The best things to do in Algarve Portugal
Algarve, Portugal. The one that I always knew I would visit one day. When I got the invitation to visit Algarve from Jet2 and the Algarve tourism board, I knew it would be an exciting trip. What I did not know was just how much fun we would have on this dreamy trip. There is so much to do in that region that it could be overwhelming to think of where to start planning from. However, that is why I am here to narrow it down to the best things to do in Algarve, Portugal.
AD – This post is in collaboration with Jet2 and Visit Algarve. I was specially invited to experience this stunning region; however, as always, all views are personal to me.
About the Algarve, Portugal
Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal and is an incredibly family friendly part of Portugal. From its sandy beaches to dramatic cliffs to picturesque fishing towns to the most breath taking sunrises, Algarve stole my heart.
It boasts of about 300 days of sunshine yearly and is a lush trip for sun seekers. Some of its towns include Albufeira, Faro, Lagos, Silves, Tavira, Monchique etc
Algarve was my 2nd visit to Portugal and is very different from Porto, which I visited a few years ago. In all honesty, Porto was a quick weekend trip to watch football so I don’t think I can say that I saw Porto at all. The warm weather in Portugal and proximity to the UK make it an easy holiday choice especially for families seeking last minute holidays.
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London to Algarve, Portugal
My trip to Algarve started really early as we headed to London Stansted airport to catch the Jet2 flight to Faro, Portugal. It lasted just over 2 hours and we were transported from moody London to sunshiny Faro. Jet2 has so many wonderful holiday packages especially geared towards families. The flight was comfortable as usual and I slept for most of the journey to Faro.
This was not my 1st trip with Jet2. Since moving to Essex, flights from London Stansted Airport are the most convenient for us; so when we can, we tend to fly from there.
The best things to do in Algarve, Portugal
In this travel guide, I have focused on the best things to do in Algarve, Portugal that will make you fall in love with this region.
1. Lunch and winetasting at Vineyard Morgado do Quintao
Before visiting Algarve, I had no idea it had such a wonderful wine culture. We were lucky to visit family owned and run vineyard, Morgado do Quintao, which has been in the family for 300 years. They have 7 acres of new grape varieties and they are all grown organically with no chemical or irrigation. This means that the vineyard is stronger and the grapes are sweeter.
On its grounds, there are 3 cottages to book for an overnight stay. It is a really beautiful property and I kept imagining dancing under the sun by the pool during summer. It is perfect for a wedding, birthday celebration or just a lovely day away to the countryside. The vineyard is very well kept and you can tell that everyone who works there is passionate about their job. We absolutely enjoyed our time there and bought a lovely bottle of white wine to go home with.
A visit to Morgado do Quintao is a family friendly activity. When the adults are offered wine choices, the little ones are offered juices to compliment their meals. For a full day trip, checking out nearby village Silves would be a great option.
2. Explore Faro old town
Faro is a really beautiful city and I am glad we got to explore it even if it was only for a few hours. We walked along the coast and spotted the boats, took photos by the love FARO sign which has become an iconic tourist spot and stopped for lunch at AP senses.
Victor from Visit Algarve gave us a tour of Old town and explained all the significant stops to us. My love for little cobblestone streets, historical statues and pastel buildings was multiplied in Faro. There seems to be a café and al fresco culture as well with lots of restaurants dotted around. I also spotted independent shops as well as the touristy souvenir shops. Faro has the typical European city vibe but it felt different. Maybe it is because I knew that I could walk across Old town, jump on a boat and be on a beach in a matter of minutes.
3. Sunset at Hotel Grande Real Santa Eulalia, Albufeira
One of the best things to do in Algarve, Portugal is to catch at least one sunset over the period you are there. We went to Hotel Grande Real Santa Eulalia and made our way straight to the beachfront as the sun was setting and watched the most beautiful colours disappear into the night.
Hotel Grande Real Santa Eulalia is a 5 star hotel in Algarve, which promises to give you the most luxurious experience. The grounds are beautiful and from where I stood, I could see the beautiful beachfront. Palm trees scattered across its beach, families walked up and down the shore and it was just an all round wholesome sight. The hotel restaurant, beach and club (yes, club) are open to guests so you get a taste of its beauty even if you are not staying over.
4. Stay at family friendly luxury resort, Pine Cliffs Resort
Staying at Pine Cliffs Resort was one of the highlights of our entire trip. It is the most stunning property and just felt so authentic. The thing with resorts is that some times, they can feel quite samey but Pine Cliffs has a uniqueness to it and you could tell that it was built with Portuguese heritage in mind. The stunning tiles all around the hotel reminded me of Porto and the warmth of the staff made us feel very welcome.
My room had a lush sea view and a walk down the beach allowed us witness the most stunning sunrise. The hotel is built off a cliff; hence the name, Pine Cliffs. It also has a stunning beachfront, which spreads across acres. The most important thing is that Pine Cliffs is a family friendly hotel. There were a lot of families with their babies and toddlers in the hotel and it warmed my heart to see the little ones living their best lives.
5. Beer Tour at Algarve Rock Brewery
As someone who is not a beer drinker, I was quite skeptical about this activity but I must say I learnt a lot. Our tour guide, Riccardo who is Portuguese, was very patient with us while walking us through the making of different types of beer.
Algarve Rock Brewery has been open since 2018 and they export to the UK, Switzerland etc. It is open everyday and on the 1st Friday of every month and there is live music to turn up the vibes. Walk-Ins are allowed in the Beer café (“Tap Room”) on site; however, booking is required for a Beer Tour. I tried a couple of beers and Riccardo mentioned that their most famous beer is the Tino’s Great Escape (coconut IPA).
It is a family friendly brewery in Algarve. Families are encouraged to visit with their kids when they have activities from time to time.
6. Visit to Rio Formosa
There are some experiences that will stay with you forever and this tour with Isea Charter is one of them. From the Faro marina, we got a speedboat to our Catamaran, boarded and Pedro our captain led us through the most spectacular coastline.
Isea Charter is a family owned and run business. The boat sleeps up to 8 and for a day charter, you can have as much as 16 people on it. I found it very roomy and the best thing is that kids are allowed on the boat. They are given a life jacket and can enjoy all the sights as their adults.
Once we crossed the channel, Annie and Maria gave us history lessons of the sights along the way. We passed by Desserta Island, which has the famous Estaminé restaurant on it. There’s a local story to Desserta Island, which I found fascinating. Fisherman, Alves is the only one who lives on the island but it was not always this way. There were 5 fishermen on the island who had huts and slept on the island. When they either died or moved away, Alves was left and became landlord of the 5 huts. He is the only one allowed to sleep on Desserta island and has become a local legend with youtube popularity who receives visitors daily.
Now, you might be asking, What is Rio Formosa?
Rio Formosa is a labyrinth of marshland, islands and canals that stretch 60kms along Algarve’s coast. It has been a spot on my travel list since I read about it so I felt quite lucky to be ticking it off. It has over 300 species of birds including flamingos and storks. Rio Formosa is literally the most epic spot in all of the Algarve. The entire tour lasted 3 hours and was 10/10.
7. Explore the Albufeira Marina
Albufeira is possibly the most popular part of the Algarve especially for partygoers. However, for a more tame and family friendly experience, head to its marina. The Albufeira Marina is just so vibey that I could chill there all day. Once we were dropped off, we were greeted by the most colourful row of buildings I have ever seen. On the marina, there are coffee shops, ice cream parlours, pizza spots and of course, restaurants if you are looking to have a full meal.
I had a coffee to kick start my day, walked up and down the marina, took a million photos, watched the little boats moor, the huge boats leave and ended my spectacular day with a chocolate chip ice cream. My excitement when I spotted the colourful tourist train was untouchable. Albufeira Marina makes you feel like a kid in a candy store. Anyone who comes to this part of the Algarve will fall in love with it and I think it is the perfect area to spend a day in Algarve.
8. Catamaran cruise
Algarve is known for its stunning coastline of beaches. What better way to see it than a catamaran cruise? We booked the tour with Algar Experience. After exploring Albufeira Marina, we got our “boarding passes” and it was time to jump onboard. We sailed about 2 hours from the port all the way to Praia Grande, passing by the incredible coastal landmarks on our way.
Our guide, Gabriel showed us epic spots like Praia de Marinha, which used to be one of the prettiest beaches in the world. That is, until 2 of its 4 arches fell due to erosion. Today, the 2 arches form a heart sign, which has made it a popular photo spot for tourists. We ended up at Praia Grande which is a public beach, however, due to low season, had it all to ourselves.
Our barbecue was very fresh and yummy. I had a plate of prawns, sausages, meat skewer, some pasta salad and bread. Drinks were flowing the whole time as well and it was generally a great vibe.
This tour is actually epic and I recommend it for solo and group trips as well. Everyone is so jolly that even as a solo traveller, you are bound to make friends. The entire tour lasted just over 6 hours and if they added on more hours, I’d still be up for it.
9. Beach Day
I may have saved the best for last. The reason at least 80% of people visit the Algarve is for its stunning beaches. We were lucky to visit Praia Grande and Praia de Santa Eulália. However, we were even luckier to be staying in a hotel that sits on what has been voted the no 1 beach in the Algarve, Praia de Falésia.
On the mornings I am able to wake up for a sunrise, I find that the rest of my day is fantastic. On this morning, I set my alarm for 6.30am, got up, freshened up and walked to catch the elevator down to the beach. There is something about watching the sun rise slowly on the beach and the colours spreading through the sky that is so scenic. I set my tripod to capture some of the most beautiful shots. Afterwards, I wrote a note of gratitude and for the most part, sat in silence, watched as the waves danced and took it all in.
This, I daresay, was the best part of my trip – so simple, yet so powerful and wholesome to me. I kept wishing I had Mr E and Adanna with me. She is up most days at 6.30am so we would have enjoyed this experience together. I pictured us chasing her down the beach as she squeals. Immediately, I wrote in my journal “Remember to enjoy a sunrise with Adanna soon”
Where to eat in the Algarve, Portugal
Algarve is a food lover’s paradise. A travel guide detailing the best things to do in Algarve, Portugal would be incomplete without mentioning the places we ate. This region has a rich food and wine culture. The seafood and vegetables are fresh, there is so much wine to choose from and taste, the meat is succulent and generally, Algarve is foodie heaven.
1. Paper Moon, W Hotel Algarve
There are 7 restaurants in the W Algarve and they are all beautiful. We had dinner at their Italian restaurant, Paper Moon and we were blown away. It might have been the best meal from start to finish that I had in Algarve. Starters were burrata, eggplant parmigiana, pizza capricciosa and pizza margherita. We all had the same main pasta dish, which was Pappardelle as it was a Paper Moon special. It had the tastiest sauce and everyone licked their plates from how tasty it was. Dessert did not disappoint either and the tiramisu was up there with the best I have had.
Paper Moon is a luxury restaurant and I recommend for classic Italian food on special dates. All the meals were so tasty and the service was impeccable.
2. Market Kitchen, W Hotel Algarve
Market Kitchen is in W Algarve just like Paper Moon and it is such a swanky restaurant. It thrives on the fact that it serves Portuguese food and is quite popular with not just the hotel guests but outside guests wanting a taste of authentic Algarvian meals.
Market Kitchen is the more casual restaurant and I can imagine going in for casual brunch dates with the girls. One thing I have to assume with W Algarve restaurants is how much they pride themselves on fantastic service. Market Kitchen was no exception.
3. Restaurante Figueiral
Restaurant Figueiral is one of the most beautiful outdoor restaurants I have been to. It is in Almancil, it so pretty and we genuinely felt like we were dining under the moon. To be fair, there was a full moon out on that day. We went as a group and saw couples on dates, fancily dressed. It must be one of the fancier restaurants for date nights in the Algarve.
4. AP Eva senses
The best thing about having lunch at AP Eva Senses was the view of Faro’s marina, which was incredible. I mean, lunch was yummy but the views were epic. It is a more casual setting, lunch is buffet style and there is a mix of fish, meat and vegetable dishes to choose from. The dessert table was also a fave and I kept going back to get even more sweet treats.
5. Atlantico Restaurante in Grande Santa Eulalia
After watching the sunset, we settled into our comfy seats at Atlantico Restaurante, which is famous for being the best restaurant in the hotel. Our table came with beach view; we had some Portuguese wine and tapas before our main meal of seafood pasta was served. The night ended with lots of chats and spotting the full moon on the beach.
FAQs about Algarve, Portugal
How long is enough to spend in the Algarve?
This totally depends on what you want out of your experience. We spent 3 full days and saw and did so much. However, to slow down and actually take it all in, I would recommend 5 days minimum especially if travelling with kids. There are so many places I’d have liked to visit like Lagos and even spend more time in Silves.
When is the best time to visit Algarve, Portugal?
I would avoid Algarve in the peak summer months – July and August. The best time to go to the Algarve is during shoulder months; as you already know how much I love off peak travel. April – June and September – October are perfect. However, my friend actually went in November a few years ago and had the sun shinning for the whole week. I visited at the end of September and it was 29 degrees.
Where is the best area to stay in the Algarve?
Albufeira is the best place to stay in Algarve. However, Faro comes very close. I’d pick Albufeira if staying in a resort and not planning to do much. If I wanted to explore Algarve best, Faro would be my pick. To help with this, see more on Algarve Holidays
The best things to do in Algarve, Portugal
Algarve is a year round destination. Even in winter, it is not as cold as the rest of Europe. It famously boasts of 300+ hours of sunlight yearly and is famous for families seeking winter sun even till November.
For luxury holidays, Jet2 holidays is up there with the best package holidays especially for families. I can’t wait to revisit with Mr E and our little bubba as I’m sure they will love it as much as I did. Special thank you to Jet2 and Visit Algarve for the most wonderful and unforgettable experience.
Bisous, Bugo x
