20 Best Sights in The Algarve, Portugal

Directly offshore and extending west for some 11 km (7 miles) is the Ilha de Tavira, a long sandbar with several pleasant beaches. Ferries costing €2.20 round-trip run to the island every half hour in July and August and every hour May through June and September through mid-October. The island has been awarded a Blue Flag, indicating quality and cleanliness. Several good restaurants and bars are also on the island. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; nudists; sunrise; sunset.

At this dreamy beach, crystal clear waters lap against the impressive rock formations. Dramatic coves and caves in orange limestone make for a striking backdrop for snorkeling and sunbathing. Although it’s located in prime tourist territory, the relatively challenging descent means it’s less visited than other beaches in the region. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; sunset.

Among the country's most photographed beaches, Praia da Rocha is also one of the most popular, drawing a constant stream of visitors from around the world. Dramatic cliffs provide the backdrop for a wide, golden expanse of sand. Many water sports are available, and there's a long pier to stroll on. Several bars and restaurants can be found along the beach, all jutting off a wooden boardwalk that stretches down the strand. More can be found further east towards the marina. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers (at the marina); toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

This beautiful beach has calm, turquoise waters that are perfect for snorkeling and cave-studded cliffs that can be visited on boat tours. You can reach Praia de Dona Ana by car or on an enjoyable 30-minute walk along a cliff top. This small beach can get packed, especially when the tide comes in and the sand disappears. Parking is difficult and the steep steps down to the sand can be trying, but it's worth the effort to visit what has been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards. Best for: snorkeling.

Tiny white vacation villas dot the pedestrian-only Ilha da Armona, a small island 15 minutes by boat from Olhão. About 9 km (5½ miles) long and just under 1 km (½ mile) wide, the island has some fine, isolated stretches of sand, as well as cafés and bars. It's popular among those who long for a quiet respite from the buzzing throngs of tourists. A wide range of water sports is available, but many people just explore the sandy dunes by foot. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; walking.

Sandy Ilha da Culatra is crisscrossed with wooden walkways that guide visitors around the island. It has several ramshackle fishing communities, a number of tasty seafood restaurants, and, at the southern village of Farol, pleasant beaches. Some stretches are supervised by lifeguards, others are not. The car-free island is 15 minutes by ferry from Olhão, and the boat trip itself is a fun experience. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (some). Best for: walking.

Curving like a crescent moon the entire distance between Lagos and Alvor, Meia Praia is the largest beach in the area and one of the best centers for water sports. The golden sand extends for 4 km (2½ miles), and the water is calm and clear. You can walk to it from Lagos city center in less than five minutes by crossing the footbridge, but there's also a bus from the riverfront Avenida dos Descobrimentos and a summer-only ferry service a few hundred yards from Forte Ponta da Bandeira. A section is reserved for nudists. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers. Best for: nudists; solitude; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This small, pretty beach next to the fishing port is dotted with rocks, so the sand is not the finest. On top of that, the beach can get quite windy, meaning this is not the most popular spot for sunbathers. Yet it is the perfect spot to sit and watch the fishing boats sailing in and out of the port. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset.

Pretty and popular Praia da Galé, 4 km (2½ miles) west of Albufeira, has the classic Algarve rock formations that are characteristic of the region's coastline, plus a smattering of bars and restaurants. Other nice beaches lie on either side of Praia da Galé and can be accessed by foot—the walks from beach to beach are very enjoyable. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: sunset; walking.

This pretty bay, 2 km (1 mile) east of Albufeira is surrounded by low-rise hotels and resorts. It's relatively small compared to other beaches, and is extremely crowded most of the year. But it comes equipped with all the summer essentials, like beach beds and water sports. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); water sports. Best for: youthful vibe and families.

The closest beach to town is the long, sandy Praia de Faro, which sits on the Ilha de Faro (Faro Island) 5 km (3 miles) southwest of town. The long main road is flanked by the beach on one side and cafés and restaurants on the other. Activities are limited, and in the height of summer, parking can be a struggle. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

About 12 km (7 miles) east of Tavira, Praia da Manta Rota is a small community with a few bars, restaurants, and hotels. But locals swear it has the best beach in the Algarve. Its warm waters and white sands are a magnet for sun worshippers. One particularly nice strand is the offshore sandbar at the village of Cacela Velha. From Manta Rota to Faro the underwater drop-offs are often steep and you can quickly find yourself in deep water. Amenities: lifeguards. Best for: walking.

The low-key fishing village of Salema, 5 km (3 miles) west of Burgau, is blessed with a 1,970-foot-long beach at the base of green hills. The long, golden strand has cliffs at either end. This area is also popular among hikers for its vast range of trails and breathtaking views. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

At almost 13 km (8 miles) in length, this surfing beach (one of Portugal's top-rated for surfing) has enough room for the dozens of surfing camps and schools that have sprung up around it. The water is cool and rocky toward the western tip. The area surrounding the beach lacks basic facilities like garbage cans, so sometimes waste is scattered around, spoiling an otherwise beautiful beach. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: surfing, windsurfing.

Four kilometers (2½ miles) west of Praia da Luz is Burgau, a fishing village with narrow, steep streets leading to the strand. Although the town has succumbed to the wave of tourism that has swept over the Algarve, its fine beach remains unchanged. High, sloping hills encase the beach, protecting it from the northern winds. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee and no fee). Best for: snorkeling.

They say the best things come in small packages, and that's certainly the case here. A short way beyond Praia de Dona Ana, little Praia do Camilo is a hugely popular cove. Just beyond it is the Ponta da Piedade, a much-photographed group of rock arches and grottoes. Praia do Camilo is accessed via a long, wooden walkway through picturesque cliffs. At the top of the cliff restaurant O Camilo offers stunning views over the beach, and serves great oysters. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling.

This long, soft stretch of sand is adjacent to Praia da Baleeira, and hosts several professional surfing events each year. Good wave formations make it very popular among local surf enthusiasts. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: sunrise; sunset; surfing; windsurfing.

In summer, this beach gets so crowded that it can be hard to enjoy its interesting rock formations, caves, and grottoes, not to mention the sand and sea. Yet it offers the latest in water sports and local children love jumping off the pier. Albufeira's old town encases the beach, the latter of which is known as Praia dos Pescadores because fishing boats dock here to supply the local area with their fresh catch. A vast range of eateries and bars are a short stroll away. Amenities: lifeguards; water sports. Best for: families.

The covelike Praia dos Três Irmãos has lots of little rocks in the water, which means it can either be great for snorkeling or bad for unwitting toes, depending on the tide. If it gets too crowded, there's always space to spare on one of the beaches either side. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; walking.

The quaint village of Ferragudo, across the river from Portimão, has one of the region's finest beaches: Praia Grande, a long stretch of sand that offers plenty of space for towels even in summer. The 16th-century Castelo de São João (St. John's Castle), built to defend Portimão and now privately owned, sits right on the beach. Since many boats dock here, the water can have a slight petrol smell, but it is crystal clear and good for snorkeling. When it's time to dry off, sit and watch the cruise ships glide by as they dock in Portimão. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; windsurfing.