Faro Beaches

If you happen to see a sign reading “Praia” it means you are near a “Portuguese “beach”!! With a shoreline of 200 km and over 300 days of sunshine a year, the Algarve, beaches in Portugal have become a rage amongst its visitors and are one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Crystal clear water, stunning sea cliffs with hidden coves, infinite sandy beaches protected by dunes, and a mild Atlantic breeze, makes the beaches in Faro such a special place. The Algarve has numerous brilliant sandy beaches some of which are less popular and are hidden away from the more popular ones. Everyone has their favorites and you will surely find a beach that suits your mood and holiday spirit.
From the small sheltered coves to extensive endless stretches of sea washed sand, the beaches can vary from a comfortable shallow shelve to a more sudden drop from the towering cliffs! The Faro beaches are a surprise at every step.
So what are you waiting for??

The Faro beaches in the Algarve are beckoning you to discover them!!!

Our Recommendation:

Since Faro has a lot of stunning, hidden beaches which are not accessible right away, we suggest you explore these ones before heading off to the popular ones. The coastal region has a rugged atmosphere and the at times the winds can be biting. Beware of the big waves and the often dangerous fast undercurrents. During the tourist season, lifeguards are on a regular safety patrol. Many beaches offer attractive concession packages on the water sport activities and food and snacks.

Here we list out some of the most frequented beaches in and around Faro while we leave the hidden gems for you to discover, explore and enjoy!!

PRAIA DA ILHA DE FARO

This beach comes across as a very busy beach with many water sports to indulge in and plenty of restaurants to try out the local cuisine. It is best described as a long narrow strip of sand which can be accessed by a road traversing a lagoon just south of the Faro airport.

PRAIA ILHA DE TAVIRA
To some this is the gem of the crown in eastern Faro. Often referred to as Praia das Cascas by the locals, this beach can be easily reached by a few minutes ferry from the jetty of Tavira outside This attractive sandy beach is haven for tourists with a naturist inclinations. There is an area reserved especially for them to walk one kilometer to the west end of this beach and witness nature at its best.

PRAIA DO BARRIL
This beach is actually an extension of the beach Praia Ilha de Tavira. However, it is easily reached from the tourist villages of Santa Luzia and Pedras del Rey. From the later, a small train takes the tourists across the intervening water to the sandy island bar in a slow journey which will definitely cheer up your holiday mood!!

PRAIA DA ARMONA
The three Islands of Armona, Culatra and Farol on the inland form extensive lagoons forming the nature reserve of Ria Formosa. Reaching these beaches can only be done by ferryboat which leaves from the fishing port of Olhão. Once you reach your chosen island you realize that you are one of the few humans in the reserve surrounded by nature!!

PRAIA DA ARRIFANA
This beach is considered to be reasonably safe for swimming and astounding views. You will find the beach on your left at the bottom of a very steep narrow road on reaching Arrifana. A visit to this beach out of season is seriously recommended.
Directions: From Lagos head north towards Lisbon and just before reaching the small town of Aljezur take the road to left when you see the name “Arrifana”.

PRAIA DA BORDEIRA

Enjoy the open sea and nature and explore the surrounding area on foot at this beach. Located on the west coast of the Algarve it can be reached by traveling north from Vila do Bispo, passing the small village of Carrapateira and finally turning seawards where you find a sign reading “Praia”. Virtually a long sandy beach with many sand dunes and deserted during the off season this beach offers complete seclusion from the other wise busy Algarve.

PRAIA DO CASTELEJO
This beach is located just to the north-west of the small town of Vila do Bispo. It is one of the smaller beaches and has a completely different atmosphere to those found on the southern coastline. It may not suit everyone but those that do visit tend to return. One of the few beaches on the west coast where swimming might not be a very good idea due to the underlying dangerous currents.

PRAIA DO MARTINHAL
This small beach is a complete windsurfer’s paradise located in the Bay of Baleeira close to Sagres. It is a reasonably shallow bay that is shouldered to the west by Ponta da Atalaia. It is recommended as a destination if visiting the area of Sagres.

MEIA PRAIA
“Meia” indicates the word “half” and it takes its name from being part of the second half of the previous walk from Alvor to Lagos. This beach is easily accessible from the town of Lagos. This beach is popular amongst windsurfers and surfers as it faces the open Bay of Lagos and also protected to the west by the peninsula of Ponta da Piedade. The beach is probably a little lengthier than that of the Alvor, but there are many small beach bars for you to soak your throat if you wish to walk its length.

A beach which is perfect for all those with a family and children, Praia Verde is located to the west of Monte Gordo, stretching westwards towards Tavira. This beach gets its name from the line of trees and bushes that line the land side of this wide endless beach.

This beach fronts the stylish area of the holiday resorts Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. This beach can be easily reached by road and has a popular area for its beach restaurants known as “Julias” – a local lady who was the trend setter of the concept of beach restaurants ages ago.

PRAIA DA FALÉSIA
This beach got its name from the fascinating grooved red cliffs that form a background to the endless stretch of sand. Since the cliffs are not very tall it makes access to the top convenient whilst acting as a suitable barrier. This beach is situated west of Vilamoura before reaching Olhos de Água.

PRAIA DA GALÉ
Another long sandy stretch but as there are no cliffs it has many point of easy access by road. This beach is located to the west of Albufeira and runs round the Bay of Armação de Pera to the town.

PRAIA DA ROCHA
This is perhaps the oldest and finest know beach in the Algarve. located just south of the main town of Portimão the beach was originally much more narrow, a lot more charming and beautiful than today. This beach has been seriously engorged with the sand pumped out during the dredging of the Portimão Harbor and at the same time to meet the tourism needs of the ever increasing number of visitors to this area.

PRAIA DE ALVOR

Praia de Alvor is a sand bar creating an internal lagoon which acts as a port for Alvor. The beach is can be accessed from the old popular fishing village of Alvor. It stretches over two kilometers, to the west from the village, towards Lagos.