VINTURE WITH ME

The Algarve in 6 Days: Faro, Lagos & Albufeira

If you’ve been sleeping on the Algarve, consider this your wake-up call. Portugal’s southern coast is one of the most stunning coastlines in all of Europe – dramatic cliffs, turquoise water, fresh seafood everywhere, and surprisingly easy to navigate once you get there. Here’s exactly how I spent ~6 days split between Faro, Lagos and Albufeira, where I stayed, what I ate, and what’s actually worth your time.

Where We Stayed

Getting Around the Algarve

Train from Lisbon to Faro is the move to start your trip. We flew into Lisbon, spent some time at Lisboa Oriente station (beautiful station, definitely worth a walk-around), and caught the IC572 train at 2:02PM, arriving in Faro at 5:45PM. Easy, comfortable, and way cheaper than a taxi or shuttle.

From Faro, we picked up a rental car at Faro Airport (FAO) and this is non-negotiable if you want to actually see the Algarve. There’s so much to see between the beach towns that driving gives you the freedom to stop wherever you want. We booked with Alamo through Expedia for $287.35 CAD total which included free cancellation up until pickup. Since we were flying home from FAO at the end of the trip, picking it up and dropping it off at the airport made everything seamless.

💡 Pro tip: Book your rental through Expedia or Discover Cars for competitive rates with free cancellation – this gives you flexibility in case plans change.

Day 1: Overnight Travel + First Night in Faro

We flew out of Toronto at 9:30PM the night before and landed in Lisbon at 9:35AM — classic overnight transatlantic. After wandering around Oriente station for a few hours, we caught our afternoon train and arrived in Faro early evening.

Faro is a quiet city and honestly a lot more charming than people give it credit for. The old town and marina area are lovely for an evening stroll.

Dinner: Taberna Ze-Ze

Authentic Portuguese seafood in every sense. We ordered clams, squid and a seafood boil — don’t leave without trying both the clams and the boil.

Dessert: Gula Foodlab

Gelato stop and it was genuinely great. They had yogurt flavour which is my personal gold standard for a gelato place. If they have it, they know what they’re doing.

Night Out

We wandered around Old Town and stumbled into some live music at Irish Salt Bar before making our way to Art Haus to close out the night. Low-key, no pressure — exactly what you want after a long travel day.

Day 2: Arriving in Lagos

This is where things really started. After picking up the car at Faro Airport, we headed west to Lagos — about a 1 hour drive.

Parking tip: Just before Old Town Lagos there’s a large parking lot called Parkpl on Google Maps. Park here and walk into Old Town. This is the key to Lagos — stay in Old Town and you won’t need the car again until you leave. Everything is walkable and honestly that’s what makes this place so good.

Lunch: Black and White Coffee Shop

There’s always a wait. Go anyway. The coffee and food were both worth it — this is the kind of cafe that makes you want to move to Portugal.

Afternoon: Old Town, Castles & Cliffs

After lunch we walked the old town, hit up Castelo de Lagos and Fortaleza da Ponta da Bandeira for some history, and then made our way to Praia da Dona Ana for the afternoon. The beach is stunning, but the real moment of the day was walking the clifftop path all the way to Miradouro da Ponta da Piedade for sunset. I can’t oversell this — the cliff views at golden hour are one of those things you’ll keep coming back to on your camera roll.

Dinner: Casinha do Petisco

People rave about this place and yes, we waited in line. The verdict? Everything came out really salty for us. I’m willing to believe we just had an off experience because this place has a serious reputation, but manage your expectations — it wasn’t the meal I was hoping for.

Nightlife

We pub crawled Old Town organically — starting at Red Eye Bar, then Inside Out, and just followed the crowds from there. The bar scene in Lagos is lively without being overwhelming.

Day 3: Beach Day in Lagos

Lunch: The Garden

Extremely aesthetic spot. Great vibes, good for drinks. But the food? We got the grilled fish and BBQ platter and everything came out dry. I wouldn’t go back for a meal — it smells amazing walking past which gives you high expectations that the food doesn’t quite meet. Go for drinks, skip the food.

Dessert: Gelicia Gelato

Really good. A solid gelato stop in Lagos.

Beach: Praia do Camilo

This is the one you’ve seen in every Lagos picture — the iconic sea arches framing turquoise water. It’s a must and it delivered completely. There was even a DJ and beach bar set up when we went. One of those days where you show up planning to stay 2 hours and leave 5 hours later.

Dinner: Restaurante Azimute

My favourite meal in Lagos. There was a wait but nothing crazy. We got octopus and steak — both excellent. One note: skip the traditional fig dessert even though your server will tell you it’s cool because it lights on fire. It’s drowning in liquor and it’s not worth it.

Nightlife

We tried to get into Forbidden Door speakeasy — it was either closed or not letting people in that night. So we ended up at Muchacha, Shaker (karaoke bar, highly recommend), and wherever else the crowd went.

Day 4: Benagil Caves + First Night in Albufeira

Lunch: Central for pastel de nata (mandatory), then Empanadas & Co for empanadas, which were delicious.

Benagil Caves — The Main Event

The caves are between Lagos and Albufeira, which makes this a perfect stop on your drive east. We parked along the road leading down to Praia de Benagil and booked a kayak tour with one of the booths right by the beach. There was about an hour wait for the next tour, so we just swam and chilled on the beach — which honestly wasn’t a bad way to spend that time.

Kayak vs. Boat tour — my honest take: The water was rough and the kayaking was a real workout. If you want to actually enjoy the cave views and get your photos, book the boat tour. The kayak is a great activity and a fun experience, but you’re so focused on not crashing into rocks or other kayakers that taking pictures is nearly impossible. I don’t regret doing it, but if pictures and views are the priority, go with the boat.

💡 Book ahead: You can pre-book Benagil Caves tours through GetYourGuide or Viator to skip the beach booth wait — especially worth it in peak season.

Albufeira

After the caves we drove into Albufeira. Like Lagos, park outside Old Town and walk in. We stayed right at the edge of Old Town — 3 minutes from the nearest bar, but quiet enough to actually sleep. Albufeira is what I’d call the Vegas of Portugal. Flashing lights, bars everywhere, massive energy. It does not feel like you’re in Portugal — it feels like a beach party city. That’s not a complaint, just know what you’re signing up for.

Dinner: Windmill (O Moinho)

This was a highlight of the trip. A tasting menu inside an actual windmill, at the top of the city. Intimate setting, beautiful views, and the kind of meal that feels worth it for a special occasion. Go here.

Nightlife

Old Town Albufeira is made for wandering. We found the famous Albufeira tunnel which leads you into the strip, then moved between Vertigo Bar & Kitchen (karaoke — yes, do it), Atrium, Bank, and plenty of others. You can just walk in, check the vibe, and stay or keep moving. No plan needed.

Day 5: Boat Day in Albufeira

Lunch: Restaurante Alfredo

We’d seen a huge line here the night before and went back for it. Italian food. Overall it was fine, nothing that blew me away, but a solid meal.

Beach: Praia do Tunel

The beach right beside the tunnel. Great spot to spend the afternoon and easy to get to from Old Town.

Sunset Boat Cruise

One of my favourite parts of the whole trip. The boat served fruit, charcuterie and wine while we watched the sun go down over the Algarve coastline. The views of the cliffs from the water are genuinely stunning and gave us a preview of Falesia beach. It’s more of a relaxed chill excursion than a swim-focused tour, but you can ask them to stop for a swim if you want.

💡 Book your boat cruise: Options are available on GetYourGuide and Viator — look for the sunset cruises specifically.

Dinner: Restaurant Atipico

Spanish food and everything was good. Solid dinner, no complaints. Rua Candido Dos Reis and Avenida 25 de Abril are your streets in Albufeira for the night — just pick a direction and explore.

Day 6: Last Beach Day + Back to Faro

Our flight was at 5PM from Faro so we still had most of the day. For lunch we went to Georgina Café — we came for the view and it delivered.

Falesia Beach

On the drive back east toward Faro, we stopped at Falesia Beach — which we’d spotted from the boat cruise the night before. The red sand cliffs are stunning and completely different from anything else we’d seen on the trip. We even had a proper Portuguese beach donut (bola de Berlim) from one of the vendors, which is mandatory if you’re at a beach in Portugal. A great way to close out the trip — one last beach, one last donut, then back to Faro to drop off the car and fly out.

Final Thoughts

Lagos is everything the pictures promise. Iconic rock formations, great beaches, walkable Old Town, and a solid bar scene. It’s a laid-back beach town and there isn’t an enormous amount to do, but that’s the point — 2 to 3 days is the sweet spot.

Albufeira is the party town of Portugal. If you want nightlife, stimulation and energy, this is your place. But if you’re looking for something that feels authentically Portuguese, this isn’t it — and that’s okay, just know what you’re getting into.

Benagil Caves is a non-negotiable stop between the two, and renting a car is the only way to see all of it properly. The Algarve was absolutely worth it — and I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Have questions about the trip? Drop a comment below or reach out directly — happy to help you plan yours!

vinturewithme
, , , , , , , ,

Leave a comment