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10 Interesting things to do in Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve[1] is the southern most part of continental Portugal, its a beautiful and picturesque tourist attraction. The region has its administrative headquarters in the city of Fargo.

Tourism is one of the major industries here and considering that Portugal (and many other countries) has pretty much recovered from COVID-19, now is probably the best time to visit The Algarve!

Image attribution: By Luc.T from Buggenhout, België - Algarve - Marinha Beach, CC BY 2.0,

1. Enjoy the Tonel Beach and the iconic lighthouse at Sagres[2][3]. Sagres Point is easily one of the first places you should visit after reaching Algarve. Historically, the Sagres Point was very important for sailors as it offered a shelter for ships before attempting the dangerous voyage around Cape St. Vincent. Given the dangers of being blown onto the coastal rocks, captains preferred to wait in the lee of the point until favorable winds allowed them to continue[3]

The Tonel Beach (Praia do Tonel) is also here and many redditors swear by the surfing experience there[4]! The iconic lighthouse is located in Cape St. Vincent and the rocks at its base are called "fim do mundo", or "end of the world"[3].

Image attribution: By Glen Bowman from Newcastle, England - Tonel beach at 'The end of the world' - Sagres - The Algarve, PortugalUploaded by tm, CC BY 2.0,

2. Admire the magnificent caves at Benagil and Xorino[5]. Caves are one of the top attractions of the stunning coastline of Portugal which also borders with Spain at Monte Gordo. With around 150km of fabulous cliffs, beaches, wetlands, marinas and caves to explore, even the most adventurous traveler won't be disappointed with what Portugal's southern coast has to offer[5]

Some of the best caves in Algarve are Benagil, Elephant, Xorino, Arches of Marinha, Zorreira, Captain's Cave, Algar Seco, Senhora da Rocha, Arch of Triumph, The Submarine Rock and Caves of the Combs[5].

3. Enjoy the breathtaking views at Serra de Monchique[6]. As some call it the perfect walking destination[7], the Serra de Monchique mountains which are located in the center of Algarve and at a stone's throw from Alentejo[2] is a real natural beauty to behold. The peak of Fóia which is the highest point on these mountain ranges is also a must visit.

It is covered in forest and parts of the range have been transformed into eucalyptus, pine and acacia plantations which are detrimental to the native forest cover. The range is named after the town of Monchique, located in the area. Caldas de Monchique is a well-known spa town with geothermal springs also located in this range.[6]

Image attribution: By Rui Glória - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

4. Admire the marine life at Zoomarine Algarve[2]. Its a marine themed amusement park and a perfect attraction for your whole family! From water slides to dolphin shows, this is an energy-filled attraction that's also easy to reach in tourist-friendly Albufeira.[2] See their website for more information.

However, do note that some redditors have raised concerns about exploitation of wild animals in this zoo[10].

5. Stroll through the Faro Old Town to get a majestic medieval feel[11]. Whilst modernization has ensured that the western part of Algarve's coastal line is filled with resorts and trendy neighborhoods, the regional capital has held strong to its medieval roots[11].

Surrounded by a medieval stone wall and filled with Moorish and Roman ruins and landmarks, this historical centre offers a glimpse into generations of tradition and a past filled with dramatic invasions[11].

6. Visit the Alvor Castle to admire history[13]. The Alvor Castle is located in Alvor near Portimão. It was a military fort during the medieval times and is considered one of the most historically important castles in medieval history.

The Alvor Castle has a very interesting tale right since the original fortress was built in the 7th century BC by the Greeks and Phoenician remnants to its conquering by Hannibal in 436 AD who renamed it to Portus Annibalis (which would later be re-christened Barcínia) to the later conquests by Romans and then by the Moors[12].

Image attribution: By RHaworth - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

7. Visit the Castle at Silves[15]. The Silves Castle (Castelo_de_Silves) is located in the municipality of Silves city[14] spread over approximately 700 square kilometres of area. Silves was the former capital of the Kingdom of the Algarve and is of great historical importance[14].

Apart from the castle, Silves houses a lot of other attractions such as the historical cathedral[16], traditional town center, Almohad town wall and the Almedina-gate (Porta de Loulé).

Image attribution: By Lusitana - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

8. Visit the town of Loulé[17]. Loulé municipality is spread over approximately 750 square kilometers and has about 20,000 inhabitants. This place is historically important because human presence in the territory of Loulé remotes to the Later Paleolithic[17].

You'll find many other prominent places here like Ruins of the Roman settlement of Cerro da Vila, St. Clemens Church belfry (an original minaret of a former Arab mosque in Loulé), The walls of the Castle of Loulé, reconstructed during the Nationalist Estado Novo era, The 18th-century facade of the municipal council of Loulé, etc.

Image attribution: By © Benoît Prieur / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0,

9. Stroll around the São Lourenço Church, Beach cafés and Gypsy markets[19]. The São Lourenço Church in Almancil houses one of the most prominent specimens of azulejo tile art in Portugal. Built in the 17th century, it is one of the most attractive churches in the region[19].

Algarve is also home to some of the finest beach cafés which are ideal for having a coffee or leisurely meal while you're on the shore. Also, don't miss blending Portugal's café culture with the Algarve's coastal one[19].

If you want to pick a souvenir before leaving, the local gypsy markets is the most ideal place for that. You can not only enjoy some of the best bargains there but also have a unique experience which is different from any other marketplace in the rest of Portugal.

10. Eat your fill at some of the finest restaurants in Algarve[20]. Empanadas & Co, Bombay BLUE Indian Curry house, VERU, United Kitchens of India, Ocean and Gusto are some of the best restaurants here, you can rest assured and enjoy your lunch or dinner in any of these!


  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algarve
  2. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/portugal/articles/15-must-visit-attractions-in-the-algarve/
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagres_Point
  4. https://www.reddit.com/r/sunset/comments/h7t6gb/golden_hour_sagres_portugal_2013_oc/
  5. https://www.algarvefun.com/algarve-tips/best-caves-algarve
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serra_de_Monchique
  7. https://www.vintagetravel.co.uk/blog/algarves-serra-de-monchique-perfect-walking-destination/
  8. https://www.reddit.com/r/species/comments/804ale/can_anyone_identify_this_sea_lion_or_fur_seal/
  9. https://www.reddit.com/r/Algarve/comments/4po4rs/zoomarine_full_dolphin_show_june_2016_hd_steady/
  10. https://www.reddit.com/r/portugal/comments/ckmuu6/zoomarine_no_algarve_entre_12_zoos_denunciados/
  11. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/portugal/articles/15-must-visit-attractions-in-the-algarve/?itemCardId=3055uv4m99v9bi5qgf9twh
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Alvor
  13. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/portugal/articles/15-must-visit-attractions-in-the-algarve/?itemCardId=0szn6dbtnwldfhvtnb91tzw
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silves,_Portugal
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Silves
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silves_Cathedral
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loul%C3%A9
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Loul%C3%A9
  19. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/portugal/articles/15-must-visit-attractions-in-the-algarve/?itemCardId=iiw6wmovwmdqbjhz005n0g
  20. https://www.google.com/search?newwindow....

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