The views around the lighthouse are lovely and you can see the typical grottos that are in Algarve. Here is your perfect 7 days itinerary: Algarve by public transport! The Albufeira strip is known for wild nightlife that goes on long until the morning. But is it wise to visit when you don't have the use of a car or campervan? Theres live music in restaurants that are around Faro Marina and this area is alive with locals and travelers alike. Day 4 - 5: Sintra and Cabo da Roca hiking. I visited a new beach every day and hiked to new spots and I wish I had spent at least a month here. Natali is a backpacking expert and solo female traveler. Here are the best Algarve cities and some suggestions on how to adapt this itinerary. The maze leads to a narrow chamber thats situated in deep with a cove and the sound gets louder as you go in. From east to west, here are the spots we enjoyed: Afterwards, grab dinner in Carvoeiros charming downtown area. Start with some of my most popular posts. Albufeira is a great place to learn how to surf! Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up. Camilo beach has super interesting rock formations and overall both parts of this beach are tiny compared to the other beaches of Lagos. Day 4 Lisbon: Visit Belem and explore the Alfama neighbourhood. You came to the right place!, Read More 11 Best Algarve Day Trips From Albufeira, Portugal (2023)Continue, Your email address will not be published. What to do in the Algarve, Portugal: 7-Day Algarve Itinerary Published by Rodrigo @ OutofYourComfortZone on June 8, 2021 | 6 Responses Last Updated on June 8, 2021 by Editor Want to learn a little more about one of Portugal's most touristic regions and its incredible beaches? Praia do Martinhal is also a big wide beach with perfectly soft sand and views. If you are flying to Portugal and renting a car, then the most obvious starting point is Faro. On your way, make a stop at Evora (about 2.5 hours into your journey). The drive to Cape Saint Vincent from Sagres town will just take you 10 minutes. Contents [ hide] 1 Do you need travel insurance for one week in Portugal? The focus for this Portugal trip is on the areas around and in between Lisbon and Porto and there's plenty of variety including some off the beaten track highlights as well as the 'must sees'. Its affordable. If you dont have a rented car then try to call a taxi to reach here. You see, most itineraries Ive seen before travelling to Algarve were road trip itineraries, and let me tell you, travelling by car and by public transport is vastly different! Most people skip Faro and go directly to the beaches of the Algarve. As an Asian, I was often disappointed when I visited beaches in Europe because none of them ever compared to the beauty of the beaches of Asia. This is a website where you can quickly and easily compare the prices of different rental companies. Ideally, I would have added the 7 Hanging Valleys hike to this itinerary, but it is very complicated to reach without a car. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Stand on the steep cliffs at Cabo de Sao Vicente with an unobstructed view of the Atlantic ocean, and admire the rugged and slightly dangerous beauty of this spot that will take your breath away. I see it selling out quickly in high season, so book in advance! Theres gravel so your trainers are recommended. Its one of the better swimming beaches because its protected by those cliffs, and its not too busy even in the summer season. Day 14: Travel day. Your email address will not be published. You will hike along the coastline from the city centre to Ponta da Piedade. Start your first day in Albufeira by getting acquainted with the city. The bus schedule is not published online on official web pages! There are multiple photo opportunities and the best ones are from the top as you start climbing down the steps to reach the beach. If you visit in the summer, you can even take a bus to the official westernmost point of continental Europe Cabo de So Vicente. Praia da Marinha is special because of its dramatic rock formations, clear water, and plenty of golden sand. Summary of 7-day itinerary: Algarve without a car. Outubro street is the main walking street in Albufeira, but you will also find many bars and restaurants around Largo Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco square. The entry fee for Sagres Fortress is EUR 3 per person. So Brs de Alportel - Great place to stay for 1-2 nights on an Algarve road trip. Sagres is a popular surfing destination, so you will see surfers everywhere. The two youre most likely to encounter are the A2 between Lisbon and the Algarve, and the A22 between Lagos and Faro. You can check out my guide to the Ponta da Piedade hike. The journey from the mainland to the Azores takes around 2,5 hours. Renting a car as a solo female traveller greatly affects your budget, so travelling around the Algarve by public transport is the best way to save money. You cant come all the way to Albufeira and not enjoy the nightlife! A full week on the Algarve gives you plenty of time to split between activities and relaxing on the beach. You can rent a bike at Sagres Bicycle and Company. Required fields are marked *. Look for Point de vue da janela da boneca on google maps. You will walk part of the road on the trail and part on the newly built wooden path. Ponta da Piedade is one of the most famous viewpoints in the Algarve. When the auto-complete results are available, use the up and down arrows to review and Enter to select. Want more details on which towns to choose? At times the waves can be quite high, but otherwise, it is usually friendly for children. In every single guide, we say something along the lines of summer is the busiest and hottest time of year visit in shoulder season instead!. Its lively and buzzing, so dont expect a quiet stay if youre here in the summer. Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (sete vales suspensos), Sagres Fortress (Fortaleza de Sagres) & Lighthouse. Check out the Igreja de Santa Maria de Lagos, Castle of Lagos and the seafront Forte da Ponta da Bandeira. This hike, best done from east to west starting from Praia da Marinha to Praia do Vale de Centeanes, was one of our favorite experiences in Portugal. If that sounds like too much for you, you have a few options in terms of shortening the hike. Even though it is used by a lot of surfers, the waves are usually calm. Pros of travelling by train in the Algarve, Cons of travelling by train in the Algarve. You came to the right place. Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers. Theres no official parking near Vale de Centeanes, but many people park in residential areas. Albufeira: A charming small town with wide white sand beaches nearby that is worth a full day, if not an overnight. You dont have to climb down a lot of stairs to reach this beach, unlike many other beaches in Algarve. Head to Faro and Tavira: Even further east, youll find the charming towns of Olho, known for its fish market on the water, and Tavira, along with the major city in the region, Faro, which is home to the regions only airport. We chose Lagos and Carvoeiro as our two home bases, and really enjoyed both for different reasons. Yes, it is absolutely stunning but it is a small spot so if you spend 15-30 minutes here, thats all. How To Get Around The Algarve Without A Car - Here're The Best 6 Ways aworldtotravel on July 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM Are you thinking of visiting the Algarve this summer? Wed start by driving all the way out to Farol do Cabo de So Vicente, the southwestern-most point in Europe, and making your way back east towards Lagos. Make sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of water. Praia do Martinhal (here on Google Maps) is another nice beach just a few minutes east of Sagres.. Then spend an entire lazy next day on Marinha beach. But I love the scale of Ponta da Piedade because there are so many viewpoints and possibilities. If it was anything like my previous experiences with coffee in Europe which, to be fair, were outdated by more than a decade then it wasnt going to be my cup of tea, Read More The Best Specialty Coffee Shops in Lisbon: A Complete GuideContinue, Lisbon was both our first stop in Portugal, and was also our last stop in Europe a couple of months later when our 89 days in Europe were up (thats just shy of the 90 day maximum we can spend in the E.U. For me, it is the BEST destination in Algarve. Depending on how you want to spend the next day, go for a drink on the Albufeira strip or in the city centre, you cant go wrong with either of them. This is it. End your day at the ending point for the trail you hiked earlier in the day, which is a pretty spectacular place to watch the sunset. Algarve Itinerary Day 1 - Faro After arriving in Faro and checking in at your accommodation of choice, take the opportunity to explore the charming historic city center. You could spend an entire month exploring hidden beaches along the Portuguese coast, but 7 days is enough to see the best of the Algarve. This sandy beach is surrounded by rocks. Id say you start before 9 am. The train network doesnt connect most coastal cities. The entire stretch of Portugals southern stretch from Sagres to Tavira is covered in a combination of beautiful beaches, coastal bluffs, and towering limestone cliffs that are practically begging to be explored. I have a separate post about it on my website. The water is usually cold, even in summer because of the Atlantic Ocean, but thats with most of the beaches in the Algarve. Contrary to what many people say online, a car is not necessary for Algarve. Did I already tell you that most towns in Algarve are very hilly? A bus takes just over an hour and costs 5,10. You can discover the region by public transport you just need a little bit more planning and following the proper itinerary! It is comfortable. It is worth all its hype. So put on comfortable shoes, as today you will have a fun day admiring the exceptional beauty of Lagos coastline. Hard pass from us.. The beaches of Lagos are stunning and there are many of them. *Because round-trip were less expensive, we decided to arrive and quit from Lisbon. I personally didnt enjoy Portimao, but I will leave my recommendations in the detailed itinerary for Algarve below. 14 nights in Portugal w/o a car itinerary critique. This website contains affiliate links. Wear a hat because there isnt much shade inside except in the church. There is more space than in a bus! (2023) Are you visiting Coimbra and looking for the best day trips from Coimbra, Portugal to add to your itinerary? I went in for a dip on the beach next to Peneco Rock, but all beaches in Albufeira looked great (if you like long sandy beaches), so you can go for the one close to your accommodation as well! Id still say that you do both these things on separate days. It was a cute old-school Portuguese building with newly furnished suites inside. A bus back to Albufeira from Silves takes about an hour and costs around 5. On your first day, follow Day 1 as written above. The suggested itineraries are: The best of the Algarve in one week (a six location tour) The entire Algarve in just two weeks (an eleven location tour) 1-week tour of the western Algarve (a four location tour) 1-week tour of the Eastern Algarve (a four-location tour) 2-week slower paced tour of the entire Algarve (a six location tour) 11 Reasons To Visit Naxos In 2023, Day 1 Arrive in Faro and discover the city, Day 3 Learn to surf in Albufeira or kayak to Benagil cave, Day 4 Day trip to Portimao and Silves or Ferragudo from Albufeira, Day 7 Make your way back to Faro or continue your trip to Lisbon. Sure, there is a regional train network that connects the major towns on the Algarve, but oftentimes the best beaches are going to be a bit outside of town, and a car makes it easier to get there. Head back to Lagos and take a well-earned siesta before finding a place to have dinner and drinks. The magic isnt just about the beaches, but the rock formations that surround these beaches. They are a lifesaver if your accommodation is far from the city centre or bus station. This class is on Falesia beach, and you can take bus 8 from Albufeira to the beach. Lagos is a more developed city that sees a huge influx of tourists every summer. As a result, the water and the sand feel very clean. Let me explain below. . I visited Benagil Cave from Portimao, but I realized during the tour that it was closest to Carvoeiro. In the winter, the bus schedule is not day-trip friendly. Thank you! Algarve Road Trip. Watch. However, this walled city with large pedestrian zones is perfect to stroll around and enjoy the coastal town atmosphere. (If so, do drivers make change?) The two options are coming to or from Lisbon (by car or bus/train) or flying directly to the Algarve. There is a 20-meter tunnel that leads to this beach through the rocks. It will definitely be hot in late July! You can reach from one part to another via a cave thats on the beach. You don't need a car for this trip. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. You can actually look out of the dolls eyes onto the ocean. After travelling around Algarve without a car and making some mistakes along the way, Ive devised an ideal Algarve without a car itinerary for a perfect week in Algarve. I have marked some destinations as optional and have given a range of the number of days that you can spend at each destination. However, that proposition becomes a little more expensive if youre renting the car for a one-way journey thanks to one-way rental car fees. The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is an unmissable hike stretching 6 kilometers in Algarve. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. So not only it is stunning, but it is also comfortable in every way. This trail goes on top of Praia da Marinha, which is often ranked as the #1 beach in Europe.