Get Planning Your Perfect Beach Holiday!
Wondering which are the best beaches in the Algarve? We’ve put together a list of 5 of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, Southern Portugal, which you’ll certainly want to visit – whether you’ve booked your 2025 trip and are carefully planning your itinerary or you’re still deciding exactly what summer 2025 has in store for you. It’s never too early to start planning your perfect beach holiday – after all, the quicker you start, the quicker you can start daydreaming!
Ready to check out 5 of the beaches in the Algarve you won’t want to miss in 2025? Then read on!
Praia do Algar Seco
Starting out with one of the most unique beaches in the Algarve – not a sandy beach per se but an opportunity for adventure and a chance to explore unique scenery! What was once a series of natural wells, the rocks at Algar Seco have since merged and eroded to create a labyrinth of dramatically sculpted cliffs. A 600m walkway takes visitors down through the cliffs towards the sea, providing surprising glimpses of the water through gaps in the rocks, including the famous “boneca” (doll) rock. Take your time exploring tunnels, views, caves, grottoes, and tracks around the cliffs before heading to the Boneca Bar Restaurant for a well-earned break. Options of activities here include cliff-jumping, and boardwalk trails along the coastline to other beaches in the Algarve. A top tip? Wear trainers or stable footwear if you want to explore, as a lot of the ground is uneven.
Praia do Carvalho
Location: Just west of Benagil
Best known for: Its unusual entrance and cliff jumping point
Where to eat: Take a picnic or a short drive to O Farol Restaurant
One of the beaches in the Algarve considered one of the region’s “best-kept secrets”, this romantic, hidden beach has some unusual features. Accessed via a fossil-lined tunnel down through the cliff, it feels like a fairy tale as you emerge onto the golden sand. With cliffs stretching out into the sea, the secluded cove is entirely protected from the wind, which means a slightly warmer sea. Speaking of the sea, it deepens quickly, making this beach popular for cliff jumping – both off the top of the cliff and off a sculpted corridor running along the side of one of the cliff faces. A small beach, it gets very crowded in summer, so it’s worth arriving early to ensure you get a spot. A top tip Is to aim for the left side of the beach, as the right side gets shaded by the cliffs early in the afternoon.
Praia da Marinha
Location: Between Armação de Pêra and Carvoeiro
Best known for: Its iconic heart-shaped rock formation
Where to eat: A snack bar on the beach itself or take a picnic!
Widely known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, in Europe, and the world, Marinha Beach is best renowned for its natural beauty. In fact, it has been maintained almost entirely in its natural state, with no nearby infrastructures apart from a wooden walkway taking visitors down the steep cliffs to the soft white sand below. For the best views of the beach’s iconic heart-shaped rock – as well as the surrounding scenery – walk along the clifftop before heading down to the beach itself, where you can laze on the long stretch of sand, enjoying shelter from any wind and views over several submerged rocky outcrops.
Praia da Rocha
Location: Portimão
Best known for: Its large swathe of sand and dramatic cliffs
Where to eat: Any of the many nearby restaurants
One of the beaches in the Algarve you certainly won’t want to miss, Rocha Beach runs alongside the bustling city of Portimão. However, a single step onto the extensive 3km swathe of sand will whisk you away from the bustling road and busy restaurants lining the clifftop, allowing you to enjoy every benefit of being on the beach. Though popular, this beach rarely feels crowded and provides watersports aplenty to keep beachgoers entertained. And speaking of entertainment, a casino, fort, and wide array of restaurants and bars are only steps away, making for a day out sure to tick every box.
Praia do Camilo
Location: Lagos
Best known for: Striking cliffs, a dramatic wooden walkway, and a tunnel
Where to eat: Camilo Restaurante
Often dubbed Lagos’ most beautiful beach – and one of the most striking beaches in the Algarve – Camilo Beach is nestled among cutout cliffs and can only be accessed by sea or down a wooden walkway snaking from the clifftop to the golden sand below. Visitors can’t help but take in the sparkling sea as they make their way down roughly 200 steps, anticipating a welcome dip once they reach the bottom. A top tip for visiting Praia do Camilo is to aim for low tide, as the small stretch of beach can get crowded at high tide in summer or get there early in the day to secure your spot. Also, look out for the tunnel through the cliff face!
From cliff-side adventures to large swathes of sand, the beaches in the Algarve are of all shapes and sizes, sure to tick every box and provide countless days of endless fun. All that’s left to do now is pick the ones that strike your fancy and ensure you set aside some time to truly enjoy them!
