Discover some of the most beautiful cities in the Algarve, Portugal.
Castro Marim
Castro Marim is a village located at the border of Spain near the Guadiana River. It is known for the magnificent Castro Marim Marsh Natural Reserve. You can visit this natural reserve on foot or by bicycle and you can observe different species of birds, such as storks, pink flamingos and woodcocks. There is also a small medieval castle that you can visit for 1.20 euro. From the top of the castle, you can see on the horizon a nearby Spanish town and the salt ponds.
At Castro Marim, you can visit a few Fleur de sel houses. In fact, it is in this village that Claudia Ferreira and her film crew filmed the episode #4 : The Fleur de sel. A visit worth the detour! Jorge and his family can welcome you on their gorgeous property.
Tavira
Tavira is an extremely charming city bordered by the Gilao River. It has kept the typical character of the region. There are many historic monuments and beautiful churches. During your exploration of the city, don’t forget to see the Jardim Publico and to walk on the Romana bridge. Many small Portuguese restaurants offer delicious fish and seafood products.
There are three beautiful beaches near this city : Praia Tavira, Praia do Baril et Praia da Terra Estreita. Praia Tavira is probably the most popular beach and you can get there by boat for roughly 2 euros per person. Praia do Baril is also superb, because it is peaceful and quiet and it houses the Cemetery of Anchors (Cemitério das Âncoras), which is an historical heritage site of Portugal.
Olhão
Olhão is a fishing town full of life. According to Carlos Ferreira, the most beautiful market in Portugal (and maybe even in the world!) is in Olhão. We suggest that you start your day by visiting one of the biggest farmers’ market in Portugal. Arrive early to observe the fishermen settle and see the beautiful sunrise. The first building offers fruits, vegetables, cheese and meat. The products are very colorful and the smells are divine. The other building contains fresh seafood and fish caught the same day.
In addition to its beautiful market, this city is near the Ria Formosa Natural Park. This park houses a river that starts near Faro and goes all the way to Manta Rota beach, near Cacela in Algarve. This river, which runs on 60 km, is a earthly paradise for many species of fish, shellfish and birds. If you want to admire the nature and learn more about this protected area, you should start your visit in the Marim Environmental Education Centre, which will inform you on the most appropriate pedestrian routes and the different observatories. It is precisely in this natural park that Claudia Ferreira and her film crew filmed episode #5 : The Shellfish.
Faro
Faro is a city full of history and culture. Part of the city is still surrounded by walls that were historically used to protect the city. Inside those walls, you can see the main square, the cathedral dating from the 13th century and the Archaeological Museum. There is a great choice of Cafés, restaurants and bars. Since there are few tourists and a strong local life in Faro, restaurants offer traditional food at an excellent quality-price ratio.
Faro is a pretty quiet town where life is good. It is a central city of the Algarve region, so it is easy to move to surrounding cities to do some other activities. There is also an international airport near the downtown area.
Quinta do Lago
Quinta do Lago is the celebrities’ vacation village! The floral arrangements are splendid and there are many golf courses, high-end restaurants, luxury retail shops and beautiful hotels. The beaches are accessible by bridges over the lagoon. The smell of sun dried marine seaweed and the picturesque scenery make it a very enjoyable walk to the beach! To reach the golden sand beach, you need to walk 500 meters on a bridge standing above the Ria Formosa Natural Reserve. Carlos Ferreira’s favorite restaurant, Gigi, is located at the extremity of this wooden bridge in a fishermen’s hut adorned with yellow sun umbrellas. If you have the chance to dine at Gigi, you need to try the carabineros shrimps, because they cook them to perfection! (PS: The bill can reach a higher price point!)
Albufeira
Albufeira is a city full of life that pleases different types of travelers. The old town is dotted with small charming alleys covered with cobblestones where you can find a lot of restaurants and bars. There are also some beautiful beaches. We suggest to avoid the street named “The Strip”, which is very touristic (we could say tacky)! Albufeira is composed of two very distinct neighborhoods : the old town and the new town where “The Strip” is located. The old town has more of a family atmosphere.
Lagos
Lagos is a very active city during the day or night. It’s impossible to get bored! This city is located near multiple cliffs. The beaches bounded by the rocks are more than “instagramable”! The sand is golden, the water is clear and there are many rocks that create some shade for a perfect rest. From Lagos, you can go to Ponta da Piedade, which is a rock formation with cliffs that can go up to 45 meters in height. It is as beautiful to observe from the top as from the sea! At Ponta da Piedade, the cliffs carved in the rock are home to tunnels and secret caves. You can visit them by small boat or kayak. We suggest going by kayak, because it’s a great activity to do some exercise and you can reach some caves where boats don’t have access.
There are restaurants of different types of cuisine in Lagos, so there is something for everyone. The only drawback we find is the lack of authenticity caused by mass tourism. It’s still a must-see city!
Sagres
Sagres is a destination of choice for surfers! It’s the perfect moment to learn how to surf. Many schools offer a board rental service and they teach classes. It is a place far away from everything with plenty of room for adventure. This small town is located at the extremity of the Western point of Algarve. Big cliffs, splendid landscapes and beaches as far as the eye can see are waiting for you. For camping lovers, there are many camping sites near the sea and some camping vans rental companies. The Cabo Sao Vicente and Sagres Fortress are definitely worth the detour. In the village, there is not much to do, so we suggest to go to Sagres for a day expedition, since you are only 40 minutes away from Lagos by car. Don’t forget to drink a cold Sagres beer!