The Prettiest Villages in the Algarve

Beyond the big resorts, the Algarve is full of beautiful villages: whitewashed hill towns with chimneys like lace, fishing villages with colourful boats, and a frontier town where you can zipline into Spain. Here are the prettiest villages in the Algarve, from the coast to the hills.

Quick answer: on the coast, don’t miss Ferragudo, Cacela Velha, Salema, Burgau and Carvoeiro. Inland, see Alte, Salir and Querença, the castle town of Silves, the mountain village of Monchique, and Alcoutim on the Spanish border, with its cross-border zipline. You’ll want a car.

Coastal villages

Ferragudo

A fishing village across the river from Portimão, with colourful boats, cobbled lanes up to a church and fish restaurants on the square. One of the most charming spots in the Algarve.

Cacela Velha

A tiny whitewashed village on a bluff above the Ria Formosa lagoon, with a little fort and one of the loveliest views in the Algarve. See Tavira and the eastern Algarve.

Salema and Burgau

Two laid-back fishing villages west of Lagos, with small beaches where fishermen still pull up their boats. Dinosaur footprints can be seen on the rocks near Salema. Salema stays · Burgau stays.

Carvoeiro

A cove village surrounded by cliffs, with the clifftop boardwalk to Algar Seco. A great base. Carvoeiro stays.

Benagil

The tiny village above the famous sea cave, with a little beach and boats waiting. See Benagil Cave.

Odeceixe

On the border with the Alentejo, with a famous river-meets-the-sea beach. See Costa Vicentina.

Inland villages

Alte

Often called the most typical village in the Algarve, with whitewashed houses, ornate chimneys and the Fonte Grande springs, where locals picnic by the stream. Alte stays.

Salir and Querênça

Hilltop villages in the “barrocal”, the green hills between the coast and the mountains, with castle ruins, a peaceful square and great country restaurants.

Silves

The old Moorish capital, with a red castle and a cathedral above a pretty river town. See Monchique and Silves.

Monchique

A cool, green mountain village near Fóia, the Algarve’s highest point, famous for its crafts and medronho firewater. Monchique stays.

Paderne

A quiet village near the ruins of a Moorish castle and a medieval bridge, with lovely countryside walks.

Estoi

Home to a pink rococo palace and the Roman ruins of Milreu. See things to do in Faro.

Alcoutim

A peaceful village on the Guadiana river facing Spain, with a castle and a unique cross-border zipline: launch from Sanlúcar de Guadiana in Spain and fly 720m across the river into Portugal (about €18, including the boat back). Spain is an hour ahead! See the zipline · Alcoutim stays.

Tips

• You need a car for the inland villages. See driving in Portugal.
• Visit inland in spring for flowers and in the morning in summer, as it’s much hotter than the coast.
• Lunch is the time to eat in village restaurants; many close in the evening out of season.

More: the best day trips from the Algarve and where to stay in the Algarve.

From our sister blog: Our 7-day Algarve road trip itinerary on Sunset Travellers.

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