3 days in southern Portugal: how to plan your itinerary

Why go?

For the postcard views of yellow cliffs, emerald ocean, and golden sand. The entire southern coast of the Algarve is lined with thousand-year-old limestone cliffs of bizarre shapes. They frame the beaches, jut out of the ocean like giant icebergs, "grow" in the middle of the sand, form arches and wells, and make each section of the coast unique.

Where to stay in the Algarve?

We recommend staying in the resort town of Lagos. It combines several advantages: a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, some of the best beaches in the Algarve, and a convenient location. From here, it is easy to travel along the coast, not only by car but also by bus ( bus station is located in the city center).

You can book a hotel in the Algarve with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

How to get there?

First, you can fly to Faro (the only international airport on the south coast) and then take a bus to Lagos. You can also get to Lagos from Lisbon by train or bus.

Day 1: Three viewpoints in Lagoucho

We suggest spending the first day of your vacation in Lagos and the surrounding beaches. Immerse yourself in the warm southern atmosphere: breathe in the scent of blossoming orange trees, sit on a street terrace with a glass of wine and watch the patterns of Portuguese calçada (paving tiles) glisten in the sun.

Listen to the street musicians who play in every square. Stroll along the promenade with its souvenir stalls and visit the ancient castle surrounded by fortress walls. Then, dive into the labyrinth of streets with whitewashed houses and set off to explore the ocean. Especially since there are three picturesque places within walking distance of the center.

Praia da Dona Ana

Praia da Dona Ana regularly ranks among the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. The 260-meter strip of sand is framed by high cliffs, the shore is wide, and the entrance to the water is gentle. In summer, the beach is usually crowded, but in early spring, it is a paradise for misanthropes: a couple of dozen people soak up the sun, and a few daredevils swim in the ocean.

Praia do Camilo

The next beach, Praia do Camilo, is even more closely surrounded by rocks. The space is divided in two by a wide cliff, inside which a tunnel has been dug by hand. Due to the pile of rocks and small area, the beach is better protected from the wind. But even in the low season, there are more people here than at Praia da Dona Ana.

Ponta da Piedade

Another picturesque place is Ponta da Piedade, a cape on the very edge of Lagos, which can be reached on foot or by car. With its cluster of rocks, panoramic views of the open ocean, emerald lagoons, and wooden walkways, this is the perfect place to end your walk and watch the sunset. Then return to Lagos and dine at one of the many fish restaurants, ordering something from today's catch.

Day 2: Unique caves and secluded beaches

The picturesque beaches of the Algarve stretch for more than a hundred kilometers, and no two are alike. You can spend the whole day exploring the coast, moving from one town to another, walking along the cliffs, and dining at seafood restaurants. We recommend visiting at least three beaches.

Praia de Benagil

People come here for the unique dome-shaped cave with a round hole at the top through which you can see the sky. To get inside the cave, tourists usually take a boat tour. And to see this natural wonder from above, they walk along the rocks. From above, you can see a small beach inside the cave and a piece of the ocean.

Praia do Carvalho

A secluded beach in a small bay surrounded by steep cliffs that form a V shape. A long tunnel with steps, dug by hand, leads to it. Next to the beach, a window has formed in the rocks, through which you can see the coast.

Praia da Marinha

Another place that is regularly included in the rankings of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is surrounded by steep cliffs, one of which resembles a giant letter M.

Day 3: Sunset at the edge of the world

The coast looks completely different from the water, and you can see this for yourself by taking a boat trip. On the waterfront and in the port of Lagos, tourists are approached by agents offering a wide variety of trips, from short ones around the Ponta da Piedade cape to several-hour trips with a stop at the Benagil cave. For a sea excursion, we recommend choosing a day with calm weather, otherwise the boat may not be able to enter the grottos and caves due to strong waves.

After returning from your trip, have a picnic on one of Lagos' beaches. It's easy to organize: there is a market and supermarket in the city center where you can buy everything you need, from cheese and fruit to presunto (Portuguese ham) and pastéis de nata. And now you're sitting on the sand, squinting in the sun, washing down a ham sandwich with Portuguese vinho verde.

The perfect finale to your vacation will be watching the sunset at the southwesternmost point of Europe — Cape St. Vincent, once considered the end of the world. It is not as popular as Cape Roca near Lisbon, but it is no less impressive. You can get there by car or by bus from Lagos to Sagres (the nearest town to the cape), and then another 6 kilometers by taxi or tuk-tuk (there are many such services available in the city).

Don't forget to bring warm clothes and a bottle of port wine — the microclimate at the cape is different from the rest of the coast, and it can be especially cold and windy in the evenings.

The coastline around the cape consists of steep 80-meter cliffs that plunge into the ocean. Arrive early to get a spot in the "front row" and enjoy the spectacle that nature has created. The setting sun gilds the giant cliffs, sinking lower and lower until it finally dips into the ocean in absolute silence.

What else: castles and surfing

The Algarve deserves a full vacation. Although there are not many historical monuments here (the coast was damaged by an earthquake in the 18th century), several attractions have survived. What to do if you have already visited all the beaches and tried all the fish in the local restaurants?

• Faro. The current capital of the Algarve is interesting for its small historic center with a 13th-century cathedral, narrow cobbled streets, and ancient gates.
• Tavira. This city on the shores of the Gulf of Cádiz is considered one of the most attractive in the Algarve from a historical point of view. Moorish architecture, picturesque squares, a river with a Roman bridge, ancient churches — you can spend a whole day here.
• Silves. People come to the former capital of the Algarve to see the red sandstone castle, a fine example of Arab military architecture. The castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
• Surfing. Although surfing is popular all along the coast, one of the most popular spots is Sagres, where strong winds always blow.

Approximate budget:

• flight from European countries to Faro — from €45 to €100 round trip;
• accommodation for three days — around €150;
• lunch at a fish restaurant for two — €20-25;
• water excursions — from €20 per person;
• trip to Cape St. Vincent: bus and tuk-tuk round trip — about €30 for two.