We’re in Portugal and here’s our top 5 things to do in the Algarve.
Hike the jaw droppingly beautiful coastline. I can recommend a route that start at Lagos
and end ups at the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse, which is just a few kilometers south of the
town. You’ll witness golden rock formations, turquoise waters and dramatic landscapes that
will leave you wanting to walk for days on end. Admittedly, the lighthouse itself is
a little underwhelming, but don’t let it put you off, the views of the horizon make
up for it in bucketloads.
The Algarve is big and beautiful, and takes nearly 2 hours to drive from one end to the
other, and there’s a lot to see, so if you want to outside your hotel and do it in your
own time, then hiring a car can be the best way to do this. The minimum age to hire a
car in Portugal is 18 years old, and you must have held your driving license for at least
a year. If you’re British then just remember to drive on the righthand side, and a little
rhyme that I like to use is right is right! We hired a car through Holiday Extras and
you can do this by clicking on the link below.
If you’re holidaying in the Algarve then you’re never far away from the beach, and
let’s face it, it’s a must. There are some great options to choose from, so here’s
our top 3: Praia Da Gale is a huge beach with a sandy stretch that goes on for miles. It’s
simple and has a rustic feel to it, which in my opinion makes it great, as it’s a
the perfect contrast to the busy hotel resort area just up the road in Albufeira.
Praia de Sao Rafael is a gorgeous beach that will not disappoint. It’s a 15 minute drive
from Albufeira but worth a day trip to sunbathing on the golden sands, rounded by stunning cliff
drops and also take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. The famous rock formations and the
water also make it quite the beauty spot, due to the years of erosion that have given
the rocks their unusual shape and colour.
Praia de Benagil is a smaller beach located in the fishing village of Benagil, and just
around the corner from those famous caves. The limestones cliffs that surround the beach
offer shelter from the wind, but the only downside is there isn’t any official parking
here, so be prepared to have to park your car a little way away and walk there.
Fancy a spot of golf? The Algarve is famous for its golf courses and is one of Europe’s
leading golf holiday destinations. There’s around 35 golf clubs in the Algarve zone,
so you can be sure to find a golf club that caters to your level. And thankfully for me,
we’ve found where beginners were welcome!
And finally, explore Albufeira old town. If you’re driving there, I recommend parking
your car at the top of the hill and then walk down the winding streets, finding local shops
selling Portuguese gifts. The streets open up to a square that is surrounded by restaurants
and hosts live music, people dancing and enjoying the sunshine. It’s a great place to have
lunch and simply soak in everything that’s going on. Just be openminded to the fact that
this town now majorly caters for tourists of all nationalities, so menus aren’t very
traditional in this area.
As you can see, we loved exploring this beautiful coastline and don’t forget to subscribe
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