Ultimate 7 best beaches in Algarve – 2024 List!

1. Praia do Camilo

I could not start this list with another beach. Praia do Camilo has a bit of everything – crystal clear waters, perfect sunbathing angle, a lovely restaurant at the top, and incredible views from the cliffs. Located very close to Lagos, Praia do Camilo is very easily accessible and extremely popular, which means it is also one of the busiest spots in town. For photography lovers, this place is a must! The staircase with 225 steps that lead to the beach is one of the most photogenic spots in the entire Algarve.

If you want to have this slice of paradise just for yourself, make sure to arrive early in the morning. If your intention is to stay at the beach and sunbathe, I recommend checking the tides. On high tide, the sand strip available for people gets very narrow, forcing everyone to almost sit on top of each other.

Useful information
Parking? Yes, right at the top of the staircase. It is small but free.
Infrastructure? There is a restaurant on top which provides nice food, a little overpriced but you pay for the view.

2. Praia Dona Ana

Praia Dona Ana has already been elected the best beach in Algarve by various famous newspapers and travel rankings. After reading all those reviews, it is safe to say my expectations were high – and the location made them all justice. In my opinion, Praia Dona Ana is the best beach in the Algarve for families who intend to spend most of the day by the beach. It has a large sand strip, with plenty of space for the kids, several restaurants, and the possibility of doing several water sports.

One of the things I was impressed with about this beach is that it is accessible for wheelchairs! This is such a rare thing and I was very happy to see such structure and inclusiveness in one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal.

Pro tip: Even though there is plenty of space in the sand, Praia Dona Ana also gets pretty full during the summer so I recommend arriving early in the morning if you want to secure a good spot, especially if you will be going in a large group or family.

Useful information
Parking? Yes. Free, right where you access the beach.
Infrastructure? There are several small restaurants/shops by the beach and also places where you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas.

3. Praia do Pinhão

Located just a couple of minutes away from Praia Dona Ana, this is my recommended beach for people who prefer quieter places. Since it is less touristic, it is usually less crowded and more comfortable for couples or groups of friends.

One of the most special things about Praia do Pinhão is that, since it is located just under a high cliff, there is actually a bit of shade right at the start of the afternoon. This is so rare on most Algarve beaches, where you commonly have no shades at all – which can be hard to stand with the heat and strong sun during summer months. However, this is also a downside because, after 17h, the beach is completely in the shade. The bottom line is: this is a perfect spot if you plan on arriving during the morning or around lunchtime.

Useful information
Parking? Yes, but not exactly at the entrance. You need to walk a bit from the closest parking.
Infrastructure? No, there is nothing by the beach.

4.  Praia da Marinha

If I had to choose the most beautiful Algarve beach in terms of views, Praia da Marinha would definitely be at the top of the list. This location really took my breath away, especially since my first impression was when I arrived through the cliffs after 6km of the hike “Sete Vales Suspensos”. The rock formations at Praia da Marinha are unique and make it one of the most picturesque destinations of Portugal.

Since this beach is also featured among the best beaches in Algarve, it also gets quite crowded so I recommend arriving early in the morning to secure a good spot. During high tide, the sand strip gets very small and it can get very busy down there. However, even if you arrive by car, I strongly recommend taking a stroll also on the top of the cliffs to have a view from above. There are a couple of viewpoints located to the right of the viewpoint.

Pro tip: If you like hiking, we highly recommend walking the path called “Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos” – in English, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. The path follows the shore, passing by some of the most beautiful beaches and unique locations, such as the Benagil Cave.

Useful information:
Parking? Yes, but it is not very big and it gets full quite early in the day.
Infrastructure? There are a couple of vendors selling fruits and refreshments before you head down to the beach.

5.  Praia do Carvalho

Located close to the world-famous Benagil Cave, Praia do Carvalho is one of the best quality beaches if you are looking for a place to spend the day and enjoy the beach. Access to the Carvalho beach is not the easiest, since it is a bit far from all of the main cities. Carvoeiro is the biggest village around, but it is still quite small.

To get to the beach, you need to go down a staircase and pass through a little 1-person tunnel in the rocks. This is a great choice of place if you are traveling with family because the kids have a lot of space to play, without many rocks or dangers.

Praia do Carvalho is also part of the hike of the Hanging Valleys. Besides enjoying the beach from the sand, I also recommend walking to the sides of the cliffs even if you are not doing the full hike. The views from above are incredible and you can really see how transparent the water is.

Useful information
Parking? Yes. Free, right next to the entrance point.
Infrastructure? No, there is nothing by the beach. If you are lucky, there sometimes are a couple of vendors by the parking lot selling fruits and water.

6.  Ponta da Piedade

Even though Ponta da Piedade is not technically a beach, I could not help but include it here on this list because it is simply incredible and worth the visit. Ponta da Piedade is located close to Lagos and is at the extreme edge of the coastline, with several cliffs forming incredible pools of crystal-clear water.

If you are interested in exploring a bit of the waters via kayak or boat, Ponta da Piedade is actually one of the most traditional spots for this kind of tour. There are countless caves formed between the cliffs, which you will be able to go in with the boat. I do not recommend exploring by yourself because the waves can be dangerous in the caves. The best thing to do is hop on a tour, either starting from here or from another beach near Lagos.

Useful information
Parking? Yes, free, right at the entrance.
Infrastructure? There is one restaurant at the top, next to the parking lot, alongside a small souvenir shop and public bathroom.

7.  Praia do Vau

Praia do Vau is located just outside of Portimão, which is one of the most popular cities of the Algarve. I have to admit that this beach almost didn´t make it to this list because next to the other ones above, I find it quite simple. However, Portimão is a destination that many people choose as their main base since it is located around the middle of all of the hotspots, so it is only fair to recommend a beach close to it.

Even though Praia da Rocha is the most popular beach in Portimão, I actually prefer Praia do Vau, which is located just a few minutes further to the right. It is possible to walk along the sidewalk from the first to the second – and I highly recommend doing so, because the views are amazing. There are many restaurants on this path – they have this very tourist trap vibe but the food is actually really good.

Useful information
Parking? Yes, there are plenty of small streets and places where you can park near Praia do Vau
Infrastructure? As I mentioned, there are a couple of bars and restaurants on the top of the cliffs leading to Praia do Vau. If you go in the direction of Praia da Rocha, the number of restaurants available is higher, but so is the crowd.

And that´s a wrap!

With this, we conclude our list of the 7 best and most beautiful beaches in Algarve, Portugal! We hope this post is helpful when planning your trip and that it gives you some inspiration about places worth visiting. If you have any other recommendations for a beach that you think should have been featured here, please comment below so we can help each other build the ultimate list of the best beaches in the Algarve!

Have a nice trip

Fê & Edo