🏖️ Algarve 2024: best beaches according to World Travel Awards
The beach season in southern Europe is coming to an end. It would seem too late to write about the local beaches. But the places I decided to talk about this time are beautiful all year round. And confirmation of this is the region’s victory in the category “Best Beach Destination in Europe” at the World Travel Awards 2024.
Weather in Algarve
In September-October in the south of Portogal it is ideal! Air temperature + 25-30 °C. The water is the warmest of the year – +21-22°C. Yes, not the Mediterranean Sea, but you can swim. Housing prices are falling: what cost 150 euros per night in July-August will be 100 in September. Another important plus: there are slightly fewer people.
In the second half of autumn, winter and early spring it is also pleasant here: infrequent precipitation and about +20°C. You won’t go shopping, although the “walruses” can, but you will admire the wonders of nature without crowds of tourists.
May-June is not very popular: it gets hot for walking, and early for swimming – the ocean is cold.
Main season: July-August. But I don’t recommend coming during this period – it’s hot outside, there are a lot of vacationers, unreasonably high prices.
What's so attractive about the Algarve?
The beaches of the region are masterpieces of art. I'm sure many have come across pictures of striped rocks and their fragments floating in the ocean, as well as caves with secret beaches – all this can be seen in the Algarve.
The most amazing thing is that wherever you decide to stay on the southern coast of Portugal, there will definitely be a beach of heavenly beauty. But it is impossible to go to this region and not visit Cuevas de Benagil. A natural grotto with a hole at the top – something incredible! You can only get into the cave from the water: by boat, kayak or SUP. You can also see the secret beach from above. True, to do this we had to go beyond the fence, which is very dangerous.
Next, it’s worth doing a little hiking on the rocks along the cliff – the paths are wild, and the views are amazing! Once you find yourself at the Arcos Naturais da Praia da Marinha viewpoint, you can be speechless. Personally, I almost burst into tears and endlessly thanked the Universe for the fact that I had the opportunity to see all this.
On one side there are huge arches created by nature, and on the other there is a beach from the top 10 most beautiful beaches in Europe and the top 100 in the world. Heaven on Earth – no more, no less.
To enjoy this place to the fullest, be sure to go down to the Marinha beach itself (Praia da Marinha). There you can eat in a restaurant overlooking the ocean, and of course, swim in the cool Atlantic.
All these beauties are located somewhere in the middle between Albufeira and Portimão.
The largest resorts in the Algarve
Albufeira
Back in the 50s there was a simple fishing village here. Now Albufeira is a major resort town. About 40 thousand people live here, but during the tourist season this figure increases by 10 times.
Snow-white houses with terracotta roofs, paved sidewalks with green spaces, picturesque rocks, a sandy beach and an azure ocean – a picture that you want to put on your screensaver. To enjoy panoramic views of Albufeira, go up to the Pau da Bandeira viewpoint. By the way, there is an escalator leading to it. And in the evening from here you can see hundreds of lights of the resort.
The historical part of the city has a certain oriental touch – due to Arab influence in the past. Now the center belongs entirely to tourists: street after street, block after block – an endless series of restaurants and shops.
For lovers of party life, this place is simply a fairy tale: almost every bar has live music in the evening, there is karaoke and nightclubs.
The streets of Albufeira will lead to the Tunnel beach (Praia do Túnel) – there really is an arched tunnel leading to it. This beach flows into Fishermen's Beach – Praia dos Pescadores, forming a wide coastal area.
Portimao
Another favorite place for tourists. The city is about the same size as Albufeira, but the historical center does not look as attractive: shabby and quiet. I think this is because it is located about two kilometers above the Atlantic coast, for which people go to the Algarve.
In the old town, I remember the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição), because a stork built a nest on its roof – it’s very cute to watch it. The temple itself is quite modest, although it was built in the likeness of my beloved Batalsky monastery. A large-scale earthquake that occurred in the 18th century is to blame for the change in the appearance of the architectural masterpiece.
Near the historical center, a nice embankment of the Arade River (Zona Ribeirinha de Portimão) was installed. From here you can take a two-hour sea cruise with a visit to Benagil Cave. Note: the price of such a tour is equal to the cost of a half-hour walk purchased from the attraction itself. By the way, there are also cruises from Albufeira with more favorable conditions.
Near the pier is the Portimão Museum (Museu de Portimão), built on the territory of a former cannery and telling about the fishing industry in the area.
But the main tourist attraction in Rome is Rocha Beach (Praia da Rocha): wide, one and a half kilometers long, surrounded by beautiful rocks, fragments of which float in the ocean. The coastal area is well equipped: sun loungers, bathrooms, a network of wooden paths and many cafes.
Near the beach there is Fort Santa Catarina. There is an observation deck overlooking the city and the ocean. Another cool viewpoint is located on the other side of Praia da Rocha, it is called Miradouro dos Três Castelos. Hidden behind the observation deck is a beach of the same name.
On the hill along the cliff a long alley with shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs has formed. It’s not as active here as in Albufeira, but there are places to eat.
I recommend not stopping at the beaches closest to the main pedestrian street, but walking further. My favorites were Praia do Amado and Praia do Vau – stunningly beautiful and more secluded.
In the evening, the ocean recedes and you can walk along the coast between the Portimao lagoons – there you will see caves, arches, pieces of cake, and an elephant in the water.
Albufeira and Portimão have large shopping centers, and next to these cities there are large water parks: Zoomarine Algarve and Slide & Splash.
On your trip, you can stop in other towns and villages of the resort – in order to recommend the best, I will have to visit them myself. So I will definitely return to the Algarve. I want to do this in winter and next September.