Bagintravel
Download
Algarve

Portugal travel guide

What to see in the Algarve

Golden cliffs, sea caves and coves in the south of Portugal.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from September to June
  • Stay in Lagos
  • Typical food: Seafood cataplana
Photo: Dronepicr · CC BY 3.0

Algarve highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Ponta da Piedade

    Cliffs and grottoes near Lagos.

  2. Benagil Cave

    A sea cave with an oculus; by kayak or boat.

  3. Tavira

    A town of tiled roofs and the Ria Formosa.

  4. Ria Formosa Natural Park

    Lagoons, barrier islands and birds next to Faro.

  5. Sagres

    A fortress and cliffs at the south-western tip.

Where to stay in the Algarve

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Lagos · Tavira · Faro centre

Day trips from the Algarve

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to the Algarve

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Algarve are from September to June.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • July, August

    Heat inland and high season

    In July and August it’s very hot in the Alentejo and the Algarve gets crowded.

    What to do: Book well ahead on the coast and keep the middle of the day for the beach or a siesta.

Typical food of the Algarve

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to the Algarve from your kitchen).

Seafood cataplana
Photo: Kolforn (Kolforn) I'd appreciate if you could mail me (Kolforn@gmail.com) if you · CC BY-SA 4.0

Seafood cataplana

The Algarve’s stew, cooked in a shell-shaped copper pot that closes like a clam: seafood, chorizo, tomato and pepper steamed in their own juices.

  • Serves 4
  • 45 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g clams
  • 500 g mussels
  • 300 g prawns
  • 100 g chorizo
  • 2 onions
  • 1 red and 1 green pepper
  • 3 tomatoes
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 150 ml white wine
  • Fresh coriander, oil and paprika

How to make it at home

  1. Leave the clams in salted water for 1 hour so they release their sand.
  2. In the cataplana (or a pot with a tight lid), soften the onion, garlic and peppers in strips in oil.
  3. Add the sliced chorizo, diced tomato, paprika and wine.
  4. Put the clams, mussels and prawns on top, close and cook over a medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, until they open.
  5. Open it at the table and finish with fresh coriander.

The trick: Mop it up with bread: the broth is the best part.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a tasca. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Portugal guide.

  • NoSoloÁgua

    Albufeira

    Fish with a view.

  • A Casinha

    Lagos

    Algarve cooking.

Frequently asked questions about the Algarve

What to see in the Algarve?

Ponta da Piedade, Benagil Cave, Tavira, Ria Formosa Natural Park and Sagres.

What to see in the Algarve in one day?

Don’t miss Ponta da Piedade, Benagil Cave, Tavira, Ria Formosa Natural Park and Sagres. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in the Algarve?

The handiest areas to stay are Lagos, Tavira and Faro centre.

What’s the best time to travel to the Algarve?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Algarve are from September to June.

What day trips can you take from the Algarve?

Benagil Cave by boat, Ponta da Piedade by kayak and Ria Formosa.

What is the typical food of the Algarve?

Seafood cataplana. The Algarve’s stew, cooked in a shell-shaped copper pot that closes like a clam: seafood, chorizo, tomato and pepper steamed in their own juices.

Bagintravel · We travel together

Shall we plan your trip to the Algarve?

Tell us where and in under a minute you’ll have your day-by-day route, with places to stay, transport, expenses and tips. And we go with you in your pocket, offline too.

The app is currently available in Spanish.

Download Bagintravel See how it works

More in Portugal

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.