The south of Portugal is best known for limestone cliffs, golf resorts, and amazing panoramic hiking views. What makes Algarve beaches so special is the huge variety on offer, from cove beaches only accessible by kayak, boat, or paddleboard, to enormous stretches that go on for miles with dramatic rock formations and cliffs surrounded by.

With so many beaches to choose from on the coastline, you don’t need to be afraid of not having a spot there during peak days. A great way to discover the beaches of the Algarve is either by hiring a car and doing a road trip alongside the coastline, getting a boat tour that would stop on some of the deserted beaches, or venturing yourself to nearby beaches by hiring a kayak or paddleboard.

Be aware that some of the beaches may not be accessible for everyone easily, as they may be wooden or stone walkways or stairs down to the beach, so not very friendly for elderly or disabled visitors. In addition, so beaches are very natural, and you won’t find any restaurants or toilets around! However, you’ll find many small and large beaches scattered around Algarve that are very beautiful. Most of them are easily reachable by hiking as well. Therefore if you love hiking and getting some scenic views, you should definitely consider and plan some hiking itinerary between places.

Without further and due, let me share with you the top beaches you should visit in Algarve, whether you’ll be in the east, west, or central side, there is always something worth pinning down and visiting!

If you are looking for a deserted place surrounded by the purest nature, you should definitely get a ferry and visit Barreta or Culatra Islands near Faro. Even though these straps of beaches may not be the best place where you can dip into the Atlantic ocean, it is still a great place to spend your day here.

Praia da Marinha is one of the known beaches in the Algarve, it is considered one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Europe and one of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world. When you arrive, make sure to hike up for a bit for breathtaking views over the beaches and coastline. Praia da Marinha may not be the biggest beach in Algarve, but one of the popular ones with soft sand. Near the beach (on the right side) you can find a famous rock structure that looks like the letter M. This is called the M rock or the Cathedral. This rock formation is one of the reasons why Praia da Marinha is unique. During low tide, you can walk along the beach to the right to see it, or you can view it from the top.

Praia Pintadinho sits just beyond the mouth of the River Arada and is largely outside of the shelter from the breakwaters that protect Portimão. At the northern end of the beach are some typically wonderful Algarve rock formations including a number of caves worth exploring.

Praia da Angrinha is Ferragudo’s other beach, after Praia Grande. Located just beyond the headland that is home to the fort of São João de Arade the beach here sits on the bank of the river Arade looking across to the marina at Portimao. Therefore very much different surroundings and views to what you may have seen in Algarve before. A very quiet and easily accessible place to spend your day.

Praia da Rocha sits in a very popular resort town, where you will find plenty of water activities, entertainment, and dining places. The town is set above one of the finest beaches of the Algarve, a vast expanse of soft golden sands, which is lapped by crystal-clear sea waters.

Praia dos Três Irmãos is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area of Portimão. It is famous for its stunning rock formations and the many hidden caves that can be explored. These cliffs and rocks on the beach give shelter and shadow, which can be nice when it is really warm. However, always watch out, because there is the danger of rockfall. Don’t stay right underneath the cliffs. Praia dos Tres Irmãos actually consists of several small coves/bays, four in total. During low tide, you can walk from cove to cove.

The Meia Praia beach is the largest beach in the Lagos region, the 4km sand beach stretches from the city of Lagos on the western side all the way to the Odiáxere River mouth on the eastern side. The Meia Praia beach is bound by wide grassed sandbanks that open onto quiet roads with residential buildings and hotels around.

Praia dos Estudantes is known for its Roman-style bridge right on the beach connecting two rock formations. This bridge is the most unique feature of Estudantes beach. It used to be part of the fortress of Pinhão, which doesn’t exist anymore. The beach itself is small, but connected with man-made tunnels to nearby beaches, like Praia da Batata.

The Praia da Dona Ana is one of the other picturesque beaches of the Algarve and is a great location for your day on the beach. The Dona Ana beach is located to the south of Lagos and is situated within the limestone cliffs of the Ponta da Piedade headland. This is a popular beach for families and children, so it may get very busy during peak periods.

Set down among truncated cliffs, Camilo Beach, covering a moderate area of sand, is reached via a stairway involving some 200 steps before you’ll get down to the sandy beach. Whilst Dona Ana may have the slight edge when it comes to outlandish, core rock formations and grottoes, Praia do Camilo shares the same golden sand and crystal clear, azure waters.

Bordeira’s beach is a very popular place on the west coast of the Algarve. The beach is located in the Costa Vicentina natural park, near the villages of Carrapateira and Bordeira. The beach is very big and has a remote feel to it. It is mainly popular with surfers and nature lovers. The beach is 3km long, making it a great place for some nice walks.

There are so many more beaches worth visiting in Algarve. However, this list gives you a little bit of flavor of some of the known and pretty places. It is worth hiring a kayak or doing a boat tour to explore some of the hidden beaches that are not accessible by the roads,