The southern coast of mainland Portugal is called the “Algarve” or the “Portuguese Riviera.” It is a popular tourist destination for party goers and families alike due to its sandy beaches lined by rocky shoreline, and clear Mediterranean waters.
Most people visit the Algarve in the summer to spend their days relaxing on the beach in the warm sun. We chose to visit Portugal in the winter instead to avoid the summer crowds and summer heat. The weather in the Algarve in the winter is mild and still good for beach play, but maybe a little too cool for swimming in the ocean!
My family drove to the Algarve from Lisbon in December with a toddler and preschooler, stopping in Alcácer do Sal on the drive down, and spent three days in the Algarve. Here’s how to avoid the crowds and enjoy the Algarve in the off-season with your family:
Getting There
- The Algarve region is located about a 2.5-hour drive south from Lisbon. We left Lisbon in the morning and stopped in Alcácer do Sal, about an hour into our trip, for lunch and to stretch our legs.
- There is an airport in Faro if you choose to fly directly into this region.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Comfortable shoes, clothes, and sunscreen
- Baby carrier
- Camera
- Rain gear – umbrellas, rain coats, boots
- Beach gear – blankets, towels, sand toys
BASE COST
- Indoor water park tickets for two hours are free for kids under two years of age, €15 for children ages 3-5, €20 for children ages 6-12 and seniors, and €30 for adults
Add-ons
- Food and snacks
Things to do in the Algarve with your family
Enjoy the sun on the beach
~4 hours
The warm and beautiful beaches that line the southern coast of Portugal are the main reason people flock to the Algarve in the summer months.
Lucky for us, the Algarve shoreline was just as beautiful in the winter months, too! The skies were sometimes cloudy, but the mild weather was perfect for sitting on the sand and getting our feet wet.
We enjoyed the beaches in Albufeira, especially Praia dos Arrifes and Praia dos Alemães, which both had long stretches of sand with small, kid-friendly waves. Praia dos Arrifes has beautiful rock formations lining the shoreline that are typical in the Algarve.
Check out the indoor water park
~3 hour; ~€15-30
It rained on our winter Algarve vacation, causing us to find an indoor activity, quick!
Aquashow Park is an indoor and outdoor waterpark that offers “summer all year.”
Tickets to enter for two hours are free for kids under two years of age, €15 for children ages 3-5, €20 for children ages 6-12 and seniors, and €30 for adults, and increase for every additional hour you add on to your day. We booked tickets for two hours in the morning and had a blast.
Bring your sandals, towels, bathing suits, and flotation devices if needed. The locker rooms are big and clean.
Our kids immediately saw the children’s section of the indoor waterpark, filled with ankle deep water so kids of all ages and swimming capabilities could enjoy. My toddler and I spent some time splashing in the warm and quiet baby pool, spying fake animals and bugs on the walls.
If you have a kid that can swim, head to the deeper pools to feel the water jets, go under waterfalls, and try to walk across an obstacle course.
Drive to the Cabo de São Vicente lighthouse
~1 hour
About an hour west of Albufeira is the farthest southwest point of mainland Portugal. The Cabo de São Vicente, or Cape of Saint Vincent, was the last part of Europe that sailors would see on their way to travel the world.
The lighthouse and fort at this point were a stunning contrast to the blue waters and rocky shoreline. We walked around the fort and hiked along the steep cliffs to find flowers, birds, and sea life.
I tried to imagine the excitement and fear sailors had as they waved goodbye to their continent, but also remembered the colonization, disease, and racism they brought to the rest of the world.
Go for a hike in Lagos
~1 hour
Take the Ponta de Piedade trail from Ponta da Piedade lighthouse west towards Praia do Porto de Mós.
The trail is 2.6 miles round trip if you turn around at Praia do Porto de Mós and takes about two hours. We left the lighthouse and hiked along the sandy cliff trail until it got a little steep for our toddler. I loved the views of the ocean, rock formations, and archways we got to see from this seaside hike. Check out this website for more Algarve hiking options.
I loved the views of the ocean, rock formations, and archways we got to see from this seaside hike. Check out this website for more Algarve hiking options.
Where to eat
The boardwalk at Praia dos Pescadores is lined with restaurants and shops. The El Rancho Steakhouse restaurant offered standard traveler meals like burgers and pasta, and a beautiful outdoor dining experience right off the beach.
Although the menu was expansive, offering something that everyone in our family would eat, the experience at the restaurant was far more memorable. We sat and listened to the ocean waves as we ordered, and our children loved listening to the live music while we ate. The restaurant staff were friendly and attentive as well.
Along the rocky shores of Albufeira we found an Italian pizza place with epic ocean and sunset views.
We ordered pizza and paella – two meals we knew our kids would love – and a bottle of champagne. The wait staff were kind and attentive, although the service was a little slow.
Holi Diwali Indian Restaurant in Sagres offered a reprieve from Portuguese food and some delicious samosas for the kiddos. We stopped here on our drive back to Albufeira from the lighthouse in Sagres, and filled our bellies with mango lassi, samosas, and all the nann we could eat.
We ordered pizza and paella – two meals we knew our kids would love, and a bottle of champagne. The wait staff were kind and attentive, although the service was a little slow.
Where to stay
There are many cities and towns along the southern Portuguese coast in the Algarve to visit and stay in. We chose Albufeira as our home base because of its central location.
Although there are many options of places to stay, we stayed at an Airbnb in the fisherman’s neighborhood of Albufeira so we would be close to the beach.
This Airbnb was perfect for our family because it offered a small pool and sandy beach in the private backyard. We spent our first night in the Algarve there, eating delicious take out and drinking the complimentary wine while watching our kiddos splash and play in the mini beach during sunset. It was a great way to kick off our Portuguese Riviera trip.
Our stay in Albufeira during the winter months was rainy and chilly, but still very beautiful. After seeing the beaches and coastline of Portugal, I have already started planning how we could return during a warmer month in the future. We had such a lovely time exploring the terrain of the Algarve, and were greeted by many kind tourists and locals.
While a band played at the El Rancho restaurant, a few fellow diners transformed the middle of the restaurant into a dance floor, compelling my preschooler to join them and dance. She turned to me and begged me to dance with her.
As we approached, I awkwardly waved to the older French couple dancing in the middle of the restaurant while the wait staff walked around them, and they happily invited us to join. The couple asked if it was okay to dance with my kids and began twirling them and throwing them up in the air to the beat of the music.
When the song was over, they thanked me, saying how lucky I was to be able to travel with my kids, and how they missed their kids when they were this age.
I love seeing others find joy in my kids, and this moment reminded me of why I travel with them. Family travel is not just to see cool places, but also to experience them and enjoy joyful moments of dancing like no one is watching in the middle of a small restaurant to the sound of waves crashing.
This moment could have happened anywhere, but it happened here, in the Algarve, and I will never forget it.
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Portugal with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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