Carvoeiro is one of the most popular seaside villages in the Algarve, and once you see it, you’ll get why. It tumbles down the cliffs to the sea, with fantastic views wherever you look. The village itself is tiny, but it’s surrounded by some of the Algarve’s most spectacular cliffs and best beaches. That makes it a brilliant base for exploring the rest of the region, and there’s easily enough here to keep you busy for several holidays.
In this guide, we tell you exactly why we fell for this pretty village and share the best things to do in and around Carvoeiro.
Where Is Carvoeiro in Portugal?
Carvoeiro sits on the Algarve coast, in the far south of Portugal. Faro International Airport, where most flights to the Algarve land, is only a 45-minute drive away.
Because it’s right in the middle of the Algarve, Carvoeiro is a great base for day trips around the region. A rental car makes that easiest, and you can pick one up at Faro airport. Rather have lazy beach days without a car? You’re still in the right place, with gorgeous beaches, impressive cliffs and great walks right on your doorstep.
Where to Stay in Carvoeiro
A popular village like Carvoeiro has plenty of good hotels and B&Bs. Most are just outside the centre, because Carvoeiro itself is tiny. These are our top picks for where to stay in Carvoeiro:
#1 Rocha Brava Village Resort is just outside Carvoeiro (with free transport into the village), with lovely pools, smart apartments and gorgeous villas.
#2 Algar Seco Parque sits right on the Carvoeiro Boardwalk, on a hilltop with spectacular views over the cliffs and Algar Seco.
#3 Vale da Lapa Village Resort has stylish holiday homes set among green landscaped gardens and ponds.
#4 Hotel Carvoeiro Plaza is right in the middle of the village, just 25 metres from the beach.
→ Discover the best hotels and resorts in Carvoeiro
10 Best Things to Do in Carvoeiro
#1 Praia de Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro has one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve. The sandy cove sits between the region’s famous cliffs, with plenty of places to eat and drink around the edge. There are toilets and showers too, handy for rinsing off after a swim.
Because the village is so small, this cove between the cliffs is about the size of a postage stamp, so it can get busy in summer. That’s when it pays to head to one of Carvoeiro’s other beaches. In the little bays between the cliffs you’ll also find Praia do Paraíso, reached by a steep white staircase, and the soft sand of Praia de Vale dos Currais.
#2 Algar Seco and the Carvoeiro Boardwalk
Right next to Carvoeiro is a unique walk along the iconic orange-red cliffs the Algarve is famous for. The Carvoeiro Boardwalk is a short 600-metre route on wooden walkways along the clifftops, leading to the impressive rock formations of Algar Seco.
This mini hike isn’t really about the boardwalk itself, though. It’s about the views. The wooden path runs right along the cliffs, and in two places you can climb down to, through and onto the rocks.
Those two descents are the highlight. Paths and steps have been cut into the orange rock, and you duck into little tunnels, through archways and up and down steps to reach the best spots. There are so many nooks to explore that it feels like a proper treasure hunt among the cliffs.
As if that’s not enough, at one of the two spots you can take a dip in a natural rock pool carved out by the sea. In winter the sea is rough and it’s quite a show to watch the waves crash in, but in the warmer months it’s a great place for a refreshing swim.
→ Discover our tips for the Carvoeiro Boardwalk and Algar Seco
#3 The Most Beautiful Beaches in the Algarve
Carvoeiro is in the heart of the Algarve, with some truly magical beaches in both directions. Beach hopping is pretty much a must during a holiday here.
A few of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve? Praia da Estaquinha can only be reached at low tide, through a tunnel in the rock from Praia de Albandeira. Praia do Carvalho is reached via a stair tunnel cut into the cliffs. And Praia da Marinha sits right next to spectacular viewpoints over the rocks and sea arches.
#4 The Trail of Headlands
The Algarve is packed with great hikes, and we did one almost every day. One of our favourites is the Trail of Headlands, which runs from Carvoeiro to Praia do Molhe in Ferragudo, or the other way round, depending on which direction you choose.
The 6-kilometre route is waymarked with red and yellow signs, but getting lost is hard: you follow the spectacular cliffs the whole way, with sea views almost all the time. You pass the Ferragudo lighthouse, huge sinkholes where seawater rushes in under the rocks, the centuries-old Torre da Lapa lookout and some stunning rock formations.
The walk ends near Ferragudo, where you can grab an Uber back for around 6 euros. Pack your swimwear, because you’ll pass some of the prettiest and quietest coves in the Algarve along the way.
→ Discover the best hikes in the Algarve
#5 A Day Trip to Ferragudo and Silves
Picturesque Ferragudo is often called one of the prettiest villages in the Algarve. It’s tiny, but full of photogenic lanes and lovely sandy beaches.
We stayed here for five days during our motorhome trip through Portugal and loved the cosy village life and the beaches. Walk to the lighthouse, visit the yellow and white church and watch the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour. Ferragudo is the kind of place where you switch off completely.
→ Discover our tips for Ferragudo
Not far from Ferragudo and Carvoeiro, a little inland, is the castle town of Silves. Wander through the old town, where narrow lanes form a maze of whitewashed houses, cobbled squares and surprise views. The castle and the cathedral are the main highlights, and both are well worth a visit.
#6 The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
The most famous hike in the Algarve is the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. It follows the coastline past gorgeous cliffs, small beaches, rock arches and viewpoints.
The route is marked with the familiar red and yellow waymarks you’ll see on almost every walk in the Algarve, but they were a bit stingy with them here. This was the only Algarve hike where we struggled to follow the exact path. Not a real problem though: the trail simply follows the coast, so you can’t really get lost.
The views are the star of the show. You pass a lighthouse, a few sinkholes where you can see or hear the sea rushing in, and impressive rock arches. The famous Benagil Cave can only be reached from the water, but on this hike you can peek into it from above.
The idyllic coves along the way are tempting too. Praia do Carvalho is a great spot for a break: you can only reach this little sandy beach through a stair tunnel carved into the rock.
→ Discover our practical tips for the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
#7 A Boat Trip to Benagil Cave
The most famous sight in the Algarve is close to Ferragudo. Here, the sea has carved the iconic Benagil Caves into the cliffs, including the famous one with a hole in its roof.
You can only visit the caves from the water, so a boat trip or a kayak tour is the only way in. Since summer 2024 you’re no longer allowed to swim into the cave or land on the beach inside, and kayaks can only enter with a certified guide. The upside of a trip like this: you see the Algarve’s cliffs from the sea, which is really the best way to admire them.
#8 A Day Trip to Lagos and Ponta da Piedade
Half an hour’s drive from Carvoeiro is one of the bigger towns in the Algarve. Lagos is a maze of cobbled lanes, white buildings, little churches and squares. Luckily you won’t stay lost for long, because you nearly always end up at the city walls or the seafront promenade.
Lagos has one of the biggest sandy beaches in the Algarve, but also small coves with beautiful rock arches. Its best-known highlight is just south of town: Ponta da Piedade, a stunning stretch of cliffs.
We recommend walking there from the centre, passing several great viewpoints before you reach the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade. Still got energy left? You can carry on along the coast to the beach village of Luz, about 6 kilometres from the centre of Lagos. Walk back the same way, or grab an Uber from Luz. We paid about 7 euros.
→ Discover the best things to do in Lagos
→ Discover the best hikes around Lagos
#9 The Alvor Boardwalk
At Praia do Alvor near Portimão you’ll find the Passadiços de Alvor, also known as the Alvor Boardwalk. These wooden walkways run along the beach, through the dunes and beside the River Alvor. Where the river meets the sea, a beautiful nature reserve has formed.
A wide sandy beach and dunes protect a lagoon and wetland, where lots of birds nest in the salt marsh. The boardwalks and sandy paths are great for a walk, and this close to the sea, the riverbed follows the tides too. We walked here at low tide and could even cross the riverbed.
The Alvor Boardwalk also borders one of the longest beaches in the Algarve, so bring your swimwear for a refreshing dip at Praia do Alvor.
#10 Albufeira
Albufeira might just be the most popular place in the Algarve. We don’t find the town all that interesting, and we definitely wouldn’t recommend it as your holiday base. But if you’re staying in Carvoeiro anyway, it’s fun to pop over and see what all the fuss is about.
Albufeira roughly has two parts. Albufeira Old Town is the older seaside town, with narrow lanes, churches, squares and whitewashed houses. It’s only a small part of Albufeira, but it’s where the tourist centre is, with souvenir shops and restaurants. The old town sits right on wide sandy beaches, so you step straight from the cobbles onto the sand.
The newer part of Albufeira almost feels like a separate town. It’s centred on Praia da Oura and, above all, The Strip. Don’t expect charming streets, but there are plenty of facilities: big resorts, trendy restaurants and loads of clubs and bars on The Strip. There’s a good sandy beach here too, Praia da Oura, where plenty of holidaymakers come to nurse their hangovers.
→ Discover why we really don’t recommend Albufeira
