A week in the Algarve on the road: itinerary, most beautiful beaches and what to see

Portugal in one week, by car, from north to south. This was our road trip: a couple of days in Lisbon, a stop in Porto, and then the real heart of the journey: the Algarve, with its spectacular beaches, the Benagil caves and the villages perched above the ocean. We are taking you through it day by day, with up-to-date practical tips, where to sleep and how much we spent.

In short: an 8-day Portugal itinerary with a rental car. Starting from Lisbon, heading up to Porto, then down along the Algarve (exploring both the east and west coast) and back to Lisbon with a trip to Sintra. We went in August. The absolute best part? Without a doubt the beaches of the western Algarve coast.

For the Lisbon section we have written a dedicated and much more up-to-date guide 👉 What to see in Lisbon in 3 days, so here we focus on what makes this trip special: the Algarve (and a surprise called Porto).

Day by day itinerary

Days 1-2 — Lisbon (see the dedicated guide)
Day 3 — Pick up rental car at Lisbon airport, drive to Porto with a lunch stop in Fátima
Day 4 — Last few hours in Porto, then off to the Algarve: Albufeira, overnight in Loulé
Day 5 — East coast of the Algarve (Loulé, Faro, Tavira) and tour of the Benagil caves
Day 6 — West coast of the Algarve (Lagos, Sagres, Cabo de São Vicente), drive back to Lisbon
Day 7 — Morning in Lisbon and afternoon in Sintra
Day 8 — Return flight

Getting around Portugal: do you need a car?

It depends on the area. For Lisbon and Porto a car is not necessary: both cities are very easy to explore on foot and by public transport. For the Algarve, however, a car is practically essential: the most beautiful beaches and villages are scattered along the coast and poorly connected by public transport.

We booked our car online a few days before, through Goldcar, and picked it up directly at Lisbon airport: a Fiat 500 convertible, kept from Monday morning to Thursday evening. We paid around €260 for those days, but rental prices vary a lot depending on the season and how far in advance you book — so always check the current rate and book ahead (especially in summer).

Lisbon, in brief

We opened and closed the trip in Lisbon: two days at the start taking in Praça do Comércio, Alfama, Bairro Alto, LX Factory and Belém, plus the last day with Sintra. But since we have dedicated a complete and up-to-date guide to the capital, we won’t go into detail here. 👉 You can find everything here: What to see in Lisbon in 3 days: itinerary, where to eat and where to sleep — with a stop-by-stop itinerary, the best pastéis de nata, where to sleep and where to eat.

From Lisbon to Porto: a stop in Fátima

Leaving Lisbon by car, we broke up the drive to Porto with a lunch stop in Fátima. And how could you not pick up a little bottle of holy water near the Sanctuary of Fátima? I mean, you never know, right? 😂
It was a quick stop but a worthwhile one: the sanctuary is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe, and breaking up the almost 3-hour drive does no harm at all.

Porto: the city that won us over

I will be honest: I loved Porto more than Lisbon. I found it wonderful, colourful and with a character entirely its own. We dropped our bags at the Pimms Home Ribeira and got lost on foot through the streets of the Ribeira, the neighbourhood along the Douro river.

The dream was Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world and one of the places said to have inspired J.K. Rowling while she was writing Harry Potter. ✨ One important tip (learned the hard way): you need a ticket to enter and the queues are very long. We tried in the late afternoon but it was already too late; the next day at 9am it was already packed despite opening at 9:30. So buy your fast track tickets online in advance and you will skip the queue entirely.

The Algarve: the heart of the trip

Here we are at the best part. The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal and is split into two distinct sides: the Barlavento (the western part, the most spectacular and famous, with golden cliffs, caves and postcard-perfect beaches — Lagos, Portimão, Carvoeiro, Albufeira) and the Sotavento (the eastern part, towards Spain, with long, flat, sandy beaches and the islands of the Ria Formosa — Faro, Tavira, Olhão).

How many days do you need? To enjoy it at a relaxed pace, at least 3-4 days is ideal. And I will say it again: you need a car.

Albufeira

Our first stop in the Algarve. We stopped at Praia de São Rafael to cool off: stunning, with its golden cliffs. Then a stroll through the centre of Albufeira, the most touristy and lively town in the Algarve — which honestly reminded me of Jesolo in the 90s 😂, so yes to the beach, but don’t expect an authentic village.

The Benagil caves: how to visit them (updated 2026)

The Benagil Cave is the icon of the Algarve: that rocky dome with the “hole” in the ceiling that lets light pour down onto the hidden little beach inside. It is the most beautiful thing we did in the Algarve, but the rules have changed and it is worth knowing before you go.

How to visit Benagil today: since 2024 you can only enter the cave on an authorised guided tour by boat, kayak or SUP. It is forbidden to swim inside the cave and forbidden to land on the inner beach (even if you arrive by kayak), and time inside is limited to a few minutes. Tours depart from Portimão (the closest), Albufeira, Carvoeiro, Lagos and Vilamoura, generally last 2-3 hours, often including dolphin spotting and other caves, and cost around €35-50 per person. Book in advance!

We had bought a 2-hour dolphin spotting tour for €35 per person directly from a stall on the beach in Albufeira, but from what I have read today that kind of “DIY” approach is no longer an option: better to book an authorised tour online (I recommend THIS GetYourGuide TOUR). A reminder that with the code ANGELAISAI5 you get a discount on any GetYourGuide activity 🙂

The tour was wonderful and I would recommend it to everyone 😍 — unfortunately we ended up with a group of teenagers that made the whole thing slightly less poetic with all their shouting and noise 😬.

One tip: it gets cold! Even at 40 degrees, speeding across the open ocean is goosebump-inducing (our guide was wearing a sweatshirt), so bring something warm. As soon as we got back to shore we warmed up in the sun with a snack.

💡 If you don’t want to do the tour, you can still see the cave from above, on foot: there is a scenic path along the cliff above Benagil beach, with free parking just a few minutes away.

The snack: Bolinhas do Carlos

Super sugary doughnuts with different fillings — a real sweet institution. My favourite: apple and cinnamon filling. Perfect after a morning of sea and wind.

East coast (Sotavento): Loulé, Faro and Tavira

We based ourselves in Loulé, which has a beautiful covered market in Arabic style: I had breakfast there with yogurt, fruit and granola at Bean17 Coffee and more.

Then we went to Faro and lay on the beach for half an hour enjoying the breeze — but no swimming, because the water was freezing (the Atlantic shows no mercy, not even in summer 😂). We then visited Tavira: nice, but honestly I had expected better.

Vilamoura

For dinner we moved on to Vilamoura, the “Beverly Hills of Portugal” 😎: among yachts and elegant buildings, it is perfect for an evening stroll along the marina.

West coast (Barlavento): the most beautiful beaches 🏖️

And here, in our opinion, is the best of the Algarve. We dedicated a whole day to the west coast:

Lagos — a lively town full of life, with lots of little shops and surf board stalls and lessons. Breakfast at Coffee&Waves with açaí, yogurt, fruit and granola. So good!
Praia de Dona Ana — stunning, one of the most photographed beaches in the Algarve.
Praia da Luz — a brief stop, quiet and relaxed.
Fortaleza de Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente — the southwesternmost point of Portugal (and of continental Europe): a wild clifftop headland above the ocean, spectacular especially around sunset.
Praia do Beliche — a wonderful and quiet little beach nestled between the Fortaleza and the Cape.
Praia de Arrifana — equally stunning; we ended our tour here.

I really struggle to pick a favourite: the beaches of the west coast are all wonderful.

Where to sleep in the Algarve and in Portugal

In the Algarve (Loulé area)

The hotel where we stayed is unfortunately no longer bookable online, so here are some similar alternatives, central and well reviewed, that we had considered:

Porta 20 — with city views and a terrace.
Loulé Jardim Hotel — very central, with a rooftop pool and sun terrace.
La Quinta Casa — 5 km from Loulé market, with a garden and private pool.

In Porto

Pimms Home Ribeira — where we stayed, right in the heart of the Ribeira neighbourhood.

In Lisbon

We stayed at the Hotel Gat Rossio (very central, on Praça do Rossio) and at the Tempo FLH Hotel (right next to the Elevador de Santa Justa).

For the complete guide on Lisbon neighbourhoods and hotels, I refer you to the dedicated article HERE.

Sintra: the day trip

We wrapped up the last day with Sintra, reachable by train from Lisbon (Rossio station) in about 40 minutes. A fairytale village, colourful streets and incredible palaces like the Palácio da Pena. First sweet stop: queijadas (little cheese pastries that taste strongly of cinnamon — and very good) at the Fábrica das Verdadeiras Queijadas.

👉 You can find all the practical tips on Sintra (tickets, how to get up to the palaces, what to see) in our Lisbon guide.

Conclusions: is the Algarve worth the trip?

Yes, very much so. This road trip gave us Portugal in all its different faces: the capital Lisbon, the surprise of Porto (which for us beat the capital) and then the Algarve, which remains the strongest memory — especially the wild beaches of the west coast and the thrill of the Benagil caves.

In two words: intense, tiring at times, but absolutely worth it. And if you want to spend more time in the capital, read our guide 👉 What to see in Lisbon in 3 days.

Frequently asked questions about the Algarve (FAQ)

How many days do you need to visit the Algarve? At least 4 days, split between the east and west coast. If you want to combine it with Lisbon and Porto like we did, factor in another 3 days.

Do you need a car in the Algarve? Yes. The most beautiful beaches and villages are scattered along the coast and poorly connected by public transport: renting a car is the best (and most flexible) way to explore it.

How do you visit the Benagil caves? Since 2024 you can only enter on an authorised guided tour (boat, kayak or SUP): swimming inside and landing on the inner beach are both forbidden. Tours depart from Portimão, Albufeira, Lagos, Carvoeiro and Vilamoura, last 2-3 hours (often including dolphins) and cost around €35-50. Book in advance.

What are the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve? For us, the ones on the west coast: Praia de Dona Ana and Praia da Marinha (Lagos-Carvoeiro area), Praia de Arrifana, Praia do Beliche (near Cabo de São Vicente) and Praia de São Rafael in Albufeira.

When is the best time to go to the Algarve? Late spring and summer are ideal for the sea and boat trips. Bear in mind though: the ocean stays cold even in the height of summer, so swimming is not for everyone.

What is the best base to stay in the Algarve? Albufeira and Loulé are central and convenient for exploring both coasts. If you are mainly focusing on the west coast beaches, Lagos is an excellent base.