A quiet alternative to busy coastal resorts, Almancil is by all appearances a typical Portuguese market town, though its proximity to two of the Algarve’s most exclusive resorts—Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo—give it an upscale edge. Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, and championship golf courses can all be found nearby.

Backed by pine-topped ombré cliffs that fade from ochre to beige, Falesia Beach stretches for more than 3.7 miles (6 kilometers, making it one of Portugal’s longest beaches. It’s also one of the Algarve’s most loved strips of sand, with its colored cliffs and clear waters attracting strollers and swimmers alike.

This popular resort in the southern Algarve is named after Portimão’s main beach, Praia da Rocha, a spacious sweep of golden sand backed by amber-colored cliffs. By day, families gather on the beach to sun themselves, play in the sand, and splash about in the water, while at night, bars and clubs attract revelers looking for fun.

Once a quiet fishing village, Quarteira has grown into a summer vacation hot spot. Its clean beachfront, tasty seafood restaurants, and family-friendly water park—as well as its proximity to golf courses, Ria Formosa Natural Park (Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, and Faro’s atmospheric old town—attract visitors from Portugal and beyond.

A testament to the region’s strategic importance in Moorish times, the imposing walls of Silves Castle have presided over the landscape for almost 1,000 years, although the town itself is much older. A trip to the castle is ideal to get a break from the beach and taste the area’s fascinating history.