Beaches

Your Algarve holiday wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a beach - with so many sandy hot spots in the Sotavento Algarvio (East Algarve), which one will you choose? To help, I've listed some of my favourites below, but always look out for the Quercus beaches with gold quality standards. (Quercus is the National Association for Nature Conservation). To win this award, beaches must have had bathing water of excellent quality for at least 5 years.

Praia do Barril, located halfway between Luz and Tavira, once you're parked for free in the dedicated parking area, a small tourist train will transport you to the beach. Here you will find the most fantastically photogenic anchors mounted into the sand, which are a memorial to the once historic local fishing community, and high quality water. There are beachside bars, restaurants and your family can plan to spend the whole day here.

Praia da Fuseta is located within the Ria Formosa and walking distance from Fuseta Town. An ideal place for swimming in calm warm waters or renting a Stand-up Paddle Board to enjoy the scenic coastline. Here there is a friendly beachside restaurant called “Borda d’Agua” (which is good for people with reduced mobility) and there are also sun loungers that can be hired for the day.
Just a 30-minute ferry ride from Olhão or Faro takes you to the Ilha da Culatra (Culatra Island), a barrier island beach. Once a traditional fisherman's village, a popular lagoon now makes this a sight worth seeing.

Further afield is Praia da Barreta, another island of the Ria Formosa, a division between the marshland and the sea. It is accessible only via a 20-minute ferry service from Faro (available between June and September). This is a great location for bird watching, various protected species known to nest here.

Praia de Faro is worth a visit. A narrow footbridge leads you across dunes and marshland -- the further you walk, the more unspoiled it is. Even at peak season, this feels like a private beach. A fantastic spot to spend your last few hours before your plane from Faro Airport (Did you know - you can hire a locker at the airport to leave your luggage for the day? They’re located by car park P5).