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Algarve Road Trip Itinerary: 7 Days in Southern Portugal
Portugal‘s southernmost region is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs, fresh seafood, and white-washed fishing villages.
With more than 100 beaches, Algarve is a premier beach holiday destination in the summer. And in spring and fall, there’s no better place for coastal walking.
To help you discover the best of the Algarve, we’ve put together this road trip itinerary, which combines our top experiences from two trips to the region.
This one week Algarve itinerary is designed as a road trip because a car is very helpful in getting around the region. However, it’s a means to an end, not the end itself.
Who’s this itinerary for? Our Algarve road trip route is for anyone who loves uncovering hidden gems, relishes walks by the sea, and seeks peaceful places to stay.
How to Get to Algarve, Portugal
We recommend flying to Faro Airport. Faro is the capital of the Algarve region. The airport has many connections to Lisbon and other cities in Europe.
1-Week Algarve Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Faro, Ferragudo
Day 2: Trail of Headlands, Carvoeiro, Praia dos Caneiros
Day 3: Praia da Marinha, Benagil Beach and Cave, Praia Nova, Armação de Pêra
Day 4: Praia da Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo, Lagos
Day 5: Western Algarve, Burgau, Sagres, Costa Vicentina
Day 6: Olhão, Tavira and São Brás de Alportel, or Beach Day
Day 7: Faro
Stay 3 Nights in Ferragudo
Stay 2 Nights in Lagos
Stay 1 Night in São Brás de Alportel, or São Rafael
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Portugal. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your car rental as early as possible.
Driving in Algarve isn’t difficult. The temperament on the road is quite friendly (nothing like driving in Italy, or Germany).
One thing to be aware of is the electronic toll roads. Portugal has a wholly electronic system that records your use of and payment for using a toll road.
Because we rented our car in Portugal, the rental car company was able to activate (with our request) an automated method of payment (using a transponder device) for whenever we drove the A22.
If you’re traveling with a foreign license plate vehicle, you can purchase and activate a prepaid toll card, or purchase pre-defined journeys online. For more info on toll roads and payment, read check out portugaltolls.com.
Day 1: Arrive in Faro, Drive to Ferragudo
After arriving in the Faro Airport and picking up your rental car, drive west to Ferragudo. It’s a 50-minute drive.
Explore Ferragudo
Ferragudo is a whitewashed fishing village, situated at the mouth of the Arade River. Small fishing boats bob in the river and men grill fish outside. You’ll find that life here is pleasantly sedate.
This charming Algarve village retains its character with great ease. There are no tacky tourist shops or hideous megahotels here.
The day you arrive, head directly to Ferragudo and explore the town on foot. As you explore the town’s serpentine and scenic streets, you’ll walk by several fish restaurants and snack bars. For seafood, check out A Ria or Borda Do Cais. A great non-Portuguese option is Sen Tonkin.
After exploring the town, you can continue walking to Praia da Angrinha and to Fort of São João do Arade.
Stay in Ferragudo
Ferragudo is an excellent base for exploring Algarve for a few days. We recommend staying here at least 2 nights, though 3 would be even better.
Midrange | The hillside Vitor’s Village in the center of Ferragudo offers a range of rooms, suites, and apartments that cater to various needs. The village property boasts an on-site restaurant, 3 pools, and nearby free parking. A complimentary shuttle service ensures easy access to nearby beaches.
Midrange | The impeccably-run One2Seven offers a range of bright and clean double rooms and apartments in the historic center of Ferragudo. The aparthotel’s central location affords easy access to multiple restaurants, the Arade River, Praia da Angrinha, and Fort of São João do Arade. Guests love the swimming pool, fitness center, and terrace breakfast.
Luxury | The best place to stay in Ferragudo is Caneiros Luxury House & Suites. This boutique hotel is located within walking distance to Praia dos Caneiros, Ferragudo’s most scenic beach and the starting point for the Trail of Headlands coastal hike.
We loved the comfort of our room, the professionalism of the staff, the overall design of the hotel, and our daily breakfast on the terrace. We have nothing but the highest praise for this Ferragudo accommodation.
Luxury | Hotel Rural Brícia Du Mar is a 4-star hotel in Ferragudo, situated between the town center and Praia da Rocha. This peaceful retreat offers air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and bar, gym, and on-site restaurant.
Walk from Ferragudo to Carvoeiro along the Trail of Headlands
This almost secret coastal trail connects Praia dos Caneiros with the seaside resort town of Carvoeiro.
This is a spectacular walking trail that isn’t well known and therefore blissfully quiet.
If you’re attempting this in summer, get an early start. You’ll be roasted in the midday sun if you leave any later than 8:30 am.
In spring and fall, temperatures are mild, so you can start whenever you want.
Starting at the parking lot at Praia dos Caneiros, the trail leads east. Follow the yellow and red trail markers along the headlands. The trail affords wondrous views of sheer cliffs and hidden coves.
There aren’t many opportunities to access these coves by foot. However, the tiny Praia do Paraiso, just before Carvoeiro, is accessible by a steep staircase.
Eat Lunch in Carvoeiro
The headlands coastal hike ends in Carvoeiro. Enjoy the town’s enchanting beach, and when you’re hungry grab lunch in town.
For a healthy and fueling lunch option, head to Earth Café. To get back to Ferragudo, simply walk back the way you came. If it’s too hot, or you’re too tired, grab a taxi.
Trail Stats
Starting Point | Praia dos Caneiros
Ending Point | Carvoeiro
Distance | 12 km out-and-back
Time Needed | 4 hours
Difficulty | Easy – Moderate
Eat Lunch in Carvoeiro
The headlands coastal hike ends in Carvoeiro. Enjoy the town’s enchanting beach, and when you’re hungry eat lunch in town.
For a healthy and fueling lunch option, head to Earth Café. To get back to Ferragudo, simply walk back the way you came. If it’s too hot, or you’re too tired, grab a taxi.
Sunset Dinner at Rei das Praias
After a day out in the sun, it’s time to relax at Praia dos Caneiros. You can grab a drink at the one and only beach restaurant Rei das Praias and watch the sunset.
If the price tag doesn’t scare you, we recommend staying here for dinner (reservation recommended).
Day 3 of your Algarve itinerary takes you to the most beautiful beaches in Southern Portugal: Praia da Marinha, Benagil Beach, Praia Nova, and Armação de Pêra. If you’re keen on walking, you can also add the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail to your itinerary.
Praia da Marinha
This was our favorite place to swim along the southern Algarve coast. You’re sheltered by the golden limestone cliffs and the water is just glorious. It’s a short downhill walk to the beach from the parking lot. There’s also a small café located at the beach.
Walk from Praia da Marinha to Praia de Vale Centianes
The celebrated Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is the most popular day hike in Algarve and encapsulates some of the most impressive scenery in the region.
The 5.7 km trail stretches between Praia da Marinha and Praia de Vale Centianes. Though you can start at either end, we recommend starting at Praia da Marinha.
Highlights of the trail include Benagil Beach, Corredoura Beach, and Carvalho Beach. If you want to visit the famous Benagil Cave, you can rent a SUP, or kayak at Benagil Beach, as cave access is only possible from the sea.
With a view of the cliffside, white-washed church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Rocha, Praia Nova is an especially scenic beach in the Algarve. The beach is also strewn with seashells, an absolute dream for collectors and children.
Dinner and Sunset at Armação de Pêra
Armação de Pêra is an old fishing village turned holiday resort town. The origin of the town’s name is a reference to the fishermen from Pera who used tuna nets (armação) to catch fish.
Upon visiting, head directly to the Fisherman’s Beach, where there’s a collection of small huts used by local fishermen to rest and store their equipment. The beach is littered in fishnets and boats, offering an authentic glimpse of this region’s oldest industry.
You can taste the fresh catch by visiting one of the seafood restaurants located along the beach. We ate freshly prepared Arroz de Marisco at Restaurante Bùzio (which changed owners and is now called Só Verão). Another seafood beachside restaurant is Arte Náutica. It has great reviews, though it’s pricey.
On Day 4, drive west to Lagos. Though Lagos is a tourist hot spot, it has many benefits including its location and plethora of dining options. From the center of Lagos, you have easy access to the striking beaches of Praia do Camilo and Dona Ana.
Praia da Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo
When temperatures are mild, it’s easy to walk from Lagos to Praia da Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo.
When we visited in November, we walked from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade and then continued along the cliff-top boardwalk in the direction of Praia do Canavial. If visiting in summer, prioritize beach-time over walking-time.
Ponta da Piedade
Ponta da Piedade is a section of coastline located 2 kilometers from the city center of Lagos. The coastal landscape of caves, grottoes, and arches reveals what natural elements have sculpted over thousands of years.
We enjoyed walking the cliffs and taking in various vantage points of the area. We also walked down the steep staircase to the “beach” – which is a generous term for a platform that extends into the water.
You can start a boat tour from the bottom of the staircase. There are also a lot of organized kayak excursions that you can book in Lagos.
Explore the Coast by Boat
Here are some guided excursions that start in Lagos:
If you need a break from traditional Portuguese food, then Lagos will oblige you with its Mexican, Indian, Hawaiian and Chinese offerings. We love the burritos at The Green Room.
Stay in Lagos
Town Center
Midrange | 3 Marias Guest House is a top-rated bed and breakfast in Lagos with a wonderful rooftop terrace. Rooms are simple, but extremely clean and comfortable. The breakfast is extraordinary. Free parking is located nearby.
Top Choice – Midrange | The recently renovated Alto Mar Inn is a lovely B&B with air-conditioned rooms and free, on-site parking.
Outside Town Center
Midrange | Solar de Mós Hotel is a family-run B&B in Lagos, walking distance to the coastal trails and the town center. This clean and homey guesthouse features clean rooms, a well-kept outdoor swimming pool, and terrace.
Luxury Adults-Only | Villas D. Dinis – Charming Residence offers air-conditioned villas with private terraces set around a pool and garden. The property is a 5-minute walk to Praia Dona Ana and a 10-minute walk to Praia do Camilo.
Luxury | Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Cascade Wellness Resort is a serene cliff-top retreat that offers an assortment of rooms, apartments, and villas. All holiday needs are met with the outdoor swimming pool, quality breakfast service, several on-site restaurants, bar, adults-only (ages 16+) spa, open 10 am – 6 pm.
Day 5: Western Algarve – Burgau – Sagres – Costa Vicentina
Your Algarve road trip countinues to Western Algarve. Though famous for its ochre-colored limestone sea cliffs, Algarve (along with Alentejo) is also home to the wild, windswept coast of Vicentina.
From Lagos, you can head directly to Costa Vicentina via Aljezur (40-minute drive). Or, you can detour first to Burgau and Sagres, before heading to the western coast (1:30 hours).
Burgau
Burgau is a picture-perfect seaside village west of Lagos. Take a swim, or grab a coffee here.
Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente
Next, head to Sagres for lunch. Sagres is a surf-town replete with surf schools, surf shops, surfers… A lot of people love Sagres. Both times we visited, it was unpleasantly windy, so we’re not the hugest fans. Sagres does have a few restaurants and cafés to choose from.
During our first trip to Algarve, we ate chicken piri piri and Babugem. On our second, we ate lunch at the traveler-friendly Laundry Lounge.
If it’s not too windy, you could potentially do this walk from Cabo de São Vicente to Praia do Telheiro.
Praia das Arrifana and Costa Vicentina
Dramatic and wild, Costa Vicentina is an impressive destination that often gets overlooked. Praia das Arrifana is a popular surf spot, but there are plenty of other coves and beaches that aren’t as well known.
If you’re curious about Costa Vicentina and love multi-day hiking, consider trekking the Rota Vicentina Fisherman’s Trail. This is easily one of the best treks in Europe.
You have two options for day 6 of your Algarve road trip itinerary. Decide if you want to spend another day at the beach, or if you want to explore some of Algarve’s most beguiling towns.
Town Exploration: Olhão and São Brás de Alportel (Fall or Spring Travel)
Drive to Olhão early in the morning to experience the fish market.
Visit Tavira.
Eat dinner at Ysconderijo in São Brás de Alportel.
Stay the night in São Brás de Alportel.
Olhão
Olhão is a coastal town in Eastern Algarve. At the town’s waterfront, there are two market buildings (Mercados de Olhão). One building sells vegetables, fruits and spices, and the other houses the fish market – the largest in Algarve.
As you enter the fish market, you’ll see a plentiful display of regional fish, including black scabbardfish, monkfish (tamboril), posta corvina, turbot (pregado), white sea bream (sargo), bream (dourada), sole (linguado) as well as dried codfish (bacalhau).
Tavira
Tavira is located east of Olhão. The town straddles the Gilão River and is a great place to walk around, shop, and dine.
Stay in São Brás de Alportel
São Brás de Alportel is a rural town located in the Barrocal region of the Algarve. Tourism has minimal influence here, which is why we loved it.
Budget | Forever São Brás is a guesthouse with small, but clean air-conditioned rooms. Guests love the location and the hospitality.
Midrange | Slow House d’Arco is a top-rated guesthouse with sparkling clean rooms and a well-equipped shared kitchen and dining area. Guests love the quiet, but nonetheless central location.
Tip: The best place to eat dinner in São Brás de Alportel is Ysconderijo. Make a reservation a few days in advance. We ate there during our first trip to Algarve and drove an extra hour to eat there again during our second trip.
Beach Day: Praia de São Rafael and Praia dos Arrifes (Summer Travel)
Praia de São Rafael is an especially gorgeous beach in the Algarve. From here, you can walk along the cliffs in both directions for some time.
Next to Praia de São Rafael, you’ll find the unforgettable Praia dos Arrifes. This beach is enhanced by its sculpture-like limestone stacks and is a sensational spot for watching the sunset.
Stay in São Rafael
São Rafael is part of the Municipality of Albufeira. Unlike the city of Albufeira, São Rafael is quite peaceful and low-key. Because it’s a resort town, all the villas and houses are occupied seasonally.
Therefore, it gets very quiet during off season months. And with that, nearby restaurants typically close down as well. So, we only recommend staying here between June and September.
Luxury Apartment | Top-rated Feliz Algarve is a modern, 2-bedroom apartment in Sao Rafael, a mere 15-minute walk to Praia de Sao Rafael.
Luxury | NAU Sao Rafael Atlantico is the best hotel in the area, with its modern facilities, sweeping sea views, private access to São Rafael Beach, and on-site restaurants.
On your final day in Algarve, make your way to the historic town of Faro. With its tiled streets and bustling shops, Faro is a great place to wander about for a few hours.
If you’re flying in the late afternoon or evening, we highly recommend visiting the following places on route to Faro:
Church of São Lourenço
Monte da Eira for Lunch
Loulé Town
After 7 days in Algarve, you’ll feel replenished and satiated. Good luck with your planning and let us know if you have any questions.
