The Algarve is, quite simply, spoilt for beaches – its long coastline offering a mix of golden stretches and hidden coves, frequently scattered with limestone caves and grottoes. There is much variety in the hundred miles or so of shoreline.
The fiercer seas and stronger winds on the western coast are ideal for surfing and paddle boarding, while the eastern coast are more suitable for children’s bucket and spade holidays with gentler waves lapping the beach and warmer waters, due to its proximity to the Mediterranean. In the middle, tiny pockets of beach are often only accessible by boat, making them the perfect summer adventure. Here are 10 of the best coastal delights.
Central Algarve
Praia de Albandeira
Amazingly, this jewel of a beach is completely off the tourist radar. Tiny, with white sands pinched between ochre rocks, it has no watersports, no umbrellas, no sunbeds and few visitors. Take a good book and soak up the sun or laze in the shadow of the cliffs behind you.
Where to eat: There is a rustic wooden bar above, among the rocks, for cold beer, and a climb across the cliffs behind you will bring you to Suites Alba and its elegant cuisine.
How to get there: Follow the signs towards Porches from Benagil. Turn left onto a narrow, single-lane road and after a few miles you will come to the car park above the beach.
Praia do Anção
This endless, golden, blue-flag stretch of sand is popular with families, with its calm seas, lifeguard and protected dunes behind. There are sunbeds, sunshades and boats to rent, as well as great water-skiing. The beach is a continuation of that at Quinta do Lago but access is down a rough track and parking is free.
Where to eat: Restaurante 2Passos, one of the Algarve’s best fish restaurants, is here, with jaunty blue and white interior and specialities that include black rice with cuttlefish ink. It's closed December to February and is cash only; expect to pay €30-€50 (£26-£44) per person.
How to get there: From Almancil head to Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago. At the T-junction between the two, turn left to Quinta do Lago and then right before the Pine Trees riding centre. It’s well signposted.
Praia da Marinha
This white sandy stretch of beach lies at the bottom of rocky outcrops with flights of stone steps down to it. You are rewarded for the journey by the translucent seas which make Praia da Marinha the best spot in the district for snorkelling, and boats depart from here to visit the caves.
Where to eat: A simple wooden kiosk provides ice creams and drinks.
How to get there: From Portimão, take the N125 to Porches and once you have passed the International School in Lagoa, take the next right, signposted to Praia da Marinha.
Praia do Alvor
Much loved by locals and visitors alike, blue-flag Alvor beach is particularly popular for kite-surfing, but you can also rent pedalos or kayaks and the waters are beautifully calm.
Where to eat: "Bolinhos frescos!" shout the sellers that walk the sands, baskets of freshly baked cakes in hand. But for a lunchtime treat try Dunas, at the entrance to the beach, for beautifully filleted fresh fish, cod fish cakes, steak baguettes and a good selection of wines.
How to get there: As you drive into Alvor turn left down the hill, signposted “praia”. At the roundabout where there’s a chemist, go straight over and then turn second right. At the next roundabout go straight over. At the T-junction turn left and you will find the car park for the beach.
Western Algarve
Praia do Amoreira
This is one for naturalists, with endless rock pools harbouring starfish and sea urchins. The sea has an undertow, so it’s not the place for children to swim, but the surfing is great and there is a wide expanse of sand for playing.
Where to eat: Bring your own picnic, as there is no restaurant.
How to get there: From Aljezur, near the Municipal Gym, there is a signpost to Praia do Amoreira, about five miles away.
Praia do Camilo
This blue-flag beach and the neighbouring Praia da Dona Ana (where there are cave tours by boat) grace many a postcard of the Algarve. Admire the magnificent rocks, some rising 70ft from the Atlantic, and the spectacular shoreline of the Costa d’Oiro (golden coast) and explore the coves and grottoes.
Where to eat: Restaurante O Camilo, popular with residents, has a good range of seafood and excellent grilled fish.
How to get there: From Portimão, enter Lagos via the big Avenue dos Descobrimentos, which runs along the side of the marina. Follow it until you come to the crossroads with Estrada da Ponta da Piedade, and turn left there. This road will take you to Praia do Camilo.
Praia de Odeceixe
This beautiful blue-flag beach – set in the very north-west of the Algarve, where it borders the Alentejo – is spectacular. The river Seixe runs around one side of the beach and the sea the other. Above, white storks nest on the cliffs and peregrine falcons soar and swoop.
Where to eat: Café Dorita serves regional dishes of black pork and fish of the day as well as burgers and salads.
How to get there: Leave Aljezur, heading north on the N120. Turn left at the entrance to the village of Baiona and follow the road along the side of the river to the beach.
Praia do Martinhal
Surf, body-board or windsurf at this broad blue-flag beach – or stay on land and play beach volleyball or football. There’s a surf school on site where you can sign up for lessons.
Where to eat: When the sun is at its strongest, head to As Dunas restaurant on the edge of the beach. Part of Martinhal Resort, it serves fresh fish in a breezy restaurant and has a trampoline for children to play on allowing parents to linger over lunch.
How to get there: Take the N125 to Vila do Bispo and continue out of town on the N268 to Sagres. Martinhal is well signposted left off the main road a few miles before Sagres.
Praia do Armado
This is Portugal’s premier surfing beach and the venue for many national and international body-boarding and surfing competitions, with its own surf school, Amado Surfcamp, on site. It’s backed by sand dunes and fringed by cliffs, with rock pools at low tide.
Where to eat: Sitio do Forno may be a bit more more expensive than some of the other beach restaurants, but it is a cut above with really good food.
How to get there: Leave Aljezur on the N120 to the south and fork right after about four miles, direction Sagres. Three miles after passing Bordeira, you will reach Carrapateira. At the southern exit of Carrapateira turn right, signposted Amado.
Eastern Algarve
Praia do Barril
This blue-flag beach is on an island that forms part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, and you can visit the Anchor Graveyard, left by the tuna-fishing boats that once fixed their large nets there. Windsurfing and sailing are popular and one of the Algarve’s few nudist spots is nearby.
Where to eat: There are five simple restaurants inside little fishermen’s houses on the beach. The nicest of the lot is the restaurant in the Tuna Museum.
How to get there: Go to the tourist village of Pedras d’el Rei and in summer, a miniature train takes you across the marshy land. Otherwise there is a narrow wooden bridge.
How we choose
Every beach in this curated list has been chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser known corners – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.