Maybe you have Lisbon on your Bucket List for Portugal, but have you ever consider going more South of Portugal?
More especially to visit the Algarve?
If not here are four reasons why you have to add the Algarve on your travel bucket list if you’re travelling around Europe and if you love beach holidays, exploring and seeing some gorgeous scenery. Check out my 4 reasons to visit the Algarve!
Then you’ll quickly understand why the Algave is the perfect spring and summer destinations for your next vacations!
My friend and I decided to visit the Algarve at the beginning of September, the high season was not over yet as there were still quite some tourists and the weather was still amazing, but, it wasn’t as crowded as it may have been in the month of August or July.
Also, this way the prices had dropped a little, surely The Algarve isn’t an expensive destinations but there’s no little saving!
4 Reasons To Visit The Algarve
Table Of Contents
❥ THE COASTS / LANDSCAPES
The sparkling blue sea is everywhere along the coastline of the Algarve. And needless to say, it’s a pleasure for the eyes, whether you’re a beach person or more of a city person. There’s plenty of ways to enjoy the coast in the Algarve.
Directly from one of the numerous beaches that you can find all along the coast, from the most popular ones to the hidden ones. The dramatic coastline of the Algarve makes such beautiful nature shot.
From up there, which is my favourite way. The landscapes from up there are truly astonishing, you can get so many great shots from every single corner. When in Benagil there’s an easy hike trail you can walk above the beach. I didn’t fully complete it because I had told my friend I would go off for about 30min and next thing I knew I had been wandering, walking taking a shot for nearly an hour and a half, oops ahah.
Ponta da Piedade is also a hot spot of the Algarve, located in Lagos where you can find lots of beaches; Praia Dona Ana, Praia Do Camillo…
You can also enjoy the nature of the sea! Which lead us to the next reason.
❥ THE BEACHES AND THE CAVES
If you are in Portimao the main beach is Praia Da Rocha; I’d say it’s a lovely beach although very crowded. Maybe even too much to my liking. On the bright side, you can get a splendid view of the sunset if you go up.
In addition to what I’ll call the “main” beach (aka big beaches) all along the coastline, you can find so many much smaller beaches hidden in between caves. Those are probably my favourites. The easiest to access (stairs or so) are usually crowded but if you do have a boat, a paddle, a kayak or can even swim you can find some nice, people free, spots.
At Benagil, (in the area of Lagoa) you can also find one of the most famous caves of the Algarve.
This one, you probably saw it everywhere if you already looked upon the Algarve cave!
We did a one hour boat tour around the caves with Taruga Boat Tours, our guide explained us everything, and it’s nice to see the caves from the inside after seeing most of them from above when I went on a short walk to admire the view from up while my friend decided to stay on the beach to read a book!
Didn’t get a beautiful shot from that famous cave though as the boat only made a fairly quick stop in it and the angle wasn’t the best.
If you’d like to make an actual stop some boat tour offer you the opportunity to do it. You can also do it on your own if you have a kayak!
Can you see what those cliffs are shaped like?
Our tour boat took us around all the cliff and let us guess what those cliffs looked like, it was pretty funny.
Check out those 20 photos to inspire you to visit The Algarve if you want to see more of this stunning part of Portugal!
❥ THE FOOD
There are so many delicious foods and a lot of affordable restaurants. Basically whatever you’re looking for you can find it. Some of the speciality that you can try is the Piri Piri Chicken, and a lot of seafood dishes such as Garlic Clams and so on. If you’re like me and don’t like seafood, no worries, you will still find plenty of yummy food you can eat 🙂
Though to be honest I feel like to most of the destination I found to food to be a vital part of the trip ahah. But let’s not lie, eating your way in a country is a pleasant activity.
❥ IT’S A BUDGET DESTINATION
Okay now here is the good part, if you don’t already know Portugal is such a cheap destination! You can easily go through your day for 20€. Or even less depending on what you choose to eat or do during the day.
Hostels are around 20€/night in a dorm, but you can also get some private room for 40€/night.
The flights are also pretty cheap, but you can get even lower prices if you avoid going during the high seasons! The best way to know when you can find the cheapest flight is to go on Skyscanner.
So now that you know this you don’t need more, all you need to do is to add the Algarve on your Bucket List. Or even better pack up and go!
And if you would like to know more about Portugal in general what to do there, I recommend you the Lonely Planet Guide!
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4 REASONS TO VISIT THE ALGARVE, PORTUGAL
Also north! 🤗 Porto is the most beautiful city! 😊
Author
I haven’t been North yet, but from what I seen Porto definitely seems beautiful ! Next time :p
Yes everyone should add the algarve to their Bucketlist! My uncle lives here so I may be bias haha but your pictures are reminding me that I need to drop in for a visit 😉
I love Portugal, it’s so underrated and yet so scenic. I’ve been there in 2010 or 2011 – can’t remember, I’ve visited Lisbon, Porto and Cabo da Roca and I’ve been dying to go back ever since!
Author
I agree, Portugal is definitely underrated ! More people should look it up !
Portugal has been on my radar a lot lately! Thanks for the info
I was sad to miss Algarve during my last visit to Lisbon. It’s on my bucket list. I didn’t realize it is a budget destination!! Great guide!
Author
Thank you 🙂
I love exploring more than just the big cities and finding amazing gems like this. Great photos!
SO when you were on your tour, did you get to go to one of those secluded beaches (by boat?)
Author
Sadly no, our tour was only 1h and didn’t include any stop.
I’d absolutely love to visit! I’ve never been much of a beach goer, but those rugged coastlines are just jaw dropping!
Algarve is definitely on my bucket list! I was gonna go there this year but I had to change my plans a bit. Hopefully I can visit this wonderful place next year! I love those stunning beaches and heart shape cave!
I’m so jealous! It looks so beautiful there <3 It's good to know that its a budget destination too! I cant wait to visit there someday <3
Ahhhh I am seriously considering the Algarve for one of my next trips!! This post might have sealed it. 😀
Author
I’m sure you will enjoy it ! 😀
I’ve only been to Portugal once (around the Porto area) and I really enjoyed it. Maybe next time I’ll go south. Beautiful pictures! 🙂
Wow Algarve looks gorgeous – the blue waters are so alluring. I had not heard about this place before but definitely added it to my travel list. How many days would you ideally recommend to spend here?
Author
We spend 4 days there, but ideally I think a week would be better so you can move along the coast and see more cities/beaches 🙂
I already had the Algarve on my list, but your photos reminded me why I need to get there ASAP! What a stunning area. I also love how Portugal is so budget friendly. I plan to go back next summer and must go here!
I can’t wait to visit Portugal! Yes, I have been wanting to go for a long time and I know I cannot miss the Algarve. Your shots are incredible. The color of the water is so beautiful. I have heard about how affordable it is in there. I went to Spain two years ago and the prices are good. I have heard they are even better in Portugal.
Algarve does really have a lot of places to visit! The sand looks gold and it looks amazing. Glad to see that it is budget-friendly too!. 🙂
Portugal is on my bucket list, especially because it offers so much being at the same time very cheap. Thank you for sharing this! The beaches look incredible and I’d definitely add this to my bucket list
Oh this looks old beautiful, saving this for when I’m in Europe next! Thank you
I will go just for food. It is so good! I went to Portugal for the first-time last year but couldn’t visit the Algarve. I would not mind going back this year (with the current situation, that may be a dream).
Portugal looks so beautiful! I can’t wait to visit one day 🙂 I will definitely add these areas to my list when I do!
I have never been to the Algarve or Portugal but after reading your post I definitely have to visit. The Algarve looks so beautiful – I love coastal destinations.
We’ve only ever been to Lisbon. There is SO much to see! 😳 Love that heart-shaped cave. Saving this for later!