[pipdig_banner image=”https://martinemakesmemories.com/wp-content/uploads/DJI_0494-2-e1606141923535.jpg” pipdig_banner parallax=”yes”]
You don’t have to go far for beautiful beaches. Rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and a beautiful blue sea are also just a 3-hour flight away.
Portugal has a lot beautiful beaches. These can be found especially in the south, the Algarve. Everything revolves around the Praias here. Which is the Portuguese word for beach. We have listed our top 8 beaches. You can’t miss the next ones!
#1 PRAIA DA MARINHA
Our absolute number 1 is Praia da Marinha. A beautiful beach surrounded by rock formations.
The beach can be recognized by the large pointed rock in the sea. When the sun is shining, the beautiful blue colors of the sea appear.
This is not only our number 1 but also that of the locals. In addition, this beach often appears in the top 10 most beautiful European beaches.
The first part of the beach can be reached by a long staircase. If you want to go to the most beautiful part of Praia da Marinha, you have to pass the rock. This is easy at low tide but at high tide you have to put in a little more effort. Keep this in mind!
Tip: You can take a nice hike from Praia da Marinha. They call this hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trails. We did the hike till the Benagil Cave. This hike is about 2 kilometers one way. You literally walk on top of the rock formations and are regularly rewarded with beautiful viewpoints. Along the way you will also encounter the famous Heart Rock.
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail | Lagoa | Western Algarve (walkalgarve.com)
Praia da Marinha is located between Portimao and Carvoeiro. The beach is already well signposted on the N125. We visited Praia da Marinha from Albufeira which is about a 30 minute drive. We combined the beach with a hike and a canoe trip to the Benagil Cave.
Parking: There is a parking lot, but it is not very large.
Restaurant: There is a small restaurant on Praia da Marinha where you can get drinks, salads and sandwiches.
#2 PRAIA DA FALÉSIA
Praia da Falésia gets a deserved second place from us. Here you can see another kind of rock. These are not coves or loose boulders but one long rock formation with orange/beige sand. It looks like the Ayers Rock/Uluru of Australia.
You can walk or bike over this rock formation with a beautiful view of the sea on the other side.
Praia da Falésia is so wide that it runs through Olhos d’Agua and Vilamoura. These are therefore different places that you can combine with a day at the beach. Vilamoura is a nice harbor town where you can stroll through or grab a terrace.
The spectacle really starts on Praia da Falésia once the sun goes down. Then on the rock formation appears a beautiful glowing color and the sun sets into the sea. We have been here several times. Different seasons and times. Truly beautiful!
Parking: There are many parking spaces behind Praia da Falésia. Many free parking spaces on the side of Olhos d’Agua and many paid parking spaces on the side of Vilamoura.
Restaurant: There are several restaurants on the beach. On the Vilamoura side more than on the Olhos d’Agua side.
#3 PRAIA DA ALBANDEIRA
An unique beach that you don’t see very often is Praia da Albandeira. A small beach located between rocks.
Characteristic of this beach is the huge rock ”arch” on the right. You can walk on this rock and make the most beautiful pictures.
If you are at the end of this arch you will also see a hidden beach. This is Praia da Estanquinha and can be reached through a hole in the rocks from the beach on the left. Again, it is easy with low tide, but you really have to watch out with high tide.
Praia da Albandeira is also well signposted. But the real work doesn’t start until you leave the paved road. You have to drive on a narrow dirt road for a while.
Because the road is so narrow that only 1 car fits, there are regular signs with a red and a white arrow. Is there an oncoming vehicle and is the arrow in your direction white? Then you have priority. At your oncoming traffic, that arrow will be red. Sometimes you can’t avoid backing up a bit so that the person who has right of way can pass you. So you have to make some effort to visit this beach!
Praia da Albandeira is located near the town of Porches. We have combined this with a visit to Carvoeiro and Praia da Rocha.
Parking: Just behind the beach is a spacious parking lot
Restaurant: It’s there! Restaurante Bar o Pirata.
#4 PRAIA DE DONA ANA
Praia de Dona Ana is like Praia da Marinha in miniature. Here too you have a longer stretch of sandy beach with boulders in the beautiful blue water. It is not for nothing that this beach is popular among photographers.
Praia de Dona Ana can also be reached by stairs. You will see many canoes or boats passing by when you are lying on the beach. There are many tours offered where they go to all the beaches.
This beach is located in Lagos where there are many more beautiful beaches! We combined a few hours of relaxing on this beach with a visit to Lagos and Ponte da Piedade. Also well worth it.
From Lagos you can reach the beaches on foot, but this will take about 45 minutes. With a car you are there in no time.
Parking: There is a large parking lot on this beach, unlike the restaurants in the area.
Restaurant: There is a kind of kiosk in the parking lot where you can get drinks and ice cream. There is a restaurant on the beach.
#5 PRAIA DO CAMILO
Praia do Camilo is close to Praia de Dona Ana. A small cozy beach surrounded by rocks. Like a little secret beach. Since the beach is quite deep, you first have to brave a big staircase to get to the beach. Since the beach is very small, we recommend going early so that you can score a nice spot.
Further on is Ponte da Piedade. A beautiful view point from where you can also see Praia do Camilo. Here you can walk on cliffs and take beautiful pictures.
Parking: There is a small parking space available so make sure you go early.
Restaurant: There is a small beach bar, but make sure you have enough food and drinks.
#6 PRAIA DO BELICHE
Praia do Beliche is a completely different kind of beach. You will come across this beautiful beach on the way to Cabo de Sao Vicente. The most southern part of Europe.
From here the rock formations start to get different colors and you see some more green. The sea is such a beautiful blue, the rocks gray and the sand a bit whiter.
The more you go west, the more surfers and hippies you will encounter. Here you will also regularly see surf schools passing by.
Praia do Beliche is located between Sagres and Cabo de Sao Vincente. You drive by here and it is definitely worth a stop! This staircase can also be reached via a stone staircase.
Parking: There is a parking space available.
Restaurant: There is a small beach bar where you can get the necessary things, but take food and drinks with you as a precaution.
#7 PRAIA SAO RAFAEL
Praia Sao Rafael is also a typical Algarve beach. Golden rocks, lovely sand and a beautiful sea.
When you walk onto the beach you will see a large boulder in the sea on your right. Go around the corner on the sand and you have a small private beach overlooking this rock.
Sometimes you have to put your feet through the water for this and make sure you leave in time before the high tide.
We went here in the morning and had the beach to ourselves for a few hours. Wonderful start of the day!
For this beach you only have to go down a few stone steps to reach the beach. So great!
Parking: There is a large parking space available.
Restaurant: There is a restaurant on the beach.
#8 PRAIA DA ROCHA
Another beautiful long and extensive beach is Praia da Rocha. In total about 3 kilometers long. Praia da Rocha is located between Lagos and Portimão in the town of Senhora da Rocha.
This is quite a tourist area as it is a large seaside resort.
Once you have parked the car you walk towards the sea. Here you can see a beautiful church called the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Rocha.
Nice to take a look and enjoy the breathtaking view! There are also many weddings in this church. Well, I can see myself marry here!
Parking: There are several large parking spaces available.
Restaurant: Plenty of restaurants in this tourist resort.
INFO PRAIA APP
Now that we are dealing with the Corona virus, the government has developed an app to prevent crowds on the beaches.
It’s called the Info Praia App. In this app, the beaches are indicated with green, yellow or red to indicate the crowds. This prevents disappointments. So check this app well in advance.
You can search specifically for a beach in the app if you already know where you want to go, search the nearest beaches to your current location or search the quietest beaches.
This way you can enjoy your day at the beach in peace and quiet!
In addition, many beaches with the same idea have a traffic light and a green, yellow or red flag.