Best Beaches in the Algarve: Our Favorites + 2026 Access Updates

The Algarve is home to some of the best beaches in Europe, but with over a hundred to choose from, deciding where to spend your limited beach days is half the challenge. We explored this coastline firsthand, hiking down staircase after staircase, comparing cove after cove, and even seeing several of these beaches from the water on a boat tour out of Lagos, to put together this list of the best beaches in Algarve, Portugal.

Below, we start with our top 10: the beaches we’d point a first-time visitor to without hesitation. After that is a second list of beaches worth adding if you have five days or more in the Algarve. A few are just as beautiful as the top 10, but the extra effort required to reach them (think remote gravel roads and dusty trails) kept them off the main list.

Not sure where to start? Jump to our quick decision guide below, which breaks down each of our top 10 beaches by what they’re best for, how crowded they tend to get, and what we liked about each of them.

July 2026 Update: We added the latest information on Camilo Beach’s staircase closure (currently the only closure affecting any beach on this list), confirmed access status for every beach featured in this guide, and expanded several entries.

How to Choose Which Algarve Beaches to Visit

If this is your first visit, Praia da Marinha is our top choice for iconic Algarve scenery, Praia dos Três Irmãos is the best all-around beach, and Praia da Falésia is best for a long, relaxing beach day. For surfing and wild coastal scenery, head west to Praia da Cordoama or Praia da Bordeira.

Praia do Camilo is normally one of the Algarve’s most beautiful small coves, but access to the beach is currently closed following a cliff collapse. The overlook remains open.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: In Portuguese, praia is the word for beach. For clarification, we list both the Portuguese and English names for each beach.

Our 10 Favorite Beaches in Algarve

We visited dozens of beaches while road-tripping across the Algarve, from the sheltered coves near Lagos and Albufeira to the wild Atlantic beaches near Sagres. Every beach in this guide was personally visited and photographed by us.

Rather than list every attractive stretch of sand, we narrowed the guide to the beaches we think are most memorable and most useful for travelers. Some are best for swimming, others for surfing, hiking, photography, or simply enjoying the view.

Below are our top 10 beaches in the Algarve, all plotted on the map at the end of this list.

1. Praia da Marinha (aka Marinha Beach)

Let’s start with one of the top beaches in Algarve, Praia da Marinha.

This beauty is one of the most picturesque, with its golden sands and backdrop of sea pillars and arches. It has also earned quite a few accolades, with the Michelin Guide naming it one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Europe and CNN calling it one of the 20 most beautiful beaches in world.

Praia da Marinha is one of the endpoints of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, a 5.7 km (3.5 mile) walk along the dramatic coastline in this region.

Praia da Marinha

PRO TRAVEL TIP: At the trail split for Marinha Beach, if you go left, you will walk a trail that leads to viewpoints of Praia do Pau and Praia da Malhada do Baraço, two absolutely stunning beaches.

Praia do Pau, this viewpoint is about a 10 minute walk from Marinha Beach

Praia da Malhada do Baraço; this viewpoint is a short walk past Praia do Pau

2. Praia do Camilo (Camilo Beach)

Camilo Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve. However, it’s small size and popularity also makes it one of the most crowded.

Camilo Beach is located just south of Lagos and just a short walk from Praia Dona Ana, mentioned next. We visited Camilo Beach while hiking out to Ponta da Piedade, and we also saw it while taking a boat tour of Ponta da Piedade. From both land and sea, it is a gorgeous beach.

The steps leading down to Camilo Beach

Praia do Camilo in October

To get here, you can either park in the lot next to the beach or walk the boardwalk trails that run from Praia Dona Ana to Ponta da Piedade. Then it is a descent down 227 wooden steps to get to the beach.

On Camilo Beach, there is a beach bar and a sea arch that is a very popular photography spot. However, this arch may no longer be standing. One of our readers recently wrote in that the arch collapsed in a winter storm.

Our visit was in October, the shoulder season, but even so this beach was very busy (one of the busiest we saw in the Algarve). Later in the week, our boat captain from Lagos told us that this beach is wall to wall people and beach blankets in the summer months.

Camilo Beach, photo taken during a boat tour of Ponta da Piedade

3. Praia Dona Ana (Dona Ana Beach)

This wide beach, with its backdrop of golden cliffs and sea pillars, is another stunning beach in the Algarve. It is located within walking distance of Praia do Camilo.

This was one of the first beaches we visited in the Algarve, stopping here in the early morning before starting the hike out to Ponta da Piedade. We had it almost entirely to ourselves, and the warm, golden sand and cliffs rising up around us made for a beautiful way to start the day.

Dona Ana Beach

Dona Ana Beach

View of Dona Ana Beach and the coastline from the Ponta da Piedade trail.

How to Visit Praia Dona Ana

Parking: There is a large car park next to the beach, called Parking Dona Ana on Google Maps. There are bathrooms here as well as several small beach shops and cafes.

Viewpoint: Next to the parking lot is a small terrace with a great aerial view over Praia Dona Ana. You can also get very nice views of this beach on the boardwalk trail that runs from Praia Dona Ana to Ponta da Piedade.

Keep Exploring: From Praia Dona Ana, walk the boardwalk trails to Praia do Camilo and Ponta da Piedade (5 km/3.1 miles out-and-back, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours) or walk the trails on the north side of Praia Dona Ana to Praia do Pinhão, Estudantes Beach, and into Lagos.

Ponta da Piedade

How to Visit Ponta da Piedade: Hike & Boat Tour

How to visit Ponta da Piedade with an overview of the walking trail and photos from the boat tour.

INTERESTING FACT: There are no private beaches in Portugal; all beaches are publicly accessible.

4. Praia dos Três Irmãos (Three Brothers Beach)

Like many of the best Algarve beaches, Praia dos Três Irmãos makes the list for its rocky pillars, sea arches, and caves. This is one of our favorite beaches in the Algarve since it ticks all the boxes: dramatic sea pillars and cliffs, lots of parking, several restaurants, and many more amenities.

Praia dos Três Irmãos gets its name for the three sea stacks (the three brothers) which sit on this beach.

Praia dos Três Irmãos (photo taken from the cliff trail above the beach…Miradoura da Prainha)

It sits at the eastern end of Praia de Alvor. Where Praia de Alvor meets Praia dos Três Irmãos, there are lounger and umbrella rentals, a restaurant, and places where you can rent jet skis and paddleboats with slides, making this a great family friendly beach. Since it is a large beach, there’s also more room to spread out.

On the east end of the beach, there are rock formations that are fun to explore. If you pass through the rocky tunnels, you’ll enter another neighboring beach, Praia da Prainha. Here there are even more formations and caves to explore.

Beach cave on Praia da Prainha

Praia da Prainha

But don’t stop there, from Praia da Prainha you can walk through a short tunnel and come out onto Praia do Ferta, which is another small but lovely beach. This beach is surrounded by cliffs on three sides making it feel like a cozy cove.

The view from Praia do Ferta

For an aerial view over the beach, take the steps from Praia da Prainha onto the cliffs that overlook the beach.

5. Praia de São Rafael (São Rafael Beach)

Not far from Albufeira sits two lovely beaches, Praia de São Rafael and Praia dos Arrifes, mentioned next.

Praia de São Rafael is a medium-sized beach that is framed by rocky cliffs and a few small sea arches. The cliffs here aren’t quite as high as at other beaches on this list, but since the beach sits in a sheltered cove, it makes a picturesque spot to spend the day, especially for families.

The highlight for us, though, was walking the cliff trails on the west side of the beach. We spent about 15 minutes up there, and the views looking back down over São Rafael were some of the nicest we found in this stretch of coastline.

For rent are sun loungers and umbrellas as well as sea kayaks. There is also a restaurant right on the beach.

Praia de São Rafael

Praia de São Rafael

6. Praia dos Arrifes (Arrifes Beach)

Praia dos Arrifes sits next to Praia de São Rafael. This is a much smaller beach and is surrounded by sea stacks of all sizes. This sheltered cove is a great spot to go snorkeling.

We didn’t linger here as long as at some other stops, just long enough to walk the small beach, admire the sea stacks, and take a few photos. It’s an easy add-on if you’re already at São Rafael next door.

For rent are a few sun loungers and umbrellas. A café with a deck overlooks the beach.

Praia dos Arrifes

7. Praia da Falésia (Falesia Beach)

This beach’s backdrop of distinctive red and white cliffs makes it one of the most unique Algarve beaches.

Praia da Falésia is a long strip of sand located near Albufeira. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve, because of its stunning appearance, amenities, and swimming and surfing conditions.

We visited Praia da Falésia twice, and the difference was startling. Our first visit was on a cloudy day, and the beach’s signature striped cliffs looked flat and washed out. We came back on a sunny afternoon, and the white and orange banding in the cliffs was vibrant. It looked like a completely different beach. If you have flexibility in your schedule, save this one for a clear day.

We also enjoyed walking the short cliff trail above the beach for the view back down over the sand and coastline.

There is a small snack shop just before you descend the 77 steps down to the beach. You can rent sun loungers and umbrellas and even surf boards. There is also a surf school if you are interested in taking lessons.

Praia da Falésia

8. Praia do Carvalho (Carvalho Beach)

This is another spectacular beach in the Algarve. It’s a small sandy beach but there are several caves that offer some shade and a unique view of the beach.

To get to Praia do Carvalho, descend the steps in the tunnel. Just before your feet hit the sand, to the left is a small cave that is a cool spot to photograph the beach.

View from the sea cave at the bottom of the steps. It’s a nice view, but there are two more caves on the beach that offer a better view.

For more interesting vantage points, be sure to walk along the beach, as there are a few more caves here.

Praia do Carvalho

9. Praia da Cordoama (Cordoama Beach)

When planning out where to go in the Algarve, we weren’t quite sure if the western beaches were going to be worth the extra time to get out to (both Praia da Cordoama and Praia da Bordeira, mentioned next).

Well, these are spectacular beaches and well worth it, particularly for those who want to relax on large stretches of sand or those who want to go surfing.

Praia da Cordoama is a beautiful beach with picturesque coastline views. This beach is popular with surfers or those wanting to learn how to surf. On the beach you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas, there is a restaurant, and you can sign up for surf lessons.

After a day of fun on the beach make sure you drive up to the viewpoint to take in the full beauty this beach offers.

Cordoama Beach

10. Praia da Bordeira (Bordeira’s Beach)

Our final entry on our best beaches in Algarve is the photogenic Praia da Bordeira. This beach is a 30-minute drive north of Praia da Cordoama.

Praia da Bordeira is another beach that attracts surfers. This one is unique in terms of how wide this beach is, so wide that it will feel like you are walking across a desert to reach the sea.

For rent are a few sun loungers and umbrellas and there is a surf school at the beach. Next to the beach is a small cove that makes a good spot to go snorkeling.

For the classic view of Praia da Bordeira, walk the boardwalk trail to the peninsula of rock that sits next to the beach.

Praia do Bordeira

8 More Beautiful Beaches in Algarve

The beaches below share many of the same qualities as the beaches listed earlier, but there are several reasons why they didn’t make our top 10 list. They were either more challenging to get to (the effort didn’t make them as worthwhile, compared to those mentioned already) or they weren’t quite as picturesque.

With that being said, these are still gorgeous beaches to visit, as you’ll see in our photos.

1. Praia João de Arens

This was one of our favorite experiences in the Algarve.

Visiting Praia João de Arens is more about hiking the cliff trails than visiting the beach, which is why we didn’t list it in our top 10 beaches. And what makes it even better is that there were very few people here during our visit, giving this experience an off-the-beaten-path feel to it.

Praia João de Arens

Praia João de Arens is a tiny, clothing-optional beach in a picturesque cove surrounded by cliff walls. From the cliff trails, there is a steep trail that leads down to the beach.

If visiting a nude beach isn’t your thing, this is still worth it just for the views. We had an awesome time exploring these cliff trails and photographing the rocky coastline. It’s beautiful views in all directions and the red sandy cliffs look different from many other places in the Algarve.

The coastal cliffs above Praia João de Arens

To get here drive down Caminho da Praia do João d’Arens. There is a large parking area on the left. You then walk 300 meters to get to the trails that run along the top of the cliffs. Parking is free.

2. Praia do Barril & Cemitério das Âncoras

Two things make this beach unique: a short ride on a train and a visit to an anchor cemetery (Cemitério das âncoras).

Praia do Barril is located on the eastern end of the Algarve, so those coming from Lagos or Albufeira will have a long drive to get here. But this long, white sandy beach is a gorgeous spot to visit. It’s also home to an anchor cemetery, where you can see the old anchors used in the tuna fishing industry.

Praia do Barril

Cemitério das Âncoras

Park at ‘Parking Praia do Barril,’ a large paid parking lot, or you can opt for the free parallel parking along the same street the parking lot is located.

To get to the beach, walk across the white pedestrian bridge. Once across the bridge you have two choices for getting to the beach. You can pay a fee and take the small train or follow the pedestrian path that runs alongside the train track.

It is 1 mile from the parking lot to the beach, and the train shaves off 70% of that distance.

The beach is a nice fine sand, there is a restaurant and a cafe, sun lounger and umbrella rentals, and you can rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and surf boards.

The anchor cemetery, Cemitério das âncoras, is located on the sand dunes behind the beach. There is a boardwalk you can follow that circles the anchors.

3. Praia de Carvoeiro (Carvoeiro Beach)

This picturesque beach sits next to Carvoeiro, a small fishing village that gives this beach its name. It’s also within walking distance of Algar Seco, one of the Algarve’s best places to visit.

We think Carvoeiro Beach is a very nice beach to visit, but we enjoyed our time at the beaches on our top 10 list a bit more. However, if you plan to visit Algar Seco, it’s worth the short walk to the viewpoint of Praia de Carvoeiro.

Carvoeiro Beach

4 & 5. Praia Nova and Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha

These two beaches, which sit side-by-side, are divided by a rocky peninsula, on which sits Chapel Nossa Senhora da Rocha. The views of both beaches from the chapel are worthwhile if you have the extra time in your itinerary.

Chapel Nossa Senhora da Rocha

Praia Nova is the beach to the right of the church when facing the sea. This is a large beach with tall cliffs on three sides. There are no services on this beach.

Praia Nova

Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha, the beach to the east of the peninsula, has a restaurant (Restaurante Vilarinho) and lounger and umbrella rentals. The fishing boats on the beach are still used by fisherman today. This is an easier beach to get to, with a ramp leading down to the beach.

Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha

6. Albandeira Beach

The main reason for visiting Albandeira Beach is to see the sea arch that sits next to it.

From the small beach, follow the path past the picnic tables and up a slight hill to get to a viewpoint of the arch, called Arco de Albandeira.

Albandeira Arch

To get here, you will have to drive on a narrow road, just big enough for one-way traffic, but is a two-lane road. To do this, you have to be comfortable using occasional pullouts to avoid oncoming traffic.

We parked at ‘Parking de Praia de Albandeira’ (as labeled on Google Maps), a medium-sized parking lot that is free. Just beyond the parking lot is the beach and a cafe.

7 & 8. Praia da Rocha & Praia dos Três Castelos

Praia da Rocha is located near Portimão. It makes it onto a lot of lists, since it is a long, sandy beach packed with amenities such as sun lounger rentals and restaurants and is a great spot to go swimming. This is a very nice beach, but not nearly as picturesque as the others on our list.

Praia da Rocha

Next to Praia da Rocha is Praia dos Três Castelos, a beach with fewer amenities but a few sea pillars, so it looks a little more interesting.

Praia dos Três Castelos

If you are staying in the area (Portimão), it’s worth a visit to this beach. But if you will be staying elsewhere in the Algarve, it’s better to visit the nearby Praia dos Três Irmãos or one of the other beaches on our top 10 list.

Best Algarve Beaches: On a Map

Frequently Asked Questions

What part of the Algarve has the best beaches?

The stretch of coastline between Lagos and Albufeira is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve. This is where you will see dramatic sea cliffs, sea stacks and arches, and long stretches of golden sand. On this list of best Algarve beaches are Praia do Camilo, Praia da Marinha, and Praia dos Três Irmãos, as well as the stunning Ponte da Piedade.

What are the most popular beaches in the Algarve?

The most popular beaches to visit in the Algarve are Camilo Beach, Marinha Beach, Praia Dona Ana, and Praia da Falesia. If you want to visit lesser known or beaches with fewer crowds, visit the beaches on the far eastern and western ends of the Algarve.

What are the best beaches in Algarve for swimming?

Praia de São Rafael and Praia da Falésia are two of our top picks for swimming. São Rafael sits in a sheltered cove, and Falésia’s shallow water is especially good for families. Camilo Beach’s small cove is also one of the calmest places to swim in the Algarve, when its staircase is open.

What are the best beaches in Algarve for families?

Praia dos Três Irmãos is our top pick for families, with amenities, calm water, and plenty of room to spread out. Praia de São Rafael and Praia Dona Ana are close runners-up, both easy to reach and rarely too crowded.

What are the best beaches in Algarve for surfing?

Head west for the best surf: Praia da Cordoama and Praia da Bordeira are both popular for lessons and consistent waves. Praia da Falésia, on the southern coast, also has a surf school and decent conditions.

What are the best beaches in Algarve for hiking and photography?

Praia da Marinha is the classic pick. It’s one endpoint of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail and one of the most photographed beaches in the Algarve. Praia do Carvalho, also along that trail, is a great stop for its sea caves.

Plan Your Trip to the Algarve

• Deciding where to base yourself for your beach-hopping trip → Our Where to Stay in the Algarve guide covers the best towns, including Lagos, Albufeira, and Carvoeiro, all close to beaches on this list.
• Building out a full Algarve itinerary → Our Algarve Itinerary guide combines the region’s best beaches, boat tours, and towns into a complete trip plan.
• Rounding out your days beyond the beach → Our Things to Do in the Algarve guide covers 20 more experiences, from Benagil Cave to the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
• Planning a longer Portugal trip → Our Two Weeks in Portugal guide combines the Algarve with Lisbon, Porto, and more.
• Exploring more of Portugal → Our Portugal Travel Guide covers everything from the best time to visit to how to get around the country.

If you have any questions about the best Algarve beaches, let us know in the comment section below. And feel free to share your favorites…we would love to hear about them as would our readers. Thanks!

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