Freemaps

There are literally hundreds of beaches on the Algarve southern coast and up the western Atlantic coast. We will lead you to the best of beaches that are just that little bit hidden or yet unknown, or offer something special. Whether you go to one of these or make it your mission to go to them all, this is a great guide for many of the off the beaten track beaches and some better known beaches that offer fabulous photo opportunities. Praia de Monte Clérigo A surfers paradise in fact, everyones idea of heaven! Definitely worth the drive. Dramatic & stunning with a huge expanse of soft sand with crashing waves, the view will quite simply take your breath away! Mainly under-populated, so you always have the beach to yourself practically. Lots of rocks & cliffs to explore too. There are good facilities, with parking & a restaurant/snack bar close by, the restaurant offers delicious local dishes.   

Martinhal A real haven for wind & kite surfers – this screen saver view of white sands, dunes & the wild blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean make for great relaxation. A relatively unpopulated spot (although popular in high season), unspoilt, but still with plenty of activities & good facilities. Very family friendly with lots of parking close to the beach. From here you can also see the port of Sagres, called end of the world for being the most south westerly point in Europe. The explorers left from here to discover the new world.

Ingrina Just a little way from Sagres. Off season this beach is deserted. On season there are some people and a lovely beach restaurant. Go there Saturday or Sunday to try their marvellous Lamb Stew. There are not many places that serve such good stew, and you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy it! But try to be there by 11;30 to get a table with the sea view. Along the top of the hill, you can see a deserted fish salting plant and to your left (if your facing the sea) you can travel slightly uphill over the paths for some marvellous views of the cliffs and ocean. On a clear day you can see all the way to Morocco!

 Praia Boca do Rio Situated between Burgau and Salema, this beach can be accessed by turning off the EN125 at Budens (just after Ecomarché Supermarket). Definitely off the beaten track, a place where only the locals go. Get back to nature in a beautiful & tranquil setting. This is one of the Western Algarves best kept secrets. Please note there are no facilities available so its advisable to take your own refreshments. Ample parking available right by the beach. Praia de Burgau Picturesque small fishing village, without the crowds, except in the peek summer. where you can always find your perfect spot. Surrounded by dramatic scenery. Great for swimming. A few restaurants & bars. Gives you a calm, relaxed ‘away from it all’ feeling. Parking close by although restricted in the height of the season when the beach is more popular. Very good beach restaurant on this beach, makes it all the more pleasant! 

 Praia da Luz beach A beautiful expanse of soft golden sand makes this an ideal family beach. Lovely for swimming & also exploring the rock pools at both ends. All water sports are available. There are lots of sun-beds available to hire, with showers on the beach & all round excellent facilities. A plethora of cafés, shops & restaurants within very close proximity. Parking available close by just beyond the lovely promenade.

 Praia de Porto de Mós This is a quiet beach inhabited by locals & people in the know. Although much smaller than Meia Praia, its easy to find that perfect spot. Very relaxing & tranquil. Sun-beds available for hire. Some excellent restaurants & facilities available here. Parking very close by. Although a steep road leads down to the bay, access to the beach is excellent & flat. 

 Praia Dona Ana A simply stunning beach – typical Algarvian picture postcard with its dramatic cliffs & rock formations. Very sheltered from the prevailing winds & superb for swimming & snorkelling. Good facilities on hand with a choice of beach bars & restaurants. Access to the beach is down a flight of steps. There is adequate parking close by. Alternatively, this beach is approximately 20 minutes walk from Lagos centre, either by road or around the cliffs. Plenty of kiosks selling everything you could ever require for an enjoyable day at the beach.

Meia Praia 7 kms of soft sand, curving eastward from the Marina at Lagos to the Estuary at Alvor. Certainly the most popular beach for tourists visiting Lagos although fabulous first thing in the morning & late afternoon, before & after the crowds. A large variety of water sports available & excellent facilities, parking close by & lots of restaurants & snack bars to chose from. Ideal for families. If you go to the farthest edge of this beach (to the west) you will get to an underpopulated area. This beach is ideal for dog walkers after the season is over. 

Alvor Beach A ten minute walk from the town of Alvor, this beach is a glorious long stretch of soft sand. Plenty of parking in the official lot or behind the beach bars. You can walk all the way to the Alvor estuary (about 2km). If you walk in the other direction at low tide you get to the beautiful and unusual rock formations of Prainha. The facilities include sun beds, many restaurants, massage on the beach (in the summer). The best part is that the beach is so long it never seems to be crowded. Beautiful dunes are on the back of the beach and are supposed to be protected by law. Once again the restaurants are good along the beach and you can have anything from coffee and a toasted sandwich, or a full grilled fish dinner and wine. There is a boardway promenade that is great for walking or cycling. It will take you out over the dunes and back over the beach. This is very popular with the locals, so if you want more privacy go during the week.

Praia da Rocha One of the longest and widest beaches in the Algarve. 30 years ago it was paradise before the developers came. Now there are high rises that line the streets, but the beach itself is still gorgeous and still one of the Algarve’s most popular. All facilities from Jet Ski hire, pedalo hire, sun-beds to rent and plenty of restaurants. If you walk along the sidewalk at the top, and go to the far east end you will see the remains of a Phoenician fort or the ‘Forteleza’ Wide curving steps take you down to the Portimão Marina. At the other end of the beach, the western end is a beautiful lookout, perfect to take pictures of the whole beach. For the young crowd, after the beach there is plenty of night life in Praia da Rocha, the busiest night life on this side of the Algarve.

Praia Grande Just outside of Portimão, drive into Ferragudo and along the road to the beach, you reach this beach by a wide set of steps. Since it is in within the enclosure of the harbour it is sheltered from too high winds. That makes it the perfect place to learn windsurfing or other water sports. Several restaurants are open all day. Great photos here.   

Marinha Beach Often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve if not the world, would not be far off. You must descend a lot of steps to get here, but you will marvel at the view from the top over the rocky cliffs and then you will love the beach that is circled by cliffs towering over it it. The steps are a bit arduous if you are out of shape, but definately worth the effort. The restaurant is not always open so be sure to bring a snack and some water. Also do not leave anything in your care locked or unlocked, even in the boot! This beach is the top winner of beautiful beaches in Portugal. We are not showing a photo as we insist that you go and have a look.
Send us the photos!