Portugal, Algarve – Region of Great Beaches, Cliffs, Lighthouses, and Caves – VIDEO

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Most people go to the Algarve mainly because of the beaches and the sea. But it would be a shame to limit ourselves to that. In the whole region you can discover beautiful nature and countless monuments. Even people here are very nice and mostly you can speak with them in English.

Faro, Portimao, Lagos, Albufeira, Olhao and Tavira are definitely worth a visit. The history of some of them dates back to the time before the entire Iberian peninsula was ruled by the Romans. You will come across Roman-era historical landmarks relatively often, as well as parts of medieval and modern fortifications. Explore some of the many romantic villages with narrow streets and lots of flowers.

The great attraction is then tens of kilometers of cliffs on the coast. Water and wind create huge caves in them, every moment you will find rock towers and all sorts of gaps. Just be careful, the cliffs are unstable and their pieces quite often fall into the sea. Do not go anywhere where signs or fences prohibit it, it can really be a life.

Be sure to stop by the National Park, which begins not far from Lagos and stretches along the west coast to Sines. There are countless beautiful beaches and cliffs waiting for you, the most interesting are treks with unique nature.

I went to the Algarve in December, and if you are not looking for swimming in the sea, I recommend you visit the region out of season. The weather is nice for most of the year, exceptionally the temperature drops below 15 degrees. And in winter, you will find deserted beaches and much cheaper housing.

You can either fly directly to Faro, or take the train or bus from Lisbon. You can also use rail to travel across much of the coast, and local buses operate everywhere, relatively often and on time. Nevertheless, I recommend to rent a car on the spot. For a little money, it gives you much more freedom to discover everything the region has to offer.

GPS: 37°01'04.0"N 7°58'09.9"W (Faro airport)

Text, photos, and video: Matouš Vinš