The most beautiful and charming towns in the Algarve

1. Portimão

To start us off we have Praia da Rocha, one of the liveliest places found in the city of Portimão. Despite the proximity, tourists usually stay in Rocha and walk to this beautiful Portuguese beach. 

Here you’ll find a very long sandy area where which you can enjoy a natural barrier of cliffs. One of its great attractions is the Santa Catalina Fortress, which was built by the Portuguese defenders. 

In summer it’s very lively and the restaurants and bars are actually full of people. You can also surf here, and it’s worth noting that world soccer tournaments have been held on its sands.

2. Tavira

Tavira is one of the main towns in the Algarve, as well as one of the most beautiful. It’s situated along the banks of the River Gilão and has a great historical legacy left by first the Romans and later the Arabs. 

After enjoying this city, you can take a ferry to its island and discover its beautiful pristine beaches. If you don’t feel like sea and sand, you can also take a cruise along the waters of the Ria Nature Park.

3. Silves

The village of Silves is located in a fertile valley populated by orange trees, vineyards and olive trees. This town boasts a castle, which was built in the eleventh century on the remains of a Roman fortress. This castle is a beautiful legacy left by the Arabs in the region. 

Once you descend from this fortress, you will find the cathedral, which was built between 1242 and 1577 on the site where the great mosque of Xelb once was. Opposite the cathedral, the church of Mercy has large ornaments from the Manueline period.

4. Faro

This city is the capital and largest city in the Algarve. It has a large number of administrative buildings and fewer options for tourists. Faro is the best gateway to the region because its international airport is very close by. 

It should be noted that it’s the main campus of the University and the communications hub of this region that makes it possible to join the cities of the east and west.

The towns of the Algarve are full of wealth and opportunities for anyone who wants to enjoy their great options both in summer and winter. Start planning your trip and use this guide to discover the Algarve.

Author: Tirza Fagundes

Hospitality Supervisor at Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort

Hello! My name is Tirza Fagundes and I am honoured and proud to be the Hospitality Supervisor at Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort. My first contact with the hospitality industry was in 2017 with Minor Hotel Group, when I first started at as part of the Front Office Team. With time, my passion for providing exceptional customer service bloomed, allowing me to grow professionally and, in 2022, enter Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort as Supervisor of Hospitality. Nowadays, surrounded by my amazing team, we are exceptionally proud and dedicated to curating unique experiences suited for each guest and thereby creating timeless and unforgettable memories to exceed our guests’ expectations that transcend the vicinity of our resort and region. Me and my team will be more than happy to provide you with a warm welcome here at Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort and provide you with the most unique experiences to embrace and showcase our region’s most precious gems, local culture, and hospitality.