Here’s my ultimate 2-day Algarve itinerary. Since all of my family enjoyed visiting southern Spain on multiple occasions, on one of our visits we decided to cross the Spain-Portugal border to explore the southernmost region of Portugal.

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An Ultimate 2 Days in Algarve Itinerary

What is Algarve known for?

Algarve is the most famous and beautiful coastline in Portugal, full of picturesque towns, beautiful beaches, sea caves, and cliffs, with Benagil Cave being one of the most famous natural wonders. Algarve is a popular holiday destination for families and a great place to enjoy fresh seafood and delicious Portuguese cuisine.

How to get to Algarve

The easiest way to reach Algarve from Europe is by flying to Faro Airport (FAO), while Lisbon Airport is a popular option for international flights. From Lisbon, it takes 2.5-3 hours by train or car to reach Faro. For this Algarve itinerary, we were coming from Seville, as it’s only a 2-hour drive. So, the Algarve region can be easily combined with any Southern Spain road trip.

Best time to visit Algarve

While our 2-day Algarve itinerary took place in April, which was not the peak season, the region felt much more touristy than I expected. Curiously, at times it felt like an English-speaking country because I barely heard any Portuguese. However, I would not say it was overcrowded. Spring is considered one of the best times to visit, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F), but it felt a bit chilly for a beach holiday during our visit. In early autumn, temperatures range from 18°C to 28°C (64°F to 82°F), so next time I’d probably visit the Algarve in September or October. Algarve’s high season is summer, with temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F) – the busiest and most expensive time to explore the region. Algarve is also a popular winter sun destination, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 18°C (50°F to 64°F).

Where to stay in Algarve

During these 2 days in the Algarve, we stayed in Portimão. However, depending on the season, you can find plenty of other options on the map below.

How long to stay in Algarve?

While I realized from the very beginning that two days in the Algarve would not be enough to see all the landmarks in the region, I fully enjoyed this weekend in Portugal. I felt similarly to how I felt in Malta, that this was a great trip to get a first impression. There are many charming small towns and beaches in Algarve, but everything is close, so people who visit without kids and want a jam-packed itinerary can manage to see even more in two days. In my opinion, 4-5 days would be the perfect time frame for a vacation in the Algarve.

2 Days in Algarve Itinerary

Day 1: Faro, Tavira, Santa Luzia, and Portimao

Faro

Faro is the capital of the Algarve region, known for its charming Old Town and the pedestrian street Rua de Santo António. It was our first stop in Portugal while driving from Spain. One of the most famous landmarks in Faro is the Capela dos Ossos de Faro, an iconic church known as Chapel of Bones. We enjoyed a stroll through the Old Town and Faro’s marina. Another popular spot is Ria Formosa Natural Park, known for hiking and boat trips, but unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit it with only two days in the Algarve.

Views from Faro´s Cathedral in Tavira
Views from Faro’s Cathedral

Tavira

Only 30 minutes from Faro, we made another stop in Tavira, known for its beautiful mix of Moorish and Roman architecture. Here, you can visit the ruins of the 13th-century castle and walk across the Roman Bridge. Tavira is often called one of the cutest small towns in the Algarve, with plenty of great things to do.

Octopus in Santa Luzia

For lunch, we headed to Santa Luzia, a village famous for its octopus dishes, located only 9 minutes by car from Tavira. In Santa Luzia, you can try an endless list of octopus recipes, from modern to traditional, grilled, in tomato sauce, or in salad. There are also many restaurants where you can enjoy the best octopus dishes in Portugal, with Casa do Polvo Tasquinha being the most famous one.

Santa Luzia 2 days Algarve
Santa Luzia

Portimao

Portimao was the last stop at the end of our first day in Portugal. Our hotel had lovely oceanside views, and we enjoyed a nice walk on the beach with our daughter. Afterwards, we had a great dinner at Bar A Fábrica, where we ordered a huge seafood platter, which was amazing. To my surprise, I discovered that seafood in Portugal is much cheaper than in Spain.

the hotel views in Algarve
Enjoying the hotel views during our 2 days in Portugal

Day 2: Praia Doña Ana, Cape St. Vincent, Carvoeiro, and Marinha Beach

Praia Doña Ana

We started our 2nd day in the Algarve with a morning visit to Praia Dona Ana, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. Since the weather was a bit chilly for a beach holiday, we didn’t stay for long, but the natural setting was really beautiful.

Dona Ana Beach Algarve Portugal
Praia Doña Ana in Algarve

Cape St.Vincent

Cape St. Vincent, or Cabo de São Vicente, is known for its amazing views of the Atlantic and some of the most iconic cliffs in Europe. It was one of my favorite stops during these two days in the Algarve. It’s the perfect location for panoramic photos and beautiful sunsets. You can also visit the Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse museum to gain more insights into the history of Portuguese maritime navigation. Many travelers visit the nearby Sagres Fortress, but since we didn’t have time for both, we opted for Cape St. Vincent. If we had more time, hiking here would be a great idea. You could see cars parked every 100 meters. If you love artisan pottery (and you know I’m obsessed with Portuguese and Spanish ceramics), there are several cute shops on the road near Sagres.

Cape St.Vincent Algarve cliffs Portugal
Cape St.Vincent
Walls of an artisan pottery shop on the road Sagres Algarve
Walls of an artisan pottery shop on the road near Sagres

Carvoeiro

For lunch, we headed to Carvoeiro, another famous picturesque town in the Algarve region. Besides its charming beach, Praia do Carvoeiro, and many great restaurants, Carvoeiro is known for two nearby landmarks – Algar Seco and the Benagil Caves. Algar Seco is one of the Algarve’s famous rock formations, where you can walk along a boardwalk through tunnels to see the limestone caves and arches carved by the sea.

Another must-see nearby is the Benagil Caves, which can be reached by taking a boat tour from Carvoeiro and is known for large opening with sunlight pouring in. If we weren’t traveling with a baby, I’d love to do one of the popular cliffside hikes in the area, such as Carvoeiro Boardwalk.

The Carvoeiro Beach Algarve 2-days itinerary
Our Portugal Family Vacation – The Carvoeiro Beach

Marinha Beach

After lunch, we headed to Marinha Beach, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. While this place gets busy even in the off-season, I felt like it was well worth the fame, as the natural setting is beautiful. On my next visit, I would definitely enjoy the local cliffside 12km trail from Praia da Marinha to Praia do Vale de Centeanes.

Marinha Beach things to do in Algarve
Marinha Beach

Is Algarve worth visiting?

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d like the Algarve. It definitely looks like a picture-perfect destination in photos, but since it is one of the most popular coastal destinations in Europe, I wasn’t sure it would be worth it (especially since many top-rated destinations, like Cinque Terre, have let me down). However, I honestly enjoyed it. In my opinion, the region fits the bill for a family holiday. The coast itself was beautiful, and the weather in spring was really pleasant. The seafood was amazing, and both food and accommodation were significantly cheaper than in Spain. I realize that I might have had a different impression of the Algarve if I had visited in summer. Still, I was really happy with this trip since the itinerary went smoothly and we had no problems finding parking spots or places to eat.

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Visiting Algarve in Portugal for 2 days

Check my Pinterest Family Travel board for more ideas. Also, you can find more Portugal travel tips, stories, and secret places on this board.

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