The Perfect Algarve Road Trip Itinerary

The breathtaking Algarve coast is perfect for a road trip, dotted with charming towns and fun activities along the way.

As one of my favorite corners of Europe, southern Portugal has so much to offer that you could probably spend months soaking it all in.

However, most of us don’t have that much time on hand, so a one-week Algarve road trip will cover quite a bit of the highlights.

There’s no secret that I love road trips! The freedom of having a car is that you get to those places that are badly commuted with public transport, and you get the chance to explore at your own pace.

While living many years in Spain, I have done my share of south Portugal road trips, too.

Here is a one-week Algarve road trip itinerary that you can change as you like, but I promise you’ll get to explore some pretty amazing places and check out some of the best things to do on the Algarve coast!

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Algarve road trip itinerary

This Algarve road trip itinerary is made for one week, but if you have more time on hand, there are plenty of things to do in Algarve, and you can easily spend more days in each place.

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Day 1 Arravial in Faro

Faro is Algarve’s capital city, and with the only international airport in southern Portugal, it’s the perfect place to start your Algarve road trip itinerary.

If you opt for staying the first night in Faro or drive to your next destination in the evening and stay there, you should definitely spend the day here and explore the charming old town surrounded by old city walls dating back to pre-Roman times.

Among the best things to do in Faro, see the Arco da Vila, which actually dates back to Moorish times, though it got a Neoclassical facelift in 1812.

There are several beautiful churches worth seeing, too, but if you’re only gonna see one, make it the Bone Chapel in Igreja do Carmo.

There are also many great boat tours from Faro, exploring the incredible marshlands of Ria Formosa Natural Park. With only one day in Faro, you can make it, as long as you book a boat trip in advance and plan your day well.

Where to stay with parking:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐3HB Faro – relax in the spa, lounge in the pool, and enjoy drinks in the bar at this lovely, central location. Note that you must reserve paid parking up front for a nearby parking lot.

⭐⭐⭐⭐Guest House do Largo – relax in the shared lounge and cook your own meals in the shared kitchen, while you stay in the heart of Faro, just steps from the old town, shops, and restaurants. This is a lovely place with fantastic service. 🐶 Pets allowed.

⭐⭐⭐Ria View Guesthouse – kick back in the inner patio where you can swim in the pool or read a book just a few steps from shops, restaurants, and Faro’s top attractions. Note that there’s no parking at the hotel, but they can tell you where to park for free nearby.

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Day 2 – 3 Albufeira

Albufeira is a popular vacation spot thanks to the many astounding beaches. Worth mentioning are Praia de São Rafael, Praia da Galé, Praia dos Salgados, and Praia da Falésia.

But there are a lot of things to do in Albufeira besides the beaches. Make sure you stroll through the narrow streets of the picturesque old town. From the pedestrian street, you can enter a tunnel through the rock that leads down to the beach.

Igreja Matriz is Albufeira’s main church, a beautiful Neoclassical structure from the end of the 18th century. Also the archeological museum, Museu Municipal de Arqueologia de Albufeira, is worth visiting.

Other than chasing beaches, there are a lot of activities you can do! You can go stand up paddleboarding, surfing, kayaking, or go for a boat trip.

Exploring Albufeira from the water is truly rewarding as there are numerous caves in the astounding limestone coastline and mesmerizing secluded beaches.

Where to stay with parking

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort & Hotel Spa – relax in the spa, kick back at the pool, and indulge in a 5-star dinner at the hotel’s restaurants. The hotel is a short stroll from the beach and offers everything you need to relax after long days of exploring.

⭐⭐⭐⭐Aqua Pedra Dos Bicos Design Beach Hotel – treat yourself in the wellness center, kick back in the pool, and take in the sea views from your balcony.

⭐⭐⭐Praia Oura Sunset – relax on the terrace of your own apartment, where you can cook your own meals and kick back in the pool. 🐶 Pets allowed.

Day 4 – 5 Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro is a cute little village on the way to Lagos. With busy street cafes yet a peaceful atmosphere, Carvoeiro has surprisingly much to offer of natural beauty around.

Walk the scenic Carvoeiro Boardwalk all the way to Algar Seco, where you can enjoy a natural pool, caves and cold drinks in the bar nestled between the cliffs.

From Algar Seco you can continue on the whole day hiking route, Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, which stretches all the way to one of the world’s finest beaches, Praia da Marinha. This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful hikes in Portugal.

If you opt for driving to Marinha Beach, there is plenty of free parking, though in the summer months, you might need to go early to get a space.

Also Benagil Cave, one of the most astounding caves on the Algarve Coast, is located close to Carvoeiro.

You can either get there by walking the beginning of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail and stopping at Carvoeiro Beach (the trail naturally goes down to the beach), or you can drive there.

It used to be allowed to enter the cave by visiting on a kayak or paddleboard, but new rules came along a few years back, and now it can only be seen on a boat tour, which will take you to the cave entrance. This unfortunately means no more pictures from the inside.

Where to stay with parking:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Tivoli Carvoeiro – enjoy the sea and cliff views from your room’s balcony, get lazy in the pool, and zip on a drink for sunset. The personnel here go above and beyond to make your stay pleasant, making it a favorite place to stay! 🐶 Pets allowed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐Quinta Das Amendoas – kick back and relax at this homely stay, where the pool and country views will lower your stress levels. Make sure you book a room with a patio.

⭐⭐⭐Hotel Carvoeiro Plaza – stay centrally next to Carvoeiro beach, so you can leave the car parked while exploring. The pool and bar will be waiting for you when you get back!

Day 6-7 Lagos

The last stop on your Algarve road trip is Lagos. One of my favorite towns in southern Portugal. There are so many things to do in Lagos that you could probably spend a lot more than two days without getting bored.

After exploring the historic center with its museums, street art, and boutique shops, make time for activities in nature!

Learn hown to surf, go scuba diving, or explore all the amazing beaches around Lagos, like Camilo Beach.

Go on a day trip exploring the famous Sagres cliffs and Cabo de São Vicente. Then go to the mesmerizing cliffs at Ponta da Piedade, which I’m convinced is the most beautiful spot on the whole Algarve coast.

You can also go on fun boat trips from Lagos to explore these incredible rugged coastlines by boat, and you’ll get a whole other perspective.

Where to stay with parking:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Cascade Wellness Resort – treat yourself in the spa, relax in the spa, and enjoy a nice meal in one of their restaurants. This is a fantastic luxury option at a short distance from some of the best beaches in Lagos. 🐶 Pets allowed on request.

⭐⭐⭐⭐Lagos Atlantic Hotel – take a dip in the pool with a refreshing drink in the pool bar after exploring Lagos Old Town and its beaches, which are within walking distance. Make sure you ask for a room with a balcony and sea views!

⭐⭐⭐Agua Hotels Vila Branca – enjoy the pool or dinner at the restaurant at this fantastic budget hotel. Make sure you pick a studio or apartment if you’d like to cook in.

Getting back to Faro: Believe it or not, but it’s only 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive back to Faro from Lagos so you can comfortably spend your last day in Lagos and drive back to Faro to reach your flight and deliver your rental car.

Considering extending your road trip beyond Algarve?

If you plan on extending your road trip by exploring more of Portugal, you should definitely take in Lisbon, Cascais, and the fairy tale castles in Sintra.

On the way to Lisbon, Evora is a great place to stop for a couple of nights. There, you can explore the impressive Chapel of Bones of Evora.

Continuing north of Lisbon, make sure you make your way to Porto, Braga, and Portugal’s only national park, Peneda-Gêres, for some hiking. Epic stops on a road trip from Lisbon to Porto are Ericeira, Nazaré, Leiria, Coimbra, and Aveiro.

How to get to Algarve

The Algarve coast is well-connected by road to the rest of Portugal and even southern Spain. If you combine this road trip through Algarve with other destinations, whether it’s central and northern Portugal, or with an Andalucia road trip, the road network is great.

But if you fly into the Algarve only for this road trip, I recommend flying directly to Faro International Airport, where you can pick up your rental car and start your road trip.

When is the best time for an Algarve road trip

Any time of year is great for a road trip through the Algarve. That said, the hottest summer months can also be the busiest, and it can be hard to find parking at popular spots.

My favorite part of the year to road trip in the Algarve is in September or in May to mid-June. Simply because I find there are fewer people, and the temperatures and water are still warm enough to go swimming.

That said, I have been on the Algarve coast in December-January, and locals are still surfing and swimming.

Whether you don’t mind swimming in cold water or you don’t want to go swimming at all, the winter months are fantastic for a south Portugal road trip.

The weather is usually nice and warm, and there are notably fewer tourists around, so you can venture with more peace.

That said, there’s also a risk of heavy rain during winter and through spring, so bring your umbrella and be flexible with your activities.

Driving in Portugal

The main roads in the Algarve are in a good state, and it’s easy to get around by car. The smaller roads, on the other hand, can be quite bumpy in places and poorly maintained, so I usually speed down a bit when needed.

The motorway is full of automatic toll roads, though, so the easiest way to pay is to go to a service station and ask for it there.

They will help you register your car’s registration number so that you can drive through without problems.

You can pre-pay different amounts depending on how many times you pass the automatic tolls. If you ask nicely, they will most likely tell you how much they expect you to use, and if you see that you will go over the limit, you just stop by a service station again and refill.

Another option is to get the bill from the rental company after your trip, but you should ask them first. It might turn out more expensive.

In Portugal, they drive on the right side of the road, and signs are easy to follow.

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Responsible tourism on the Algarve

The Algarve coast being quite touristy, there are a few things you should be aware of when you travel there to ensure responsible tourism.

Avoid unethical animal tourism

In Albufeira, you find Zoomarine Algarve, which is said to be a wildlife rehabilitation center. But unfortunately, they do have dolphin shows and seal shows. They also promote swimming with dolphins. These are highly unethical activities, and I ask you to please avoid supporting this business.

You can read more about unethical animal tourism here and marine life in particular here.

Mind your waste

It’s needless to say that you should always take any rubbish with you to a rubbish bin and not leave anything behind. But it is just as important to reduce the rubbish you create.

By bringing a reusable coffee mug and a reusable water bottle, you save the environment from a lot of cups and bottles.

Respect the locals

The Portuguese are super-friendly people and deserve to be respected. Be kind, ask before you take pictures of people, and why not have a chat with the locals where you go?

Learn about their history and culture, be curious, and appreciate the connections you get.

RELATED: Why is sustainable tourism important?

Summing up this road trip in the Algarve, Portugal

Summing up, there’s a lot to see in the Algarve on a road trip, but you’ll see a lot of the highlights in this itinerary. I’ve left it fairly open, so you can pick the things to do that you prefer with the little time you have.

If you have more time, I highly recommend exploring more of the eastern Algarve too, where you find lovely towns like Tavira, Cabanas, and Olhão, which I really love!

Happy travels!

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