PORTUGAL'S AMAZING ALGARVE

Exploring a different beach each day, followed by a stroll, dinner and gelato in downtown Lagos, the Algarve struck the perfect chord for enjoyment for the whole family.

Travel Dates: October 2018

Riley Age 7, Lucas Age 3

The Algarve continues to be one of the kids' favorite destinations. Exploring a different beach each day, followed by a stroll, dinner and gelato in downtown Lagos, the Algarve struck the perfect chord for enjoyment for the whole family.

The easiest way to get around the Algarve is by car as it allows you freedom to explore the numerous beaches and cities along the coastline. The motorways are excellent which makes it easy getting around.

Our visit to the Algarve was slightly off-season so the towns and beaches weren't overly crowded or noisy, but the weather was still nice enough to enjoy the beach and swim. If you decide to travel during the high season of July and August, I would recommend having activities and dining planned in advance.

Lagos

Lagos is part of the western Algarve and a great town to use as a home base during a trip to the Algarve. It is an idyllic seaside resort town and its' historic center is full of charm and character including tiled buildings, gorgeous churches and a huge selection of shops, restaurants, gelaterias, cafes and bars. There are several main squares where street performers would showcase different talents on a nightly basis which was very entertaining for the kids.

We had a fantastic airbnb right within the city walls with two bedrooms, A/C and underground parking. The location was about a block or two from the pedestrian only part of Lagos where we would walk, eat and explore every night. As many times as we ventured into town, we were always certain to find something new in the winding maze of intricately designed cobblestone paths.

Nah Nah Bah Restaurant is not to miss! While the vibe may seem like it attracts only the hostel traveller, its a great spot for foodies (the menu naming is fantastic), and my kids absolutely loved it (the whole fam owns t-shirts). We are so happy for them opening a second location in Praia Da Luz.

We happened to arrive in Portugal right after Hurricane Leslie hit (the first hurricane to hit the Iberian peninsula since the 1800s), so the water was too rough to rent a boat to see the Benagil Caves, however there were numerous vendors along the promenade by the water taking reservations for when the water settled down from private boat tours to any water activity you could think of.

Praia do Camilo

Praia do Camilo is a beautiful and secluded beach nestled between the towering cliffs. It's a quick drive south from Lagos (a little less than 4 kms), and the views are stunning from both the beach and the cliffs above.

You will need to descend 225 stairs to reach the beach and immediately to the left are caves and grottoes that can be explored. If you intend to bring a stroller down to the beach, make sure it is a compact, light and foldable. That said, the hike down is well worth the views, however there are not any facilities once you arrive to the beach.

This was my kids' first visit to the ocean and what an introduction it was. The amazing views coupled with the great body surfing waves from the aftermath of the hurricane, was a total home run for everyone.

The Camilo Restaurant also sits atop the cliffs and offers a wide variety of seafood and meats. Reservations are recommended, so we popped in before heading down to the beach and made one for a few hours later.

Praia Dona Ana

Also south of Lagos, Praia Dona Ana is slightly closer than Praia do Camilo and just as picturesque (but with a few less stairs - only 93). It is said to be the most photographed beach in the Algarve for obvious reasons. Praia Dona Ana was also quite larger (both in width and depth) than Praia do Camilo and there was a restaurant right off the sand, so you didn't have to walk back up the stairs to get a bite to eat.

The sea water at Praia da Dona Ana is extremely clean as the rock formations of Ponta da Piedade protect the beach against waves from the southwest, thus making the sea here (typically) a lot calmer and popular for snorklers. However, the ocean was stil angry post Hurricane Leslie so the kids got more good waves.

Praia dos Três Irmãos

Translated, "Três Irmãos" means "three brothers" and this refers to three sea stacks that run across the beach. Praia dos Três Irmãos is located at the eastern end of a huge stretch of sand which makes up Alvor beach outside of Portimão - roughly a 30 minute drive from Lagos.

A huge benefit of Praia dos Três Irmãos is the abundance of facilities: there is restaurant right off the sand, toilets, disabled access, a seasonal lifeguard service and access to the boardwalk which takes you to other beaches and restaurants.

The highlight of this beach for us was the maze of caves and grottoes through all the amazing rock formations that you could explore and led you to other little secret beaches.

Sagres

Once considered the end of the known world by many, Sagres sits at the south western tip of Portugal. It is typically a surfing destination, but worth a short trip (roughly 35 minutes from Lagos) to walk out to the lighthouse, take in the breath-taking views and enjoy a cappuccino at the cafe.

Faro

Faro was our last stop before we left the Algarve and I think we made the most of our five hours there. After we checked out of our airbnb, we drove to Faro and spent the afternoon, mostly in the Old Town, before our evening flight back to Dublin. After a short exploration on foot, we enjoyed a lovely lunch, then took a tour on the Faro Tourist Train which made it possible to see all the landmarks, provided a great history of the city and aided some tired little legs.