The Algarve

The Algarve region of Portugal

São Bartolomeu de Messines

São Bartolomeu de Messines
São Bartolomeu de Messines
muffinn CC BY-SA

São Bartolomeu de Messines is a typically Portuguese small town which can feel like a different world from the busy and tourist-filled coastline just 10 kilometres away. Coming here and visiting the surrounding villages feels like coming to the real Algarve as it has been for centuries, with the classic white-painted buildings, the peaceful cafes (which today have English translations on their menus) and the tranquil views of the surrounding hills with their Mediterranean woodlands and scrubs.

Vila Do Bispo

Vila do Bispo
Vila do Bispo

The quintessential Algarve village of Vila Do Bispo with its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and peaceful cafes sits almost at the extreme southwest corner of both Portugal and Europe. It is a small village, but caters well for visitors and locals, with two banks, a supermarket, a medical centre and plenty of smaller shops, cafes, and a surprising number of restaurants.

Cabanas

Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas de Tavira

Once a sleepy fishing village, now a popular resort, Cabanas lies on a lagoon a short drive east of Tavira at the gateway to the Ria Formosa Natural Reserve. The Avenida Ria Formosa promenade runs along the seafront here and features a number of small shops, cafes and restaurants. On the seaward side of the promenade is an attractive new boardwalk which runs along the entire length of the lagoon.

Praia do Inatel

Praia do Inatel - Albufeira
Praia do Inatel - Albufeira

Located just to the east of Albufeira old town is Praia do Inatel - a lovely, wide stretch of golden sand. This is the next beach along after the town's main beach (Praia dos Pescadores) and is around a 10 minute walk from Albufeira. Whilst not quite as busy, Praia do Inatel is rather popular during the summer months. 

Cabo de São Vicente from the air

An aerial view of Cabo de São Vicente (The Cape of St Vincent) on the Algarve's Atlantic coast near Sagres.

With its location in the extreme southwest of Portugal it was once thought by many to be the end of the world. It turns out it wasn't and many of the great Portuguese voyages of discovery set off from near here.

The lighthouse here dates back to the mid 1800s and incorporated the buildings of a 16th century Franciscan convent.

Posted by Travel in Portugal on

Praia do Barranco

Praia do Barranco - Sagres
Praia do Barranco
Rene Boulay CC BY-SA

Praia do Barranco is a fairly secluded little beach a few kilometres along the Algarve coast from Sagres. Tucked well away from the ocean swells there is nothing in the way of surf here, unlike many of the neighbouring beaches. Instead you will find calm, clear turquoise waters, ideal for taking a dip in. Cliffs on the western side of the beach also provide some degree of shelter from the winds that this part of the coast is well known for.

Praia da Baleeira

Portugal beach

Sitting next to Sagres' harbour and within the lee of its breakwater, Praia da Baleeira is by far the town's most sheltered beach. This is no way Sagres' best or most dramatic beach but it does come into its own when the westerly wind is blowing and there is a giant Atlantic swell. Despite this Baleeira actually has a more exposed feel to it than many of the cosy coves nearby. There is little in the way of cliffs here and the backdrop slopes gently up towards the town.

Praia da Mareta

Praia da Mareta - Sagres
Praia da Mareta
Cingularite CC BY-SA

Praia da Mareta is the closest beach to Sages town itself, and unsurprisingly, as such, tends to be one of the busiest beaches in the area. However, it isn't just convenience that makes Mareta such a popular beach; with a sweep of golden sand stretching for nearly 800 metres and rocky headlands providing shelter from the notorious Sagres winds this is a great choice.

Praia do Martinhal

Praia do Martinhal - Sagres
Praia do Martinhal
Freebird CC BY-SA

Praia do Martinhal is a wide sandy beach just outside Sagres. It is around 2km from the town and takes about 25 minutes to walk here meaning it is usually relatively quiet. 

The beach at Martinhal is set in the shallow and relatively sheltered east-facing Bay of Baleeira which is also home to the town's harbour. This means the water here is nearly always calmer than the Atlantic-facing beaches around Sagres' mighty headland. With a lifeguard service running during the summer months Praia do Martinhal is a great family beach.

Praia de Vilamoura

Vilamoura beach
Vilamoura beach
Valter Jacinto CC BY-SA

Vilamoura beach is a decent sized strip of golden sand set between the Marina to the west and Quarteira harbour to the east. It is relatively developed although nothing like the scale of Quarteira next door. In fact it has a much more open feeling with plenty of space between the nearest apartment blocks.

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