The Best Algarve Portugal Itinerary: 7 Days in the Algarve

Where to Stay in the Algarve, Portugal

Justin and I stayed for one week at Casa Aurora in Lagos. For us, this was the perfect place to stay in Lagos and I can't imagine spending our honeymoon anywhere else.

Lagos is the perfect home base. There's so much to see and do right in Lagos. Plus, it's stunning! Then, we ventured to other places in the Algarve for day trips.

Casa Aurora is a luxury apartment perched at the edge of Dona Ana Beach. The apartment comes with its own private balcony (that's so spacious!), access to the swimming pool for a small fee, and easy access to the beach down below. Due to the natural landscape of Lagos, there is a staircase leading down to the beach.

This is a massive apartment with so many luxurious amenities. There are two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a huge kitchen with every appliance imaginable, a living room, a laundry room and more.

We walked from this apartment on the boardwalk trail to Ponta da Piedade and into the Old Town. It's situated inside a local apartment complex, so you'll feel like you live here…if only temporarily! This place books up fast, be warned. Book your stay here.

More Places to Stay in Lagos

Looking for more places to stay? Feel free to use this handy map to find more properties. Add your travel dates for more precise information. Click on each property to see photos, learn more, and book your stay.

Getting Around the Algarve

We flew direct to Faro, Portugal from Edinburgh. If your home destination doesn't fly directly to Faro, you may have a connection in Lisbon first. Another option is flying to Lisbon, renting a car there, and driving down to Lagos.

When we flew home, we drove up to Lisbon and flew home directly to Toronto. So, there are a couple of options to fly to/from the Algarve.

Here's where you can find great prices on flights to Faro or great prices on flights to Lisbon. Next, pick up your rental car at the airport, depending on where you fly.

Public transportation exists in the Algarve, but it isn't the fastest or most convenient choice. With only a week in the Algarve, we did not want to waste hours on buses getting from place to place.

For this Algarve Portugal itinerary, rent a car and drive everywhere on your own. Some places are quite remote and not really accessible by public transit. It's also essential to choose an accommodation that includes a parking space, such as the one we recommended above.

We use Discover Cars anytime we rent a car when traveling. You can compare rates between multiple companies to find the best price. Plus, they have great customer service and we've always had a positive experience.

Find your rental car in Faro or find your rental car in Lisbon.

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 1

It's the first full day in the Algarve and we're staying put in Lagos. Since it's the first day of our trip, we're going to ease into our holiday and spend the day enjoying the beach.

Beach Day in Lagos

People flock to the Algarve for the beautiful beaches. There are plenty of beaches to enjoy in Lagos. It's best to visit in the summer for beach weather. When we visited in mid-October, it was a little bit too cold to swim. Just keep that in mind.

The beach closest to our accommodation was Praia Dona Ana. There are beaches all along the coast near the boardwalk trail that runs to the end of the peninsula, Ponta da Piedade. Some of the best beaches on this stretch are:

• Praia do Pinhão
• Praia Dona Ana
• Praia do Camilo

Praia dos Estudantes is also close by. This is a unique small beach that has a manmade bridge connecting two rock formations.

The beach that's closest to the old town is Praia da Batata. It's near some restaurants and the Batata Beach Bar.

The restaurant, Take a Bao - Asian Street Food, was one of our favorites with delicious fare and refreshing local beer. This is a short distance from Batata Beach, located just across the street.

To the south of the town of Lagos, there are two popular beaches along one lengthy stretch of sand: Porto Mós Beach and Praia do Canavial. These are popular for both swimming and surfing.

And finally, if you enjoy having your space, there's a massive beach to the east of Lagos called Meia Praia. There's 2.5 miles of expansive sand in close proximity to little beach bars and shacks.

Dune Beach is part of Meia Praia. It's possible to take a small boat from the middle of Lagos across the channel to this beach. This is a calm beach with shallow waters.

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 2

Now that we're all settled into our stay and gotten over the jetlag, it's time to explore. I'll make some suggestions on how to spend an amazing day in Lagos.

For more recommendations and a deeper dive, I suggest reading my blog post all about spending a day in Lagos.

Ponta da Piedade in Lagos

Walking the boardwalk to Ponta da Piedade is one of the best things to do in Lagos, if not the best. We thoroughly enjoyed this scenic stroll with one incredible view after another.

The boardwalk is located at the top of the cliffs. There are many scenic viewpoints on the way. Then, there are staircases leading down to beaches and alternate views of the rock formations.

Justin and I marveled at the reddish-orange rock formations on the coastline, as well as the rocks poking out of the turquoise waters. These rocks are sculpted and carved by the wind and sea. We also explored little coves and beaches on the way.

The hike ends at the Ponta da Piedade headland. There are fascinating cliffs to the southeast and southwest, as well as a lighthouse from 1913. Unfortunately, we weren't able to enter the lighthouse, but it adds to the dramatic scenery.

For an alternate view of Ponta da Piedade, it's possible to take a boat ride between the rock formations. We saw quite a few boats drifting close to the rocks and between them. Here's where you can book the Ponta da Piedade boat tour.

Old Town Lagos

Next, walk into Old Town Lagos on the Lagos Promenade that lines the waterfront. Walking from the south end to the north end, we walked past the old medieval castle of Lagos and an old fortress. Then, we walked down the quiet and gently winding streets into Old Town.

Since we stayed in Lagos, we spent many mornings and evenings in Old Town Lagos for the wide variety of dining options. While we walked through Old Town on several occasions, make sure you spend at least one afternoon exploring the streets and dining on the patios.

The green house at Praça Luís de Camões (Luís de Camões Square) is the most famous building to see in the Old Town. This is also a central hub of activity with many streets connecting to the main plaza.

Old Town Lagos is full of colorful murals and street art. We noticed them hidden around every bend. Some covered entire walls and others are bright bursts of color peeking out from behind buildings. 

Whether you stay in Lagos like we did or venture there on a day trip, make sure to visit Lagos for at least one day in your Algarve Portugal itinerary. We really enjoyed making Lagos our home base and wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 3

It's day three of our Algarve Portugal itinerary and time to head out of town. Hop in the rental car and head to Ferragudo and Carvoeiro. These two small towns are relatively close to one another, making it easy to see both of them on a day trip.

Ferragudo

We drove to Ferragudo in the morning. Ferragudo is a tiny village in the Algarve that's super picturesque. Walk around town. It's really quaint and pretty.

While there aren't a ton of things to do in Ferragudo, it gives you a taste of the traditional fishing village life in Portugal. Walk from the main square in town and down the cobblestone streets.

Many of the homes are whitewashed, while others have splashes of pastel color. There are flowers growing everywhere. Our walk led us towards the beach, Praia da Angrinha and the hilltop fortress, Castelo de Ferragudo.

Carvoeiro

Justin and I spent the afternoon in Carvoeiro. It's only about a 15-minute drive from Ferragudo. Carvoeiro is a larger town by comparison to Ferragudo. While it's possible to see most of Ferragudo in about an hour or two, we spent a half day in Carvoeiro.

Our first order of business was lunch. Earth Shop & Café is a delightful bistro with vegan and vegetarian options. There's also a small shop inside the restaurant featuring the works of local artisans and locally prepared food products.

After lunch, we walked down to Algar Seco on the western edge of the Carvoeiro Boardwalk. Follow the staircase leading down to the rock formations where there's a small natural pool in the middle. This isn't for swimming and the sea is quite choppy here.

We walked on the rocks between some formations carved by the wind. There's a really beautiful view of the seaside and more rocks to climb, at your own risk.

Back up the staircase, don't miss Boneca's Cave. It's located just beyond a cliffside restaurant. At the end of a small cave, there are two naturally carved windows facing the sea. There might be a small lineup to enter the cave and take photos.

I should also mention that all of these places are free to visit. There's no entrance fee and you can visit any time of day.

From there, continue walking on the Carvoeiro Boardwalk for gorgeous views of the sea, homes perched on the edge of the cliff, and the beach down below. We continued into town and did a little bit of shopping, including a stop at Loja da Fabrica, a shop selling local ceramic and terracotta wares.

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 4

Today, we are driving a little bit farther than our day trip yesterday. On day four of this Algarve Portugal itinerary, we'll spend the majority of our day in Tavira with a shorter late afternoon/evening jaunt to Faro.

Even though we flew into Faro, we didn't get to initially spend any time there. Today is the day.

Tavira

Tavira is quite possibly my favorite small town in the Algarve, Portugal. It's bustling with activity, but we didn't encounter many crowds. There are enough things to see and do for a half day.

First, walk across Ponte antiga de Tavira (Tavira Old Bridge) and admire the views. The main attraction in Tavira is Castelo de Tavira, castle ruins from the 11th century. It's free to enter the property and there's a beautiful garden in the middle of the castle ruins.

Climb the staircases to the top of the ruins for the best views of Tavira. There's also a beautiful Catholic church nearby, Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, as well as the Camera Obscura Tavira EYE attraction.

Justin and I walked around a bit on both sides of the river, Rio Gilão. Back on the other side of the river, we stopped for lunch at a charming little spot with a patio, Tavila Café. It's a vegan-friendly tapas restaurant with hummus, falafel, fried polenta, mushroom empanadas, smoked tofu wraps and more.

Praia do Barril

In the mid-afternoon, we drove south of Tavira to Praia do Barril. This is an expansive beach and it would be easy to spend all day here on a hot, sunny day. It wasn't terribly warm out, but we wanted to walk the path to the beach and see a unique art installation.

Park near the pedestrian path, Trilho do Barril. We walked Trilho do Barril to the beach, though there is a little tourist train that runs along the length of the path to transport people to and from the beach.

Praia do Barril is one of the best beaches in the Algarve. There are loungers and umbrellas, plus a nearby restaurant and beach bar. We also saw over 200 old, rusty anchors from the discontinued tuna industry.

Cemitério das âncoras, or Cemetery of Anchors, is a tribute to the region's maritime history where every anchor represents a vessel that once sailed here. On the way back, it started to pour rain, so we quickly hopped on the train to get back to the car!

Faro

Although we flew into the Faro International Airport, we didn't have the chance to properly discover Faro until day four of this Algarve Portugal itinerary. I will say that if you plan to see Faro properly, I'd arrive a bit earlier than we did.

We missed out on a few things to see and do, simply because they had closed by the time we arrived. We didn't get the chance to visit the Chapel of Bones of Faro, a little dose of "dark tourism" in Faro as it's a chapel featuring over 1000 skulls of Carmelite monks.

Justin and I walked through the city streets, stopping to snap a touristy pic at the Faro sign. Faro is notable for its interesting architecture. We wandered through some of its arches, Arco da Vila and Arco do Repouso, that form part of its original Moorish city walls.

R. de Santo Antonio is one of the main pedestrian shopping streets. For the video game lovers out there, Game Over is a cocktail bar with retro video games, escape games, a karaoke room and yummy drinks.

We had dinner at Pizzeria Bell'Antonio, an Italian pizzeria in the heart of downtown Faro. There are many vegan options for pizza, pasta and garlic bread. I went with the pasta because they don't have vegan cheese for the pizza (yet!).

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 5

On day five of this Algarve Portugal itinerary, we are spending the day in Albufeira. Many people base themselves in Albufeira because it's probably the most touristed spot in the Algarve and known for its beaches and nightlife alike.

If you decide to stay in Albufeira, spend a couple of days here and take one day trip to Lagos instead (day two of the itinerary).

Albufeira

Justin and I spent one day in Albufeira. The weather wasn't really cooperating for us that day, so we spent the majority of our time wandering around and dining on a covered patio.

Though Albufeira is known for its nightlife, we aren't really big into clubbing ourselves. We're more into pubs and breweries. So, we went back to Lagos in the evening. But, if you're into the nightlife scene and going clubbing, definitely stick around!

Go for a walk through Albufeira to admire the whitewashed homes and busy plazas. There are rows of restaurants, sports bars, and souvenir shops. It's probably the most touristy place we visited in the Algarve.

Then, walk through the Albufeira Tunnel to get to the beach. The tunnel is carved into the rocky cliffs allowing access from the town straight to the beach. Praia do Peneco is another amazing beach in the Algarve that I know you'll love.

Another interesting feature of the beach in Albufeira is the Elevador do Peneco. This is a public elevator that connects the beach to the top of the cliffs. It's free to ride the elevator, and it provides easy access to the beach from the top of town. There's also an amazing view from the top.

The old town of Albufeira isn't very vegan or vegetarian friendly, so we took a short drive to the marina to dine at Fat Cats on the Marina. We wouldn't have visited this area otherwise, but the marina is quite picturesque. There are rows of colorful buildings lining the harbor, filled with boats.

Fat Cats on the Marina is a British pub with a large vegan section on the menu. There's a vegan burger, curry, chili, chili nachos, vegan pattie salad and even a vegan cheesecake.

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 6

It is the last full day of our time in the Algarve. Justin and I drove to Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente, most southwesterly point in mainland Europe. It is only a 40 minute drive from Lagos, making for the perfect half day or full day trip.

Cabo de São Vicente

Cabo de São Vicente is a headland overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This is the most southwesterly place in the Algarve and the last bit of Portuguese land that sailors would see before crossing the ocean.

There are ruins of old fortification walls and a pretty lighthouse at the edge of the cape. The lighthouse was built on the ruins of a Franciscan monastery. For history lovers, there's a small museum and visitor's center in the base of the lighthouse.

The beautiful landscapes here are the main draw, though it's also a popular birding site. Many seabirds nest in the cliffs. Go for a walk along the edge of the cliff for the best scenery. Though we visited in the daytime, it's an amazing place for watching the sunset.

Sagres

In the nearby town of Sagres, the main attraction is Fortaleza de Sagres, the Sagres Fortress. I didn't know what to expect upon our arrival, but the property for the Sagres Fortress is so much larger than I anticipated.

The history of this area goes back to the 8th century B.C., but the fortress itself was built in the 15th century. It protected the Portuguese coastline, primarily from North African invaders. It's on the list of European Heritage sites and is being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For us, the fortress itself wasn't the most interesting part. There is one huge wall that protects the town. Otherwise, the area is naturally protected by the massive cliffs.

The vast landscapes of the ocean are stunning. There are a few intriguing buildings to admire. The entire walk around the peninsula is about 3km long.

We really liked this modern art installation, Voz do Mar, or Chamber of Sound. Walk around a circular chamber until you reach the center. There's a metal grate on the ground and we could hear the sounds of the tides and crashing waves. It echoed throughout this work of art.

Justin and I had lunch at Laundry Lounge Sagres. It sounds like a laundromat and part of it actually functions as a laundromat. But, it's actually a really cool restaurant with a stylish patio in the back. It also functions as a coffee shop and a yoga studio. What a cool find!

Algarve Portugal Itinerary: Day 7

We were pretty sad to leave the Algarve! We only had the morning in Lagos before having to venture to the airport in Lisbon. It's a scenic drive from Lagos to Lisbon that made us want to return to see more of the countryside.

This morning, we took a final stroll through Lagos to see more street art. We also stopped for a light breakfast at Pom Pom Bagels and coffee at Coffee & Waves.

If it's a sweet treat that you are craving, pop by O Ninho Family Bar. They have both regular and vegan Portuguese tarts that are some of the best in town.

If you have another full day in the Algarve, lucky you! I suggest booking one of these tours that I haven't mentioned elsewhere in this Algarve Portugal itinerary. These are both half day and full day tours:

• Benagil Caves Small Group Boat Tour
• Lagos Guided Kayak Tour
• Half Day Small Group Wine Tour
• Algarve Guided Hiking Tour

More Algarve Travel Guides

Looking for more travel guides and itineraries for the Algarve? Here are the travel guides we wrote after visiting to help you plan your trip:

• Algarve 7 Day Itinerary
• How to Visit Carvoeiro in a Day
• One Day in Lagos Itinerary
• Ferragudo, the Algarve's Insanely Beautiful Village
• Best Things to Do in Tavira in a Day
• Best Things to Do in Sagres, Portugal in a Day