If you are visiting Portugal (read this ten day Portugal itinerary here for inspiration) , then just don’t stop at Lisbon (read this Lisbon travel guide here) but definitely make some time to explore Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal that is famous for its pristine, scenic beaches (many undiscovered by tourists) and beautiful landscapes. What brought us to Algarve was my dear friend’s wedding and we halted at Porches, the wedding venue. I highly recommend having at least on meal at O Leao de Porches, a Mediterranean fare serving restaurants (read this guide to dining out in Lagos, Algarve) with a villa like interior. The food is great, the service is extremely friendly and they also have an adorable pooch to welcome you. Unlike the seaside, this part of Porches will give you serious Santorini like feels with its blue and white houses.
EXPLORE ALGARVE: PORCHES AND LAGOA
Besides Porches, the adjacent city of Lagoa is worth exploring for its pristine beaches which are near empty. We spend some time at one such beautiful, near empty beach with the bluest of waters. You will find lots of beautiful houses with mosaic steps in the classic Portuguese style of blue and white. Also, do not forget to get some gelato from one of the nearby kiosks.
EXPLORE ALGARVE: BENAGIL SEA CAVES
When in Algarve, definitely book a tour of the sea caves off the shore of Benagil beach that you can explore via motorboat. We toured 20 odd caves and had a lot of belly-churning fun (pun intended) as our boat whizzed and whirred over the choppy Atlantic waters. All these caves are uninhabited and you can get to see some of them from very close quarters. After the tour, we drove Faro, had a quick lunch (where I tasted Portuguese beer), dropped the car off at the airport and boarding the bus to cross into Seville, Spain. Read my food tour adventure in Madrid here and a 72 hr guide to Lisbon here. You can also read Erika’s guide to the Algarve coast here and Lauren’s Portugal itinerary here.
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Looks amazing!! I’m definitely leaning more to Algarve for my winter trip! Thanks for the great post! 🙂
Wow! I would love to explore those caves. Were they scary at all? I have Portugal on my bucket list for 2018 and I’d love to add to add exploring sea caves as a part of the adventure.
I have wanted to visit Portugal for a long time now. I love the look of the mosaic steps and beaches. The sea caves sound great (as long as you’re not prone to motion sickness).
Never been to Portugal but always loved how colourful it is! I guess it’s time to plan a trip to Algarve then.
This is somewhere I definitely want to explore. The pottery there is amazing and those caves… wow!
First, I love your photos. I have never been to Portugal, and one day hope to make it there. The colorful city and breathtaking views make it hard to not want to visit. And sea caves…not sure about them.
I love the sea caves, what a neat spot! I’ve never considered the Portugal coast before but it looks beautiful!
Not only your words and glimpses of this exotic location, I also loved looking at your smile at the end of the post. It shows it all; the tranquility and the charm. Continue exploring and keep sharing.
I love your pictures. Algarve is gorgeous, but I would recommend not to visit in peak season (July-august) coz it overflows with tourist and becomes a bit nightmarish! (been there last august lol)
You had at me pristine beaches, Algarve seems like a dream. Would love to tour the sea caves, how many are there total? I love all the photos you took, too cute!
Hi Kim, thanks so much for stopping by! There are dozens of caves there actually. We toured only a few.
I was in Portugal over the summer, but wasn’t able to make it to Algarve! Your article definitely convince me to take another trip to Portugal soon! Love your photos!
Algarve looks like a wonderful spot for a holiday. I never considered Portugal for a vacation but it truly looks scenic and great for de-stressing.
Looks stunning. I’ve never been to Portugal before but I have had family who have moved over there for a few years in their younger years and have only amazing things to say about it! Beautiful pictures