The following section details the best 10 activities and sights of the Algarve and explains why they are in our top 10 list.
- Hiking the Seven Hanging Valley Trail
This 6 km hiking trail has been named as the best activity of the Algarve. This clifftop trail encompasses everything good about the Algarve. There are hidden coves, untouched beaches, and some of the most beautiful natural scenery in southern Portugal. The route also passes the much-photographed Benagil Cave.
The Seven Hanging Valley trail begins at the Praia da Marinha beach and ends at the beautiful Praia do Vale de Centeanes beach. But we recommend continuing your hike further to the Algar Seco caves and finishing at the delightful town of Carvoeiro.
- Shopping in the traditional markets of Loulé
If you wish to discover the authentic side of the Algarve, then you should visit Loulé’s markets.
At the center of Loulé is a daily market (except Sunday) housed in a traditional Moorish-inspired building, with stalls selling locally grown produce, fish, and handicrafts. On Saturday, Loulé comes alive with further two markets, a large and chaotic gypsy market held on the edge of the town, and a farmer’s market near the covered market.
- Exploring the castles of Castro Marim
Unsurprisingly the main sights of Castro Marim are its two castles, but it is also a calm and non-touristy town with a very different atmosphere to the hectic resort towns.
Castro Marim has always been a strategic defensive town, being close to the Spanish border, and has a rich history. The town was bitterly fought over between the Christians and Moors until the 12th century, and during the 14th century, it acted as a stronghold for the Knights Templar. After Portugal gained independence from Spain in 1640, Castro Marim was greatly strengthened with the construction of the Forte de São Sebastião.
Close to the Castro Marim is the Sapal Nature Reserve with a series of saltwater marshes with a large population of flamingos.
- Algarve Waterparks
Algarve has three outstanding waterparks; Slide and Splash, Aqualand, and Aquashow. These waterparks offer gravity-defying flumes and near-vertical slides and will provide excitement for all ages.
Slide and Splash is the largest one that offers insane flumes, rapids, and pools for younger children.
Further details of the waterparks can be found on their websites.
- Boat tour of Ria Formosa Natural Park
The Parque Natural da Ria Formosa is a protected saltwater lagoon system, mudflats, and waterways that extends about 60 km from Faro to the east.
The natural park designation also safeguards the traditional fishing communities of the region, which employ classical fishing methods such as using clay pots to catch octopus and handpicking shellfish.
The waterways are an important stopover for migrating birds and are a thriving ecosystem for small marine life. The Park also has the world’s highest concentration of seahorses.
But the highlights of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa are the Deserted Island (Ilha Deserta) and the Cabo de Santa Maria which is the most southerly point of mainland Portugal.
The best way to discover the Ria Formosa is via a guided boat tour, with boats departing from the harbors in Olhão or Faro.
- Eating a Cataplana
The Algarve’s regional dishes tend to be fish and shellfish-based. This is no surprise with a coastline of over 200km and fishing being the main industry of the Algarve until the advent of tourism.
One of the finest meals to try during your holiday is a Cataplana. This is a delicious seafood stew served in a clam-shaped copper cooking pot, and is designed to be shared. There are many variations of Cataplana (as the name refers to the cooking pot) with meat, shellfish, or fish varieties, but they all have the same characteristics, delicious and filling!
- Golf Course at Vilamoura
Vilamoura is a world-class center for golf, with five championship 18-hole golf courses within the town. The most famous course is the “Old Course”, hence named as it was designed by Frank Pennink in 1969, and predates most of the modern development in Vilamoura. The course is set amidst established pine forests and offers beautiful vistas and perfect greens.
- Surfing at Sagres
Sagres sits at the western end of the Algarve and is a location of towering cliffs, vast beaches, and powerful Atlantic waves.
These waves provide some of the best surfing in Portugal, while the town has an underlying trendy vibe hidden below its ramshackle appearance. The headland at Sagres faces three different directions, and this means there is always a beach with the perfect swell. As Sagres is a popular surfing town, there are many rental shops, surf schools, decent hostels, and a laid-back vibe.
- Dolphin-watching boat tours
Large dolphins are routinely seen along the Algarve coastline, as they travel between the Mediterranean’s warm waters and the food-rich Atlantic Ocean. One of the best ways to see these magnificent animals in their natural environment is a dolphin-watching boat trip, which can be joined from any of the major towns.
NOTE: The tour operators respect the dolphins, keeping the boats a safe distance away and never distressing them.
- Partying at “The Strip” in Albufeira
With its themed bars and crazy atmosphere, “The Strip” in Albufeira, is always a fun experience. Its sheer variety of bars, clubs, and general insanity of the street can’t be beaten and rivals any of the other party destinations in Europe. Along the Strip are over 50 different bars and 5 nightclubs, all tempting drinkers with neon signs and drinks promotions. In the summer the atmosphere tends to verge on excess.
