Best Sandy Beaches in the Algarve

We rank the top 40 of 53 sandy beaches in the Algarve. Praia da Bordeira (Portugal) comes first with 4.7 / 5, followed by Praia da Falésia, Praia da Senhora da Rocha, Porches.

The sea reaches about 21 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 25 of the 40 have easy access, and 15 are hidden gems.

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1Praia da Bordeira

Carrapateira, Algarve · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A wide, wild Atlantic beach on the west Algarve coast with dunes, cliffs and a shallow lagoon that forms behind the sand.

2Praia da Falésia

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A long golden beach backed by red and ochre cliffs and pine trees, stretching toward Vilamoura.

3Praia da Senhora da Rocha, Porches

Senhora da Rocha, Porches, Algarve · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

Praia da Senhora da Rocha is a golden cove in the central Algarve, with a small white chapel on the headland above the sand.

4Praia do Camilo

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 20 °C

A small golden cove framed by honey coloured cliffs and rock stacks near Lagos, reached by a long wooden staircase of around 200 steps.

5Praia do Carvalho

Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A small golden cove enclosed by tall Algarve cliffs, reached through a short tunnel cut into the rock and down a flight of steps.

6Ilha de Tavira

Tavira, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A long barrier island off the eastern Algarve with wide sandy beaches, calm lagoon water on one side and the open Atlantic on the other.

7Praia da Albandeira

Lagoa, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A small, sheltered cove at the foot of golden limestone cliffs in the Algarve, with a natural rock arch and clear water.

8Praia de Cacela Velha

Cacela Velha, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

Cacela Velha is a tiny whitewashed village on a bluff in the eastern Algarve, with a beach on a sandbar facing the Ria Formosa lagoon.

9Praia de Odeceixe

Odeceixe, Algarve, Portugal · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

A horseshoe shaped beach on the west coast of the Algarve where the Ribeira de Seixe river curls behind the sand to meet the Atlantic, with calm river pools on one side and surf on the other.

10Praia de Sao Rafael

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A golden cove with striking rock stacks and cliffs on the Albufeira coast, with clear water and a calm feel compared to the town beaches.

11Praia do Amado

Carrapateira, Aljezur, Algarve, Portugal · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A broad sandy beach with hills behind it on the west coast of the Algarve, popular with surfers.

12Praia do Beliche

Sagres, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 20 °C

A sheltered sandy cove near Sagres on the far south-west tip of Portugal, backed by tall cliffs and facing the open Atlantic with golden sand and clear water.

13Praia do Monte Clerigo

Monte Clerigo, Aljezur, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

Monte Clerigo is a small village beach on the Atlantic coast of the Algarve near Aljezur, with a wide stretch of pale sand between rock outcrops and steep green slopes.

14Praia dos Tres Irmaos

Alvor, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A sandy beach in Alvor, in the western Algarve, with golden sandstone cliffs and rock stacks that form little arches and caves at low tide.

15Meia Praia

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A very long sandy beach east of Lagos, backed by dunes and reached by wooden walkways.

16Praia da Coelha

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A small sandy beach on the Algarve coast near Albufeira, set below golden cliffs with clear water and a quieter feel than the main resort beaches.

17Praia da Cordoama, Vila do Bispo

Cordoama, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

Praia da Cordoama is a long, open Atlantic beach near Vila do Bispo in the western Algarve, backed by cliffs and dunes.

18Praia da Luz

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A sandy beach beside a small Algarve village near Lagos, with rocky outcrops and a seafront walk.

19Praia da Prainha, Alvor

Prainha, Alvor, Portimao, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

Praia da Prainha is a small cove of golden sand between limestone cliffs near Alvor in the Algarve.

20Praia do Barril

Santa Luzia, Tavira, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A wide sandy beach on the barrier island of the Ria Formosa, reached from Santa Luzia by a flat footpath or a short tourist train.

21Praia do Carvoeiro

Lagoa, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A small golden beach set in a cove below the whitewashed village of Carvoeiro, with cliffs on each side.

22Praia do Evaristo

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long golden beach with red cliffs on the western side of Albufeira, with good swimming and a natural rock pool at low tide.

23Praia do Martinhal, Sagres

Sagres, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

Praia do Martinhal is a sheltered bay of fine sand near Sagres on the far west of the Algarve, with rock pools at low tide and calmer water than the Atlantic coast.

24Praia do Vale Figueiras

Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A quiet Atlantic beach on the west Algarve coast with golden sand, low cliffs and room to spread out away from the busier south-coast resorts.

25Praia do Zavial

Raposeira, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A broad sandy bay on the western Algarve, backed by low cliffs and a beachfront restaurant.

26Praia da Arrifana

Aljezur, West Algarve, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 18 °C

A crescent bay below steep cliffs on the west coast of the Algarve, with fishermen houses at the foot of a winding road and consistent waves that suit surfers.

27Praia da Fuseta, Algarve

Fuseta, Olhao, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

Praia da Fuseta is a long, quiet beach of fine sand on a barrier island in the Ria Formosa lagoon of the eastern Algarve, reached by a short ferry or footbridge from the fishing village of Fuseta.

28Praia da Ingrina

Raposeira, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A small sandy cove on the western Algarve near Raposeira, sheltered by rocks.

29Praia da Manta Rota

Manta Rota, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

Manta Rota is a long, wide beach on the eastern Algarve, with fine pale sand, dunes behind and shallow water that is warmer than on the west coast.

30Praia da Mareta, Sagres

Mareta, Sagres, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

Praia da Mareta is a sandy beach below the ochre cliffs of Sagres in the western Algarve, close to the village centre.

31Praia da Rocha

Portimao, Algarve, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A very wide sand beach below golden Algarve cliffs and rock formations, with a long promenade behind.

32Praia da Salema

Salema, Budens, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A Blue Flag beach beside the fishing village of Salema on the western Algarve, with golden sand between low cliffs and a line of beachfront restaurants.

33Praia de Armacao de Pera

Armacao de Pera, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

Armacao de Pera has one of the longest sandy beaches in the Algarve, stretching for several kilometres below a small resort town.

34Praia de Burgau

Burgau, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A small sandy beach in the western Algarve, backed by the whitewashed houses of Burgau village and framed by green hills.

35Praia de Porto de Mos

Lagos, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A broad sandy beach below golden cliffs a few kilometres west of Lagos.

36Praia do Castelejo

Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A wide Atlantic beach on the wild western Algarve, set below tilted dark schist cliffs and rolling hills.

37Praia do Tonel

Sagres, Algarve, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

A sandy Atlantic beach below the town of Sagres, open to the ocean and popular with surfers.

38Praia do Vale do Lobo

Vale do Lobo, Loule, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A wide sandy beach below the ochre cliffs of the Vale do Lobo resort on the central Algarve.

39Praia dos Olhos de Agua

Olhos de Agua, Albufeira, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

Olhos de Agua is a small fishing village with a golden beach framed by red cliffs and rock outcrops.

40Praia dos Salgados, Albufeira

Salgados, Gale, Albufeira, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

Praia dos Salgados is a long beach of golden sand in the central Algarve, beside a protected coastal lagoon known for its birdlife.

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How we picked these beaches

Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

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