9 Days in Algarve: Beaches, Sunsets, and a Suspicious Amount of Shrimp

Praia da Galé is one of those beaches where time disappears in the most suspicious way: you sit down "for a moment" and somehow it's three hours later and you've done nothing except listen to waves and negotiate with seagulls over personal space. In early April it was pleasantly underpopulated — some walkers, a few sunbathers, and a lot of sand just doing its thing.

On our very first full day, knowing that the forecast was only truly beach‑friendly at the beginning and end of the trip, we went all in on sunbathing. No regrets: looking back, only the first two and last two days were fully sunny, and we were extremely pleased with Past Us for that strategic laziness. Camera‑wise, it's the perfect place for wide shots of empty sand, minimalistic sea‑and‑sky photos, and those dramatic wave‑meets‑rock scenes that make you briefly consider printing them as wall art.

The Seven Hanging Valleys trail is one of those hikes where the word "hike" feels generous. Not because it's too easy, but because you spend so much time stopping for photos that your average walking speed is basically "glacial, but enthusiastic".

We started at Praia da Marinha, fought (gently) for a parking spot even on a mid‑week morning in early April, and then followed the path along the cliffs towards Benagil. The trail itself is straightforward (less than 3 km), but the scenery is ridiculous: arches, coves, hidden beaches, and the Atlantic dramatically throwing waves at rocks like it's auditioning for a nature documentary. This is a wide‑angle lens paradise, but also a good place for close‑ups of rock textures and foamy waves if you're into details.

From Benagil, you can either chase boat tours into the famous sea cave or embrace the simpler pleasures of watching the waves and your hair defy gravity. We did the latter, then, after hiking back to the car, later drove to Praia do Vale de Centeanes, which can be considered another endpoint of the same coastal stretch.

There we found O Stop bar, perched just above the beach with front‑row seats for the sunset. Perfect, right? We ordered a strawberry milkshake. Less perfect. The view was absolutely five‑star, though — think golden cliffs, ocean slowly turning silver, and your drink politely pretending to be better than it is in photos.

On a rainy‑ish day that couldn't decide what it wanted to be, we drove to Carvoeiro and followed the boardwalk to Algar Seco. Even with moody clouds, the place is stunning: sculpted cliffs, little viewpoints, and a cave with "windows" that frame the ocean like someone pre‑designed your photos for you.

As the day went on, the sun decided to join after all, and we got one of those layered moments where sky, cliffs, and sea all look like different filters — except no filter is needed. It's the kind of location where you can easily burn through a whole memory card on compositions that are technically very similar but emotionally absolutely necessary.

Lesson learned: a "rainy day" in Algarve can still end in a full‑on sunset show, so don't write the whole day off just because the morning looks suspicious; just charge your camera and keep a rain jacket handy.

Faro may be the capital of Algarve, but it has the relaxed confidence of a city that doesn't need to shout to be interesting. On a cloudy and partially rainy day, we drove in, parked, and discovered that Faro is actually a very decent plan B (or plan A, if you like cities).

We visited the Faro Cathedral (Sé Catedral de Faro) and climbed up to what is technically a tower but feels more like a rooftop. The view is lovely even under grey skies — old rooftops, church towers, marshes in the distance. Inside, there's just enough detail to keep your camera busy without overwhelming you. Afterwards, we headed to Paço Episcopal de Faro, where the main stars are the azulejos: traditional blue‑and‑white tiles that look even better in real life than on postcards. Entry is €5 and absolutely worth it if you enjoy patterns and architectural details.

Tavira feels like someone took all the "charming town" elements — cobbled streets, churches, river, castle ruins — and arranged them into a pleasantly walkable layout. We started at Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, climbed the tower, and took photos next to a bell that rings every half hour. We narrowly avoided partial hearing loss by about two minutes, which we considered a win.

Right next door is Castelo de Tavira: ruined walls, a small but lush garden, and views over the town that actually beat the church tower. It's a great place for slightly elevated shots of rooftops, trees, and that mix of stone and greenery that makes your camera very happy. Later, we headed to Igreja da Misericórdia, where there was a Fado concert in progress; we only had a short look inside, but the azulejos on the walls were absolutely worth the detour.

In Lagos, we did the classic combo: stroll through the old town, buy Algarve T‑shirts to prove (to ourselves) that we were really there, and visit Igreja de Santo António — more museum than church, but still worth stepping into. We also hunted down the famous Green House — easy enough to find if you actually read the map properly on the first try, unlike us. Once found, though, it's extremely photogenic: peeling paint, greenery, and a strong "old glory" vibe.

Silves, on the other hand, is very much an inland highlight. We went straight for Castelo de Silves and spent more than an hour walking the walls, taking photos of the views inside and out. The ticket is cheap (€2.80) and the photo opportunities are generous: red stone, town below, and plenty of corners where you can pretend you discovered the castle yourself. Afterwards, we stopped at Segredo dos Mouros for tapas — small bistro, big view, and a very photogenic plate of meats, cheeses, and warm/cold extras.

Adega dos Salgados – Our Neighbourhood Favourite

This was our local restaurant near Praia da Galé, and we ended up there multiple evenings — always a good sign. The shrimps were consistently delicious, the cod was good (if not life‑changing), and the atmosphere had that relaxed, "we feed both locals and slightly sunburnt visitors" vibe. Great for food photos of grilled seafood, shared plates, and that warm indoor light that makes everything look cozy.

Dumar d'Benagil – Seafood Skewer Success

After the wind and waves of the Seven Hanging Valleys, we landed at Dumar d'Benagil for a late lunch and ordered a seafood skewer that turned out to be very tasty. Perfect "reward" meal: colourful plate, fresh fish, you, quietly congratulating yourself for going on a hike in the first place.

Melbourne Lane Cafe – Faro Lunch That Feels Like a City Break

In Faro, Melbourne Lane Cafe rescued our grey day with a great lunch in a modern, cozy setting. It's the kind of place where your plate arrives and you immediately think "yes, I will be taking a picture of this" — clean presentation, nice cups, and a general "I could be anywhere in Europe" vibe. However, if you're trying to only eat "traditional Portuguese" food, this leans more into international café territory.

Café Fino – Crêpes, Coffee, and the End of All Good Intentions

In Carvoeiro we found Café Fino, the kind of place you walk into "just for a coffee" and leave after sharing crêpes with strawberries, bananas, chocolate, and zero regrets. It's cozy, friendly, and perfect for a sugar‑and‑caffeine break between rainy walks, cliff views, or both. Don't let the "café" label fool you — the menu is surprisingly varied, from breakfasts and snacks to proper plates, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten‑free options in the mix. If you're travelling with mixed tastes and dietary needs, this is the kind of spot that keeps everyone fed and mostly too busy eating to complain.

Jardim Rústico – Cataplana, Fado, and Volume Issues

At Jardim Rústico we had a very delicious cataplana with monkfish and stumbled into a Fado night. The food was great, the music was great, and The Fork app came in handy for a discount. Prices are on the high side, and the room feels a bit tiny once the Fado singer's mighty voice really gets going. If you happen to be there on the Fado night, sit a bit farther from the musicians — or embrace the full "live music in my eardrum" experience.

The Strawberry Milkshake at O Stop

We've mentioned the view from O Stop above Praia do Vale de Centeanes, and it truly is great — perfect sunset spot, ocean right in front of you. The strawberry milkshake, however, did not live up to the scenery. Order something else, enjoy the view, and let the milkshake live on as a cautionary tale rather than a recommendation. Your photos will still look fantastic; no one has to know what was in the glass.

On day one, we went to Lidl because it's familiar; later we discovered Pingo Doce and immediately regretted not going there from the start. Pingo Doce had better selection and overall just felt like the superior choice for stocking up — especially if you like photographing local fruit, pastries, or the "what even is this cheese?" section.

Many Pingo Doce stores also have warm food you can grab for takeaway, which is perfect if you arrive late, are too tired to cook, or suddenly realize hunger is no longer a theoretical concept. Their pastel de nata situation is frankly dangerous: very good and very cheap (around €0.37 each compared to €2+ in fancy bakery cafés in town), plus an in‑store café with a small selection of warm dishes if you need a quick bite before a long drive or flight and want to avoid airport prices.