Photo: Simon Osborn via Google
The shape of the week
- The planBase in Lagos for the golden cliff coves of the west, then shift east toward Faro for the lagoon islands, with a boat day to Benagil, a wild day at Sagres and the best swims taken in the calm early hours
- Best baseLagos for the cove scenery and Ponta da Piedade, Carvoeiro or Albufeira for the central coast and Benagil, Faro or Tavira for the Ria Formosa islands; split west and east for the fullest week
- The honest noteSwimming into the Benagil cave has been banned since August 2024; you can now reach it only by licensed boat or guided kayak, so plan it as a tour rather than a swim
- Getting aroundA hire car is the most flexible way to reach the clifftop coves and the remote west; trains and buses link the towns, and boats serve the caves and lagoon islands
Published 6 February 2026. Last reviewed 12 April 2026
The Algarve is really three coasts stitched together, and a good week gives each one its due. In the centre and west are the postcard beaches, golden sandstone cliffs hollowed into coves and arches, the kind of scenery that fills the brochures and the boat tours. East of Faro the land flattens into the Ria Formosa, a lagoon of salt marsh and barrier islands where the beaches are long, wild ribbons of sand reached by ferry. And out at the southwestern tip, around Sagres, the coast turns its shoulder to the Atlantic and becomes raw and windswept, the end of Europe with the surf to match.
Slow travel here means resisting the urge to tick off every cove in a single frantic loop. Better to base in the west for the first half, swimming the famous coves around Lagos before the tour boats arrive, then move east for the quieter lagoon islands and the long empty sands. Keep one day for the water itself, on a boat to the Benagil cave and the cliffs around it, and one for the wild beaches of the far west, where the reward is space rather than turquoise calm. The early hours are your friend throughout; the popular coves are small, and they fill.
Seven slow days
Settle in among the cliff coves
Base yourself in Lagos, the most charming hub for the western coves, and spend the first day easing in. Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo are the headline beaches, small golden coves framed by ochre cliffs and clear water, both at their loveliest early before the day fills. Camilo is reached by a long wooden staircase, so go in the cool of the morning. End with the cliff path walk out toward Ponta da Piedade as the light turns gold.
Sea stacks in the morning, long sand in the afternoon
Give the morning to Ponta da Piedade, the cluster of sea stacks and grottoes just south of Lagos, best seen from a small boat that threads the arches in calm early water. In the afternoon switch register entirely and head to Meia Praia, the long open sweep on the other side of town, where there is room to walk and swim without the squeeze of the coves. It is the easy, restful counterpoint to the dramatic cliffs.
The famous cliffs and the sea cave
Move along the central coast to Praia da Marinha, often called the most beautiful beach in the Algarve, a cove of clear water below sculpted cliffs with a clifftop walk, the Seven Hanging Valleys trail, running west toward Benagil. The Benagil sea cave is the region's signature image, but note the rules have changed: swimming in is banned since 2024, so visit it by licensed boat or guided kayak tour. Book the cave as a morning trip when the sea is calmest.
A gentler central day
Carvoeiro is a pretty fishing town turned resort with a small town beach and, just east, the Algar Seco rock formations and the boardwalk that traces the cliffs. It makes a relaxed day of short swims and clifftop strolls, with easy cafes and a calmer pace than the boat heavy beaches nearby. If you want one more cove, the small Praia do Carvalho with its rock cut tunnel entrance is close by and rewards an early arrival.
Sail to a sand island
Shift your base east and trade cliffs for lagoon. From Faro or Olhao, small ferries cross the Ria Formosa to barrier islands such as Ilha Deserta and the Ilha da Culatra, long sweeps of soft sand with shallow warm water and barely a building in sight. These are the Algarve's wild, quiet beaches, all space and birdlife, the antidote to the busy western coves. Check the seasonal ferry times, which are typical and best confirmed on the day.
The quiet end of the coast
The eastern Algarve around Tavira is gentler and far less crowded, a town of tiled houses and a long island beach, Praia do Barril, reached by a little train across the marsh. The water is warmer and calmer here than in the west, and the rhythm is slower. It is the day to do very little, a long lunch of grilled fish, an afternoon swim and a wander through one of the prettiest towns on the coast.
The end of Europe
For the last day, drive out to Sagres at the southwestern tip, where the coast turns raw and the Atlantic takes over. Praia do Beliche and Praia do Tonel sit below cliffs near the fort and lighthouse, windswept and dramatic, while just north the surf beaches of Amado and Bordeira run wide and empty. The water is cooler and the swell stronger, so this is a day for the scenery and the salt air as much as the swim. A fitting, elemental close to the week.
The practical notes
| What | The short answer |
|---|---|
| Best base | Lagos for the west, Carvoeiro or Albufeira for the centre, Faro or Tavira for the east; split for the fullest week |
| Headline beaches | Praia Dona Ana, Praia do Camilo, Praia da Marinha, the Ria Formosa islands, Praia do Beliche and Tonel |
| Benagil cave | Swimming in is banned since 2024; visit by licensed boat or guided kayak tour only |
| Getting around | A hire car is most flexible; trains and buses link the towns; boats serve the caves and islands |
| When to go | May, June, September and early October for warm sea and lighter crowds |
| Good to know | The west coves are small and fill fast, so swim early; the far west is cooler and wilder |
Plan your day on the sand
Independent and honest · 1,340 beaches ranked across 103 destinations · We answer to no resort
The Algarve week, answered
Is 7 days enough for the Algarve?
Seven days suits the Algarve well. It is enough to settle into one or two bases, swim the golden cliff coves around Lagos, take a boat to the Benagil sea cave, sail out to a Ria Formosa sand island near Faro and still reach the wild, windswept beaches around Sagres at the southwestern tip without rushing the drive.
Where should I base myself in the Algarve?
Lagos is the best single base for the famous cliff and cove scenery of the western Algarve and is close to Ponta da Piedade, Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo. Carvoeiro or Albufeira put you near the central coves and Benagil. Faro or Tavira suit the eastern lagoon and the Ria Formosa islands. Splitting the week between west and east gives the fullest picture.
Can you still swim into Benagil cave?
No. Swimming into the Benagil sea cave has been banned since August 2024, and landing on the sand inside is not permitted. The cave can now be visited only on a licensed boat or guided kayak and stand up paddle tour, with time inside limited by the maritime authority. The rule exists for safety and to protect the cave, and fines apply. Always follow the current local rules, which are best confirmed before you book.
How do you get around the Algarve?
A hire car is the most flexible way to see the Algarve coast, since many of the best coves sit at the end of side roads and clifftop car parks. Trains and buses link the main towns along the south, and boats run to the caves and the Ria Formosa islands. The western beaches near Sagres are remote and easiest with your own transport. Timetables are typical and best confirmed locally.
When is the best time for an Algarve beach trip?
May, June, September and early October are the sweet spots, with warm sea, plenty of sun and lighter crowds than the July and August peak. Midsummer is hottest and busiest, especially around Albufeira and Lagos. Spring and autumn are lovely for the coast walks and the wild west, with cooler Atlantic water. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.