Praia da Marinha is often called the most beautiful beach in the Algarve, which is saying something on a coastline packed with pretty coves and golden sand. We’ve seen a lot of the Algarve’s best beaches, and we agree with the title. A wide stretch of sand, clear water and, all around it, those dramatic orange cliffs the Algarve is so famous for.
We came here in winter and walked the entire Seven Hanging Valleys Trail with our baby, finishing right on this beach. In this blog you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting Praia da Marinha, from the best viewpoints to the best spot on the sand.
→ Discover the 10 best beaches in the Algarve
How do you get to Praia da Marinha?
Praia da Marinha lies right in the heart of the Algarve, between Carvoeiro and Armação de Pêra, with Benagil and its famous sea cave just around the corner. Distances in the Algarve are short, so you can easily get here from anywhere on the coast. There’s a large, free car park next to the beach. From there you walk to the edge of the cliff, where a steep staircase takes you down. A pushchair won’t get you far here, so bring a baby carrier if you’re travelling with a little one. In July and August the car park fills up early: make sure you arrive before 11am.
A rental car really is the easiest way to get here. There’s a bus from Lagoa to Praia da Marinha, but it doesn’t run often, so most visitors come by car.
Why Praia da Marinha is the most beautiful beach in the Algarve
Praia da Marinha pops up in countless lists of the best beaches in Europe and even the world. CNN named it one of the most beautiful cliffside beaches on the planet, and it’s Lonely Planet‘s favourite in the Algarve. You can’t open a guidebook on Portugal without coming across it. Chances are it was on your bucket list before you even booked your trip.
#1 The beach itself
The beach is smaller than you might expect, but with its clear water, orange cliffs and golden sand it’s one of the loveliest spots in the Algarve. The steep staircase drops you straight onto the sand. Don’t flop down right away, though. Keep walking towards the M-shaped rock formation, sometimes called ‘the cathedral’. The beach is wider there and much quieter than at the foot of the stairs.
Don’t expect beach clubs or much else going on. You can’t rent sunbeds or umbrellas either, so bring your own gear. A parasol is no luxury on hot days, because it can get properly scorching down here.
In high season there’s a seasonal restaurant by the beach where you can grab something to eat and drink. It’s closed in winter, so bring your own snacks then. Keep an eye on the tides as well. At low tide the beach is at its widest, while at high tide part of it is cut off.
#2 The viewpoints at Praia da Marinha
The Algarve has plenty of sandy beaches, but it’s the cliffs that make Praia da Marinha special. And they look their best from above, from the viewpoints along the clifftop.
The most famous rock formation is the M rock, also known as the heart-shaped cliffs. You only really see that heart from above, with a drone, which we found a little disappointing after seeing all the photos. At low tide you can walk almost all the way to the rock from the beach, so definitely do that! When you walk from the car park to the beach, turn right first. That’s where you’ll find several viewpoints along the cliff, looking out over the beach and the rocks: lonely sea stacks, jagged cliffs and arches like that M.
#3 Hiking at Praia da Marinha: the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
Praia da Marinha is the start or end point of one of the best-known hikes in the Algarve: the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. The route follows a stunning stretch of coast past cliffs, little beaches, rock arches and viewpoints. At just under 6 kilometres (12 kilometres there and back) it’s not a long walk, but it’s one that sticks with you. And the most spectacular part is right here, around Praia da Marinha.
We walked the whole route with our baby and finished here. The trail was wonderfully quiet, but it got busier at Praia da Marinha, because lots of people come just for this beach and its cliffs. The route is one-way, so we took a taxi back to the start. With young kids, that’s a great way to avoid walking the same path all the way back.
→ Discover the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail with route map
Alternatives: more beautiful cliff beaches in the Algarve
Too busy at Praia da Marinha, or hungry for more of these cliff beaches? These three are close by and every bit as impressive.
#1 Praia da Falésia: miles of sand below red and white cliffs
At Praia da Falésia the coast looks a little different. You’re halfway between the orange cliffs in the west and the Ria Formosa lagoon in the east, and you can see it in the rocks: white and orange layers in the wildest shapes, almost like a moonscape. Instead of a small cove like Marinha, you get miles of sandy beach. There are car parks and paths down to the sand in several places. We walked a trail along the top of these cliffs to take in all that rock scenery.
→ Discover the 15 best hiking trails in the Algarve
#2 Praia do Carvalho: a cove reached through a rock tunnel
At Praia do Carvalho we braved a swim in a pretty wild sea. It’s a picture-perfect crescent-shaped cove, and you reach it through a tunnel with steps carved into the rock. That alone makes it worth a visit. In winter it was wonderfully quiet, but as small as it is, we can imagine it gets packed in summer. The beach lies on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, so it makes a great rest stop on this popular hike. You can also drive here: from the car park it’s a short walk.
#3 Praia de Carvoeiro: a village beach with a boardwalk
Carvoeiro has one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve. The village beach is tucked between the rocks, with places to eat around the edge, toilets and showers. The village is tiny and the beach is little more than a postage stamp. One of the highlights of Carvoeiro is right next door: the Carvoeiro Boardwalk, a 600-metre wooden walkway along the cliffs. In two places you can climb down to the Algar Seco caves, along paths, tunnels and steps cut into the orange rock. It feels like a little expedition between the cliffs.
→ Discover the Algar Seco Caves on the Carvoeiro Boardwalk
Where to stay near Praia da Marinha?
There’s no village at the beach itself, so there are no hotels right on the sand. Carvoeiro, Lagoa and Benagil are only a few minutes’ drive away, though, and all three make a great base.
→ Discover the 9 best hotels and resorts in Carvoeiro
If you have a rental car, you can also stay outside the villages, close to the cliffs. These three lovely places are within walking distance or a short drive of the beach.
#1 Casa Marinha Beach is a two-bedroom apartment a few minutes’ walk from Praia da Marinha. You get a terrace with sea views and a shared pool in the garden. Perfect if you want to hit the beach early, before the day-trippers arrive.
#2 Vila Alba Resort sits above Praia de Albandeira, the next cove along the coast. The resort has spacious suites, a spa and swimming pools, and the clifftop paths start right on your doorstep.
#3 Quinta Nova Relax & Spa is a peaceful quinta between Carvoeiro and the coast, with a heated outdoor pool and a big garden. From here you’re only minutes from Praia da Marinha, Benagil and Carvoeiro village.
