Algarve Coast

Background

The Algarve is Portugal's southernmost region, bordered by the Alentejo to the north, the Atlantic to the south and west, and Spain along the Guadiana River to the east; its westernmost point is Cape St. Vincent and its capital is Faro. On the coast of Lagos, Ponta da Piedade is a group of golden rock stacks and cliffs up to about 20 metres high, with several grottoes below that can only be explored by boat; the lighthouse on the headland dates from 1913. Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach near Lagoa are among the region's most visited sites, and the Ria Formosa around Faro is a lagoon nature reserve of more than 170 square kilometres. Between 2012 and 2022 the World Travel Awards named the Algarve Europe's Leading Beach Destination nine times. The name comes from the Arabic al-gharb, "the west", which originally referred to western al-Andalus. In Roman times the region was known for olive oil and garum (fish sauce); Portuguese forces took Faro in March 1249, and Afonso III then styled himself King of Portugal and the Algarve. Tourism grew rapidly from the 1960s.

Local customs

• Take a boat trip to the sea cliffs and caves around Ponta da Piedade and Benagil
• stroll Lagos old town and its beaches
• go birdwatching by boat in the Ria Formosa
• taste seafood and Algarve almond sweets.

Travel tips

• Beaches are crowded in summer and the UV is strong, so bring sun protection and water
• rock at the cliff edges can be loose, so keep your distance on clifftop paths. Cave boat trips depend on sea conditions, as announced on the day. The sea is warmer for swimming from May to October, spring and autumn suit hiking and birdwatching, and winter is mild though some boat trips stop.
• Faro airport is the main gateway, and trains or buses link the coastal towns
• if you drive, the A22 motorway (Via do Infante) crosses the region, with tolls as officially announced.