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The Algarve

Portugal Travel Guide

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Kayaks navigate through the crystal waters of Praia Dona Ana, Lagos.

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Overview

Soaring cliffs, sea caves, golden beaches, scalloped bays and sandy islands draw over four million visitors to the Algarve each year. Surrounded on two sides by the Atlantic, it's a paradise for surfers, especially along the refreshingly undeveloped west coast.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Downtown of Faro with Se Cathedral in the morning with orange tree in the foreground, Algarve, Portugal
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building, view, orange, portuguese, historical, faro

    Faro

    The centrepiece of the Cidade Velha, the sé was completed in 1251 but heavily damaged in the 1755 earthquake. What you see now is a variety of Renaissance…

  • View to Ria Formosa Natural Park, Algarve, Portugal
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    Parque Natural da Ria Formosa

    Faro

    Encompassing 18,000 hectares, this sizeable system of lagoons and islands stretches for 60km along the Algarve coastline from west of Faro to Cacela Velha…

  • the capela dos ossos at the Igreja do Carmo in the old town of Faro at the east Algarve in the south of Portugal in Europe.
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Portuguese Culture, Faro - Portugal, Tomb, Grave, Cemetery, Old Town, Bizarre, Famous Place, Architecture, Human Skull, Human Bone, Algarve, Portugal, Europe, Chapel, Church, skelet, Igreja Do Carmo, Capela Dos Ossos

    Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo & Capela dos Ossos

    Faro

    One of the Algarve's most dazzling churches, this twin-towered baroque masterpiece was completed in 1719 under João V. After the 1755 earthquake, its…

  • Algarve coastline

    Ponta da Piedade

    Lagos

    Protruding 2.5km south of Lagos, Ponta da Piedade is a dramatic wedge of headland with contorted, polychrome sandstone cliffs and towers, complete with a…

  • Castelo

    Castelo

    Silves

    This russet-coloured, Lego-like castle – originally occupied in the Visigothic period – has great views over the town and surrounding countryside. What…

  • Benagil Caves

    Benagil Caves

    Carvoeiro

    One of the Algarve's – and Portugal's – most emblematic sights, this huge natural seaside cave has a hole in its ceiling through which streaming sunlit…

  • Sé

    Silves

    Just below the castle is the sé, built in 1189 on the site of an earlier mosque, then rebuilt after the 1249 Reconquista and subsequently restored several…

  • Museu de Portimão

    Museu de Portimão

    Portimão

    Housed in a 19th-century fish cannery, the ultramodern, award-winning Museu de Portimão is the city's number-one draw. The museum focuses on three areas:…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Dramatic cliffs, deserted islands, dolphin-watching tours, decadent dinners and more will fill your senses in the Algarve.

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Best Places to Visit

The cliff-top towns, rugged coast and inviting beaches of the Algarve hit all the right notes for surfers, seaside holidayers and everyone in between.

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Best Time to Visit

The natural beauty of the Algarve's cliff-backed golden beaches is obvious year-round, but you may experience the region differently in some seasons.

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Things to Know

Make the most of your visit to Portugal’s Algarve with these local tips, ideal for first-timers.

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Transportation

You'll find offbeat beaches, orange groves, flamingos and more in the Algarve. Here's how to get around.

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Free Things to Do

If you’re looking for the best free things to do in the Algarve in Portugal, start off with these top activities.

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Money and Costs

When planning a trip to the Algarve region in southern Portugal, you can save money with these top 10 tips.

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Best Road Trips

If you’re looking for the best road trips through the Algarve, don’t miss these five top drives, taking in hilltop villages and stunning coastal scenery.

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Plan with a local

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