In the summer, I always spend at least a week in the Algarve, Portugal. The weather never fails me and the combination of great beaches, gorgeous food and stunning architecture make the South of Portugal the perfect summer retreat. In fact, last year I ended up spending 3 weeks in the Algarve, travelling from Faro to Lagos and stopping at the major towns along the way. But, you will be pleased to know that one week in the Algarve is enough to explore several locations and get a taste for what the Algarve has to offer. But believe me, if you spend a week here, you will soon find yourself booking another trip! I hope that you will enjoy this 1 week Algarve itinerary.
How to get to the Algarve
Most people from UK and Europe fly into either Faro or Lagos airport. I flew direct from Liverpool to Faro with Ryanair and managed to get a ticket for just £29.99 in July! When you arrive at Faro airport, the city centre of Faro is just 10-15 minutes in a taxi. Uber works well here and prices are cheap, so don’t bother with the bus, just download the Uber app and book your ride!
If your international flight takes you to Lisbon, then you can get either a bus or a train from the Portuguese capital to the Algarve. Flixbus goes from Lisbon to Lagos and also from Lisbon to Faro. The buses are comfortable and most of them have WIFI and a toilet on board. If you want to read more about Flixbus, then checkout my Flixbus Europe review here.
If you would like to get the train (Comboio) then the easiest and most convenient route is from Lisbon to Faro which is a direct train taking about 3 and a half hours or even less on the intercity. You can also go from Lisbon to Lagos but there will be a few changes and it takes longer (around 4-5 hours). Well behaved dogs can go on the train in Portugal but they should be muzzled. You can book your train on the website cp.pt in advance – remember to input your passport number and carry your passport ID on the train journey with you and have it available to be checked as they sometimes ask for it.
When is the best time to visit the Algarve?
The Algarve is often too hot and too busy in August and you will probably want to avoid the UK summer holidays which is when the swarms of British tourists arrive. Temperatures in the summer can easily exceed 30 degrees which is uncomfortable for summer, and comes with a risk of burning or increasing the risk of skin cancers. I’d also recommend that you avoid the motorbike festival days as it is packed and noisy when its the Faro bikers festival (this usually happens mid-July each year).
The best time to visit the Algarve is probably the shoulder season. Choose late June or late September, when the crowds are less and the weather is more manageable. May is also a good month to visit the Algarve, but avoid Whitsun week when the kids are off school and prices go up.
It’s best to avoid the Algarve in the winter months of December and January, when the weather can be drab and colder. Pavements in the Algarve get slippy when wet, so you don’t really want to be there when there is a risk of rain. Saying that, last year I was in the Algarve in December, and temperatures were reaching 19 or 20 degrees, and we still managed to eat outside!
What to pack for the Algarve
Your packing for the Algarve will depend a lot on the time of year that you visit. If it’s a winter trip then add a raincoat, jeans and also a hat and warmer pyjamas to your packing list. I’m going to presume that you are travelling from March to October, when the weather can be sunny, and so here’s what you should include in your packing….
- Walking boots – essential for Algarve any time of year for the coastal hiking and slippy pavements.
- Walking socks – choose mid or light-weight walking socks to keep your feet cool but comfortable.
- Comfortable sandals – hiking sandals or soft leather sandals should be your second footwear option.
- Flip-flops – perfect for beachwear and water parks.
- Aqua shoes for people who like swimming and don’t want to step on anything in the sea or pools.
- T-shirts, vest tops, shorts and walking trousers or comfy linen trousers.
- Comfortable long floaty skirts and dresses for evening wear.
- At least two bikinis or sets of swimwear (board shorts are great for guys).
- Sunglasses or prescriptions sunnies if you wear glasses usually
- Scarf – great for around your shoulders on cool evenings and covering your shoulders for Churches
- A long sleeved linen top or blouse that covers your shoulders and cleavage for going inside the Cathedral and other Churches.
- Sun cream and sun hat – essential for sun protection.
- Bum bag or small passport bag or day bag for going round the towns and sightseeing.
- Lonely Planet Pocket Algarve – Or similar Algarve guide book to read on transport and when you are without wifi.
- Smartphone – with data roaming activated or an e-SIM for Portugal.
- Portugal travel adapter to convert your chargers – Portugal is the two pin Type F plug.
- A four way plug used with a two pin converter will give you plenty more charging options, so take a four-way if you have a lot of gadgets such as hair dryer, camera, laptop, i-Pad and phone.
- Bug spray (with DEET or equivalent) and savlon or hydrocortisone cream for mozzie bites (they don’t have malaria here, so anti-malarials are not needed).
1 week in the Algarve – Where to go
Many people who visit Portugal prioritise Lisbon and Porto, and although that’s a great idea if you’re big into sightseeing and backpacking, the Algarve offers you a different vibe and a more relaxed pace. If you want to spend a week in Portugal and slow things right down to enjoy more of the coast, you could opt for a week in the Algarve, which many people do. Just be aware that many parts of the Algarve are extremely touristy and have become very ‘Brits abroad’. Don’t worry, I will tell you which places are the authentic Portuguese towns and which are the over touristy ones to avoid!
Personally, I wouldn’t attempt to do Porto, Lisbon AND the Algarve in one week – it would be too much. You could potentially do one of these major cities with 3 days on the Algarve coast if you really wanted to. In this case, I would recommend Lisbon and Lagos.
There is a good train connection all along the Algarve making other cities relatively easy to get to for day trips. Some good Algarve destinations that I like, which are not too touristy, are Tavira and Loulé.
Lagos is quite touristy but still has a traditionally Portuguese feel to the old town, with beautiful calcadas (pavements). Lagos and the surrounding areas have some of the best beaches in Portugal and so if it’s beach or surfing that you are after then head there. You can also do a few day trips from there – for example, Loulé, silves and Tavira are all doable as day trips if you have a car or hire a tour guide. You can also take a boat to visit the Benagil caves from Lagos. If I were to choose one destination as a base for a week in the Algarve, I would choose Lagos.
A two destination trip for 1 week in the Algarve
It’s worth noting that Faro is nice enough for a day or so, but doesn’t really have good beaches. It is, however, well located in terms of good surrounding places to explore.
Another option for a week in the Algarve with two destinations would be to do four days in Lagos and three in Faro with day trips. You can visit Sagres or Silves as a day trip from Lagos and then visit Loule and/or Tavira as day trips from Faro if you wanted to. This way you would cover more ground. Again, I wouldn’t have more than two bases in a week – you would tire yourself out with all of the moving, and with the coastal towns being well connected by public transport, you don’t need to relocate every other day to see a lot of the Algarve.
The perfect 1 week Algarve Itinerary
As an alternative if you are looking to explore the Algarve, you can fly into Lagos or Faro and spend 7 days on the coast. I’d recommend having half your time in Faro and half in Lagos and you can easily travel between the two by train or bus. This itinerary is more suited to someone who would prefer a more ‘beachy’ holiday, rather than exploring and sightseeing in the main cities. It’s also a slightly more relaxed itinerary than the Porto and Lisbon one.
Finally, if you are travelling to Portugal in the winter months, you may prefer this itinerary as the weather is quite poor in Northern and central Portugal from November-February. As I’ve mentioned, you can still enjoy temperatures up to 19/20 degrees in the Algarve in late November and early December.
This 1 week Algarve itinerary can be done either way around – either Faro to Lagos OR Lagos to Faro. How you choose where to start or finish will often depend on your flight options or onward travel plans. For example, if you are moving onto Spain, then I would do Lagos to Faro and then continue to Spain from there.
Day 1 – Lagos old town and Museum
To kick start your 1 week Algarve itinerary, spend a day enjoying the gorgeous streets of Lagos. You will find beautiful calcadas (cobbled streets) with Octopus and other sea creatures in the patterns of the pavements. Lagos offers cool street art, two fortresses (Forte da Ponta da Bandeira and the castle of Lagos) and some beautiful Church buildings too.
Don’t miss the Church of St. Anthony and Lagos Museum. St Anthony’s Church is one of Portugal’s finest examples of a guilded woodwork in Portugal.
Day 2 Praia dos Estudantes
On your second day, take a relaxing day on Praia dos Estudantes. Praia dos Estudantes is a cozy sandy beach, surrounded by overhanging cliffs and it’s a lovely place to sit and read a book and top up your tan. It has lifeguards and safe swimming (as long as you listen to the guidance and stay in the dedicated areas) is possible. The sun can be particularly strong in the Algarve (especially in the summer) so make sure that you use sun cream and a sun hat and keep hydrated.
There are some great restaurants and bars nearby including some bars overlooking the beach. For good local restaurant recommendations near to Praia dos Estudantes, try Patrocinado, Pinhão Restaurant and Restaurante O Alcaide.
Day 3 – Camilo beach and Camillo Seafood Restaurant
Lagos really is all about the coastline and beaches. On your third day, I highly recommend a trip to one of the more secluded beaches such as Praia do Camillo. This is an extremely picturesque beach, just be mindful that you have to go down quite a big wooden staircase! I would advise you to wear walking boots to go and then change into flip flops on the beach. You can do a coastal hike from Lagos (around 40-60 mins) or jump in a taxi round the coast to the car park and descend from there.
One of the best things about visiting Praia do Camillo is eating at the Camillo restaurant – this was the most gorgeous fresh fish I ate in all of Portugal. I ordered the Dorada which came with a salad…
Day 4 – Boat trip to Benagil caves and transfer to Faro
You have a great opportunity to use this day for a trip to one of the Algarve’s most famous natural attractions – the Benagil caves. These caves are around 40 minutes drive to the East of Lagos. You need a boat ride or supervised kayak trip to go inside the cave, so it’s always a good idea to get a guided tour. You can book a good tour of the Benagil caves online with GetYourGuide.
In the evening, transfer to Faro by train (book on cp.pt), or book a private transfer. A transfer is more expensive but more convenient, and works out cheaper if there are a few of you splitting the cost.
Day 5 Faro Old Town, Church of Bones and Marina
For breakfast on your first day in Faro, I highly recommend Chelsea – it’s popular with the locals and tourists alike. The eggs benedict and Chelsea benedict (with serrano ham) are amazing and come with avocado toast.
Then head to the eerily interesting Capela dos Ossos or Church of Bones! Enter into the Igreja do Carmo, which in itself is a beautiful Church to visit with a double bell tower and herons making nests on top! The bones chapel is a smaller chapel at the back of the Church and is lined with the skulls of over 1000 monks!
Then walk past the Marina and through the Arco da Vila – the neo-classical archway that leads to the old town, with remains of original Moorish wall. Don’t miss Largo da Sé – the main square of Faro Old Town, lined with orange trees and home to the Town Hall, Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace. Make sure that you go inside the Cathedral – it’s a beautiful cathedral with a stunning red organ dating back to the 1700’s. The €5 entrance fee is well worth it.
On the evening, I’d highly recommend a visit to Dois Irmaos – this restaurant is called the two brothers, and it’s one of the best for traditional Portuguese food, with main dishes of sardines, fish stew and seafood risotto.
If you’re up for a good night of drinking (and maybe karaoke), you’re not short of bars in Faro. I love Lab Terrace, Boheme and RockLine (Great cocktails and live music).
Day 6 – Day trip to Tavira or Loule
From Faro it’s easy to take a day trip to either Tavira or Loule. Both are really beautiful traditional Portuguese towns with colourful architecture and plenty to see. You can go to Tavira by train from Faro and a good route is to travel into Porta Nova station (to arrive at the top of the town) and walk down to rejoin the train at Tavira station. If you choose to visit Loule I would recommend taking a taxi, because Loule train station is about 20 minutes away from the centre. Uber works well in this part of the Algarve.
Day 7 – Rio de Formosa National Park
On your last day, I would recommend booking a tour to visit Rio de Formosa national park. This beautiful part of the coastline is great for birdwatching, kayaking and beach combing. You can book a guided boat tour on GetYourGuide that starts from Faro. It’s salt marshes and salt flats are home to Portugals wild Flamingos most of the year, which is fantastic to see.
As an alternative, if you wanted to spend your last day in another Algarvian town, jump on the train to Olhao, a traditional fishing village which has now become a popular tourist destination.
Time to go Home!
Sadly, it’s time to go home! So make sure that you allow a contingency in time and arrive at your airport a few hours ahead of your international flight.
3 Days in the Algarve
Even if you only have 3 days in the Algarve, I would argue that it’s definitely still worth visiting. I would recommend choosing one destination – either Faro OR Lagos. Spend a day in the old town, a day on the beach and a day exploring a different city or Benagil caves.
Further Reading on Portugal
I totally love Portugal – it’s pretty much my second home these days! The Churches…..the castles….the food….the beaches. You really cannot go wrong! It’s also a very safe place to go and so I would recommend it as a good place for solo female travellers too. If you’d like to read more about Portugal, please check out some of my other blogs…
- What to wear in Portugal
- My holiday to the Algarve
- Is Portugal worth visiting?
- The Ultimate Guide to solo travel in Portugal
- Is Porto worth visiting?
- Highlights of Portugal