of the clear blue sea. From the beach, you have a great view of the long beach and the orange coloured cliffs.
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Praia da Rocha Baixinha
Also known as tomato beach, the beach is located right next to Praia da Falésia and extends to Vilamoura Marina. It is characterised by its white sand and dune landscape. It is ideally suited for water sports like surfing and, unlike other beaches in the region, is quite quiet.
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Albufeira Old Town
Albufeira's old town is very vibrant and charming. From the central square where many restaurants and bars are located, you can quickly reach the main shopping streets and the beautiful beach. Walking through the centre you normally pass several sand artworks, during our last visit to the city we saw an artwork of old fishermen. Albufeira is the perfect place to go shopping, sunbathe on the beach, swim in the sea and enjoy a delicious ice cream.
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Praia do Túnel
Praia do Tunel is the beach in Albufeira Old Town. At the end of a shopping street, you come to a short tunnel that connects the old town with the seawall, from here, you have a great view of the beach, which you can reach by stairs. The beach is characterised by its many tropical umbrellas and clear blue waters.
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The Strip
Besides a nice old town and beautiful beaches, Albufeira also has a lively nightlife, the place to be is The Strip. This is a street about 2 km long where you will find one club after another. Recommendations are Matt's Bar and Club Vida. The old town also has a cosy atmosphere at night with lots of live music at bars, but for the real party life, head to The Strip. The best way to reach The Strip is Uber.
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Alte

Queda do Vigário
Alte is a hidden gem in the Algarve, this picturesque village nestled in the hillside breathes ancient Portugal. The centre consisting of just a few streets is full of whitewashed houses. A short kilometre from the centre is Quedo do Vigario, a beautiful waterfall that flows into a small lake, a perfect place to relax after visiting the centre.
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Alte River
Called Praia Fluvial de Alte in Portuguese, it is a narrow river 800m from the centre. Here you can walk beside the river for a while in an area with decorated trees.
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Bandeira de Portugal Gigante
In the hills about a kilometre from the centre you will find a rock painted in the Portuguese flag, this shows how much the locals love their country. You can also see this rock in the distance from several places in Alte.
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Baloiço Panorâmico do Pico Alto
The trip to the panoramic view is 7 km, those who do not can also reach it by car. On the way you pass some gravel roads with 3 large windmills, eventually you reach the summit at a swing overlooking the valley, in the distance you can see a hilly landscape, rivers and whitewashed houses. A perfect spot for a beautiful sunset!
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Faro

Cidade Velha
Surrounded by medieval city walls lies Faro's beautiful old town. Its narrow winding cobbled streets, white houses and many charming squares make it a peaceful and cosy place.shopping you should not be here, outside a few seafood restaurants you will not find many shops.
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Chapel of Bones of Faro
This chapel in Faro's old town houses the skulls and skeletons of 1,250 monks. The entire surface of the walls is covered, even the ceiling. You can visit this chapel for just €1.
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Ria Formosa
Also known as one of Portugal's 7 natural wonders, this natural park in Faro is a whopping 60km long. The park consists of several islets and peninsulas with white beaches and rivers. You will find various animal species such as flamengo and, in warmer periods, dolphins. One of the most important places in the park is Cacela Velha, a typical Portuguese spot with a fortress and church. You can explore the park by bike, by boat, by kayak or on foot.
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Lagoa

Sand City
Consisting entirely of sand, this impressive city is a unique experience that is sure to amaze you. With more than 120 artworks by over 60 (inter)national artists, this sand city will not bore you, you will find sand artworks in all forms: animals, gods and people from all kinds of different cultures and eras. At dusk, the sand city is illuminated creating a unique atmosphere
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Benagil Cave
The best way to visit this beautiful sea cave is by boat. To understand why this is such a popular and magical place, you should especially visit it yourself. This boat trip from Portimão is highly recommended if you want to experience the caves in a unique way, everything is well organised and with some luck you can also spot dolphins. For those who want to make a stop at the beach, it is better to rent a kayak.
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Lagos

Old Town Lagos
Lagos is an atmospheric place on the coast, when you walk into the centre you immediately enter a bustling city. There are lovely bars, shops, churches and squares everywhere. Of course, there is also the famous promenade, where you walk next to the marina past coloured fishing boats, luxury yachts and souvenir stalls.
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Forte Ponta da Bandeira
At the end of the promenade is the Ponta da Bandeira Fortress. From the quay, you enter the fort via a drawbridge. The fort has been well preserved over the years and is at least as beautiful inside as outside. Climb to the top of the watchtower for great views of the surrounding countryside.
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Lagos City Walls and Towers
Did you know you can walk over the city walls? From here you have a fascinating view of the sta Lagos, this was one of the highlights of our trip. Near the city walls you will find old, small alleys where you can taste local specialities.
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Marina de Lagos
De haven ligt aan de bekende boulevard van Lagos, het is hier zeer fijn vertoeven, een relaxe, zuiderse sfeer, gekleurde vissersbootjes en tal van bars en restaurants. Tip: in de avond krijgt de haven zelfs nog een extra gezellige dimensie.
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Ponta da Piedade
This place feels surreal; it is one of my favourite places in the Algarve. A breathtakingly beautiful coastline full of rock formations, cliffs and caves on the clear blue waters of the Atlantic. Highly recommended is to walk along the cliffs, here you get phenomenal views of the sea with its many searocks. If you want views of the beautiful, high cliffs from the sea, you can hire a boat trip or kayak.
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Loulé

Castelo de Loulé
The centre of Loulé has a typical Portuguese atmosphere, white houses, small churches, you will also find Arab influences from the Moorish era everywhere. The biggest attraction from that time is the Moorish castle. Inside is a small museum and you can climb one of the watchtowers, which will give you a great view of the city.
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Mercado Municipal de Loulé
The biggest attraction of this cosy city is undoubtedly the covered market. The exterior is a beautiful, photogenic building, inside you will find a large collection of fresh food stalls selling fish, meat, fruit, cakes... You will also find handmade products like cork and ceramics.
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Museu Municipal de Loulé
This museum offers insights in the history of the region, with many archeological objects is this a must-see for history-lovers.
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Monchique

Passadiços Barranco do Demo
This beautiful walk in the Monchique region starts in the village of Alferce, where a staircase first takes you into the mountain valley, where you cross a wooden suspension bridge to take the stairway up the other side. There are quite a few steps but feel free to stop along the way to enjoy phenomenal views. At the top, you are again rewarded with stunning views. The trek there and back took us an hour and a half.
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Fonte Santa
For hikers, a visit to the hot springs of Fonte Santa is highly recommended. During your trip to the springs, you will have to cross the little river Monchique several times; small bridges are usually provided here. There are old legends that the water here has healing powers.
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Viewpoint of Fóia
900m above sea level lies the top of the Serra de Monchique, the Algarve's highest point. At the lookout point you will find a military radar station and some restaurants, but it is mainly for the breathtaking views here, you can see a hilly landscape and in the distance you can even see cities.
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Portimao

Praia da Rocha
Praia da Rocha is one of the Algarve's most beautiful beaches, its golden yellow sand combined with the ochre-coloured cliffs and the turquoise blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean creating a unique and beautiful picture.
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Alcalar Megalithic Site
15 minutes away from Portimão, you will find Alcalar, which was a Copper Age settlement, the monuments on display date back to 3000 BC. The cemetery includes 18 megalithic tombs.
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Sagres

Cabo de São Vicente
Cabo de São Vicente, also known as the most south-westerly point of Europe is my favourite spot in the Algarve and an absolute must-see when travelling around the region. The only construction you will find there is a lighthouse that has become a true monument of the region with a souvenir shop. From the cliffs, you'll have stunning views, ideal for taking great photos or taking a lovely walk.
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Sagres Fortress
Perfectly combined with Cabo São Vicente is Sagres Fortress, where you can learn more about the history of the region and visit an old church, watchtower and houses inside. From the fortress, you have a great view of the Cabo São Vicente, which makes for great pictures.
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Silves

Castelo de Silves
Silves is the oldest city in the Algarve and personally my favorit. It oozes history in every street, alley or square. This beautiful red castle is Silves' main attraction, dating back to the Moorish era and set beautifully on a hill. Walk the old castle walls and enjoy wonderful views of the city. In the cellars you will find well-preserved water reservoirs, which were once connected to the nearby Monchique Mountains.
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Cathedral of Silves
Opposite the castle is Silves Cathedral, the outside is a well-known attraction of the city, the inside has fallen into disrepair over the years but is still worth a visit.
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Municipal Market Silves
The fresh market in Silves consists of many fish and vegetable stalls. It is a typical southern fresh market that is definitely worth a visit when you are in Silves.
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Feira Medieval de Silves
During our visit to Silves, 11-day Midieval Festival was underway, which takes place every August. This festival is a unique experience; it feels like you have briefly travelled back in time to the region's Moorish era. During the festival, enjoy the parades through the many old, charming streets and alleys. Furthermore, numerous activities are organised such as tournaments, entertainment for children, shows in the castle... We attended a show in the castle and were impressed.
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Tavira

Tavira Old Bridge
Tavira can also be considered the Venice of Portugal, the city is surrounded by water and therefore has many beautiful bridges. The most beautiful of these bridges is the old bridge also called Ponte Romano, from which you have a beautiful view of the river and the city. Tavira is not very big and therefore has the charm of a village: cosy and lively.
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Castelo de Tavira
The castle is fairly small but we thought it was worth it for the nice views from the observation towers.
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Tavira Island
This tropical island is famous for its white-sand beach that is known as one of the best beaches in southern Europe. For just €2, you can take a boat trip there and back to this beautiful island.
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Vilamoura

Marina de Vilamoura
I personally think this is the most beautiful port in the Algarve, you can find all kinds of luxury yachts there. Around the port, you walk along the beautiful waterfront on the one hand, and on the other hand you pass all kinds of restaurants that are very reasonable in price. Be sure to visit the cosy centre where there are some nice souvenir shops.
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"Cerro da Vila" - Roman Village
This small archaeological site consists of excavated ruins of a first-century Roman village with an adjacent museum where you can find excavated artefacts.
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Stays

AP Victoria Sports & Beach | Falésia - Albufeira
We usually stay at one place during our trips in the Algarve. Most of the time this is at AP Victoria Sports & Beach which is close to Albufeira and 400m from Praia da Falésia. Its location is perfect for people who want to explore the whole region but want to stay at 1 hotel, as Albufeira is centrally located in the Algarve. The furthest you will have to drive is 1h15m to Cabo de São Vicente in Sagres. The rooms are spacious, you have your own kitchen, living room and terrace. Breakfast is the same every day but there is plenty of choice. You can also choose to stay there all-inclusive, the food is very varied and good. Finally, the hotel has exclusive facilities such as its own gym, athletics track, swimming pool, entertainment, a meeting room and busses to Albufeira & Vilamoura.
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Adriana Beach Club Hotel Resort
Giving you an all-inclusive experience in Albufeira, this hotel has 4 swimming pools: 2 for adults, 2 for children. From the hotel you have direct access to the beach and the hotel provides facilities such as fitness, football, tennis, archery, mini-golf and buses to the centre of Albufeira and Vilamoura. In the evening there is often live music, entertainment shows.
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Culinary

Al Quimia
Is a restaurant that strongly connects with the DNA and roots of the region, they make their dishes with products given to them by nature in the region, for example, they serve many dishes with fish and seafood.
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Il Lamparo
Italian restaurant in a beautiful location right on Vilamoura's harbour. The menu includes pizza, risotto, fish, meat and delicious desserts such as tiramisu. Recommended!
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Pastelaria Barhon
This bakery serves the best coffee in the Algarve, in addition you can eat delicious Pastei de Nata, which is Portugal's local speciality and is a delicious sweet pastry.
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Extra

Carrapateira Extreme Tours
This company rents mountain bikes at very good prices, they also organise tourist tours. Their location is close to Sagres, making it a good option for exploring the region around Sagres.
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