3 Days in Algarve Itinerary – Visiting the Beautiful Coast of Portugal

July 4, 2024

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Table of Contents

3 days in Algarve is a great taste to everything that this coast offers! This weekend itinerary for the Algarve coast in Portugal will help you map out the perfect 3 day trip!

Day 1: Arrive to Faro

white historical building in faro portugal algarve

Fly into Faro, the gateway to Algarve coast! Faro is a lovely little city, so spend the first day settling in and exploring the Old Town. In Faro you can:

Explore the Old Town, visiting Faro Cathedral and the Bell Tower
Spend some time on the Faro Beach
Walk along the marina
Visit the Chapel of Bones (if you dare!). Similar style to the Bone Cathedral near Prague
Get outside the city and explore the Ria Formosa Natural Park
Take a ferry to a nearby island and explore the beaches

ria natural park in faro — *View of the Ria Formosa Natural Park before arriving to Faro beaches*

Where to stay in Faro

Dona Simone Boutique Suites & Studios – cute little boutique hotel in the city center with A/C and a hot tub!
Faro Downtown Studios – charming little apartments with A/C and equipped kitchen to make you feel right at home

Rent a car in Faro

The best way to see Faro is by car. It’s doable by public transport or tours, which I’ll link below, but you won’t have as much flexibility or the chance to see some of the numerous beaches that Algarve has to offer, especially spending only 3 days in Algarve.

Day 2: Day trip to Lagos

You absolutely cannot visit the Algarve Coast without going to Lagos! Luckily, it’s only about an hour drive. If you don’t have a car, there are a few trains, although taking a day tour may be your best bet at that point.

Lagos has a beautiful old town and breathtaking views of the coast. When you arrive, head up to Ponta da Piedade for an amazing viewpoint over the ocean. There are lots of trails to help you discover the area, and ample parking for your car. Afterwards, head down to the Old Town for lunch and check out the medieval fortress (completely free by the way!).

I would also recommend heading over to the Marina to do a speedboat tour. These tours take you over to the cliffs, but allow you to easily slip inside the caves, while a guide explains the history and name of each formation. The tour took about an hour and a half, and cost only 18 euros because they had a sale going on! We ended up being the only people in the boat (perks of traveling in the off season huh?)

cliffs and ocean from speedboat in lagos — *View from the speedboat*

You can check out the boat tours here:

If you stay late enough, you also need to see the sunset on the cliffs! The sunsets at Ponta da Piedade are gorgeous and an absolute must if you’re able to swing it!

girl overlooking ocean in algarve coast lagos

Day 3: Benagil and Albufeira

For the final day, dedicate some time to visit the Caves of Benagil. These famous caves are about an hour from Faro. If you don’t have a rental car, there are several tour options that include transport.

The only options for accessing the caves are via boat or kayak, although you can take a hike around the cliffs and see the cave from above. At the time we visited, you could not rent a kayak without joining a tour, but the kayaks allow you to get out and actually walk on the beach inside the cave. There are lots of options, but Benagil is definitely a must-see!

Afterwards, take the transport back to Faro, or if you’re flexible, stop in Albufeira for a bite to eat and maybe some beach time before settling back in Faro for the night. There are tons of beaches to explore along the coast, so I highly recommend dedicating some time for that!

Some of my favorites include: