Wondering what to do in Alvor, Portugal? You’ve come to the right place. During our stay in the Algarve, we chose Alvor to explore its beaches and seafront, which are far less concreted than in other parts of the region.
In this article, we give you all our tips and tricks for getting the most out of Alvor.
Key facts : Alvor
Where is Alvor located?
In the Algarve, southern Portugal, 1 hour from Faro.
Must-see
🏖️ The great beach of Alvor with its crystal-clear waters
🪨 Rock formations of Praia dos Três Irmãos
🚤 Explore the coast by boat and enter sea caves with Wooden Boat Tours
🌿 The natural lagoon of the Ria de Alvor
The historic center
Our waterfront hotel
💦 Info and reservation for the Pestana Alvor South Beach hotel per night with 3 superb pools and direct access to Alvor beach and breakfast
What to do in Alvor, Portugal
Alvor beaches and rock formations: beautiful, immense and natural
The beaches at Alvor are clearly among the most pleasant surprises of the holiday. We didn’t expect to find such a vast expanse of sand and such beautiful beaches in this part of the Algarve.
We also found the seafront less concrete than in other Algarve villages.
Compared with some of the region’s more urbanized resorts, such as Armação de Pêra, where houses run directly along the beach.
A little linguistic point: the Portuguese word for beach is Praia.
- 🏖️ The Praia de Alvor is Alvor’s main beach, with its clear sand and translucent water stretching for around 3km, there’s plenty of space for everyone, even in the height of summer. Praia da Torralta is a counterpart of Praia de Alvor.
- 🪨 We recommend following the beach along the wooden footbridges to the east to reach Praia dos Três Irmãos, with its rock formations and crystal-clear waters typical of the Algarve. We were there at low tide, so we took the opportunity to wander between the rocks and discover some really cool little coves.
🌅 We recommend going at sunset when the golden lights illuminate the rocks.
🅿️ And the big plus: there’s ample free parking (noted on our map).
We were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the beaches in this region, but it has to be said: the water is cool, even in summer. It rarely exceeds 18 degrees. Clearly, it took us a while to get into it completely. The first step is always the hardest. Fortunately, the air outside is quite warm, which makes it very pleasant to swim once inside.
💡 This contrast is an integral part of the Algarve’s charm, which is why we recommend renting a hotel with a pool, and if you have one, remember to pack 2.2 wetsuits in your luggage – ours stayed with us in Oléron.
Examples of children’s jumpsuits found at garage sales.
Explore the Alvor coast by boat and kayak
During a stay in Alvor, it’s impossible to miss a sea excursion. The Algarve coast is renowned for its caves, natural arches and cliffs sculpted by the ocean, and of course discovering them from the water completely changes the perspective.
❤️ ⛵ We chose to spend 3 hours exploring this area by boat and kayak, in a small group with Wooden Boat Tours. The experience begins with a boat trip along the coast, taking you along the cliffs and into otherwise inaccessible areas.
Once there, we embark by kayak (the distance to cover is short) to enter directly into the sea caves. The scenery is truly impressive, thanks to the play of light, the rock walls and the silence inside the caves. The pace is leisurely, accessible even to inexperienced kayakers, and the supervision is stress-free.
The Ria de Alvor: a natural interlude
The Ria de Alvor is a natural lagoon with long wooden walkways winding through the marshes. It’s the perfect place for a stroll.
We’ve seen birds, boats at rest and landscapes that change with the light. At the end of the day, the atmosphere is particularly pleasant…
👉 Well-marked 5km “Ao Sabor da maré ” hike on wooden footbridges, allow around 2h to complete the loop.
Explore the fishing village
It’s an old fishing village, which we honestly found less charming than Faro or Olaho.
The historic center can be discovered without a precise plan, simply by strolling around. Don’t miss the ruins of the castle with a small playground that our daughter really enjoyed. It’s a good option for eating freshly caught fish and taking a short stroll.
How to get to Alvor
The easiest way to visit theAlgarve is to land at Faro airport, then rent a car to explore the fishing villages, the Ria Formosa natural park, sandy beaches and rock formations. Faro is 1 hour from Alvor.
🅿️ Take advantage of the large free “Estacionamento Praia de Alvor” parking lot next to the beach and 10 minutes from the historic center.
Renting a car in Faro is easy and often very affordable, especially outside the summer months. It’s an ideal option for an Algarve road trip at your own pace.
👉 To compare offers and find the best value for money, after testing several today, we use the price comparator Discover Carsa reliable and easy-to-use car rental service.
💡 Another important point: the comprehensive insurance offered via DiscoverCars is often much cheaper than that added directly at the rental company’s counter, while offering broader coverage. A real time-saver, and above all a way of avoiding unpleasant surprises when picking up or returning the vehicle.
Where to stay in Alvor: sea views and swimming pools
During our stay, my sister joined us and stayed at the Pestana Alvor South Beach.
🏊 3 large, pleasant pools (all tested by our daughter)
🌟 Modern, bright and very pleasant
📍 Excellent location: steps from Alvor, sea view and direct beach access to Alvor beach.❤️ Very good value for money (Booking rating 8.5/10)
🏨 Information and reservation for Pestana Alvor South Beach hotel
Opting for accommodation with a swimming pool is a must in our opinion, as the ocean water remains very cool even in summer, whereas we’re used to visiting the beaches of Oléronnais and swimming in summer.
Where to eat in Alvor
We recommend eating on the seafront, where there are several wooden shacks with terraces directly on the sand.
We tested and approved the Windsurf Snack Bar Restaurante. We recommend you try the absolutely delicious polvo à lagareiro, a melting roasted octopus generously drizzled with olive oil, and bacalhau à Brás, the famous shredded cod mixed with potatoes, eggs and onions, simple and incredibly tasty.
All accompanied by a cool sangria, perfect after a day in the sun. An authentic, no-fuss address, where you can eat just the way you like it.
Our opinion on Alvor
Alvor is also an excellent starting point for exploring the surrounding area, such as Portimão or Lagos. We loved the walks through the marshes and by the ocean, and the rock formations. In our opinion, it’s an excellent village to stop off at during your Algarve road trip.
We then headed for the town ofOlhão (further east) to explore the Ria Formosa nature park and the island of Armona, before ending our road trip in the village ofArmaçao de Pera.
Our article with all our tips for visiting the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Our map
Find all the above locations on our interactive map.
Feel free to leave us a note below to let us know if you are planning this trip, ask any questions or share on social networks(our Instagram) we will answer you with great pleasure!
Before you leave, find all our articles to help you organize your trip:
- 🛏️ Where to sleep in the Algarve? our best addresses
- 🗺️ Itinerary for your Algarve road trip?
- 🚗 Car rental in Faro in the Algarve: our tips and advice
- Visit the villages of Lagos, Armaçao de Pêra, Albufeira and Olaho
- 🌊 Visit the must-see Benagil cave
- ⛵ How to visit the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade? by boat and on foot
- 🦩 What to do in Portugal’s Ria Formosa natural park and islands?
