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.

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.