Portugal Family Travel Guide: Algarve Region
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to take the kids on a European vacation, but I don’t even know where to start without being stressed about the flights, the food, the schedules, the stroller situation or building an itinerary,” Portugal is the perfect place to start. It’s such a great entry-level European family vacation because you get that feeling of being somewhere completely different, but it’s easy to get around, incredibly family-friendly and you can build your trip around beaches, good food, quaint villages and downtime instead of feeling like you have to go-go-go. It was honestly one of the easiest trips we’ve done with our boys.
Before we even booked our Portugal family vacation, I knew I wanted to take the kids to the Algarve region, spending the majority of our trip there. It screamed Stanford family vacation: beaches, dramatic cliffs, seaside villages, jaw-dropping scenery. After a few days in Lisbon, we headed south and it was the most ideal way to end our trip. Lisbon was busy, walkable and full of things to see, while the Algarve gave us a few days to slow down, spend time at the beach and relax. The Algarve is Portugal’s southern coastline and has a much more laid-back vibe than Lisbon, with slower days, beach time, fresh seafood and plenty of sunshine.
Here’s what we did during our time in the Algarve.
WHERE TO STAY: PINE CLIFFS RESORT
I was between two resorts in the Algarve region. Both well known for being top-tier family friendly resorts that don’t sacrifice on luxury. If you’ve researched Algarve with kids at all, you’ll see two resorts come up often: Pine Cliffs and Martinhal Sagres. Both are amazing resorts, but we ultimately booked at Pine Cliffs because of the location. Not only did it live up to every expectation, it was the perfect home base for this part of the trip. If you’re traveling with kids, I would absolutely recommend. It’s a 10/10 stay for both kids and adults.
The property sits right above the beach (one of the best in the region), so you can easily spend the morning at the beach, head up to the pool for a few hours and then have dinner without getting back in the car. With two toddlers, the convenience of it is everything. Plus, the restaurants on-site were amazing and rated some of the best in the area which is not something you’ll typically find from resort restaurants.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to stay in the Algarve where you can have a true resort vacation but still get out and explore, Pine Cliffs is a great option. Here are some other great hotel options I recommend in the area:
My biggest recommendation is staying somewhere where you can have a mix of beach, pool and easy access to everything else you want to see in the area. Having the option to spend an entire day without getting in the car is a must for us these days.
WHAT TO DO IN ALGARVE WITH KIDS
The Algarve is really all about the coastline, so I would build your itinerary around a mix of beach days, exploring the towns and getting out on the water. There is a lot to see, but you definitely won’t be able to see it all in just a week.
+ BEACHES
There are beautiful beaches everywhere in the Algarve, but a few that are worth putting on your list are:
- Praia da Falésia
- Praia Dona Ana
- Praia do Camilo
- Praia da Marinha
- Praia de Benagil
The beaches are surrounded by the dramatic cliffs the Algarve is known for and that you see in all the photos. If you’re traveling with kids to the Algarve, I would pick a few beaches rather than trying to beach-hop all day. Some require a lot of stairs to get down to them, so keep that in mind if you’re bringing a lot of beach gear.
+ PONTA DA PIEDADE
Ponta da Piedade is one of the most iconic spots in the Algarve and absolutely worth seeing. The cliffs, rock formations, arches and caves are incredible, and you can walk along the cliffs for views from above or see them from the water on a boat tour. You can also pair seeing this if you plan to visit Praia do Camilo or Praia Dona Ana.
+ LAGOS
Lagos is one of the easiest places to combine sightseeing with a beach day. Most of the historic center comes alive later in the day, so I’d spend the morning at the beach and then head into town for the afternoon. Or, you can stop on the way there before heading to the beach. Either way, you’re going to want to stop at Black & White Coffee and get a cookie (trust me on this one). And, spend time wandering the old town, Praça Gil Eanes, Rua 25 de Abril and the waterfront. If you head there for lunch or dinner time, take time to grab a bite to eat at Casinha do Petisco or Empanadas & Co.
+ SAGRES
If you have more time, head farther west to Sagres. It’s a little more rugged and less resort-y than the central Algarve, with dramatic cliffs, beaches and beautiful ocean views. Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point of mainland Europe, is also worth adding if you’re making the drive out that way. You can book a tour to see Sao Vincente here.
+ BENAGIL CAVE & BOAT DAY
One of my favorite things to add to an Algarve itinerary would be a boat day. The coastline looks completely different from the water, and you’ll be able to see caves, arches and beaches that you can’t access by car. Benagil Cave is the famous one in this region, but there are so many other beautiful formations along the coast.
We booked a boat tour through Pine Cliffs and it was the highlight of our trip. I love that you aren’t just going to Benagil and back. They make stops along the way to swim and enjoy the view. You can book a private boat tour like we did here or you can book a kayak tour that gets you an even immersive experience if you have older kids. We spent the day cruising along the Algarve coastline, stopping to see different caves and beaches along the way. If you’re traveling with kids, a boat day is also a fun way to see a lot of the coastline without constantly getting everyone in and out of the car.
+ PRAIA DA MARINHA + THE SEVEN HANGING VALLEYS
Praia da Marinha is one of the Algarve’s most photographed beaches and is especially beautiful from above. If you and the kiddos are up for a hike, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail follows the cliffs along the coast between Praia da Marinha and Praia do Vale de Centeanes, with some incredible views along the way.
With kids, I wouldn’t do the entire trail, but even walking a small portion is a great way to see the coastline.
If you asked me to plan a trip to the Algarve for you and your kids, I would keep the itinerary nearly identical. Staying somewhere with a great beach and pool, planning on at least one day in Lagos, adding in a boat day and leaving room for slow days in between.
The Algarve was the perfect ending to our Portugal trip. If you center your trip around this area, you and the family won’t be disappointed. And, if you need helping planning your time in Lisbon, you can check out my travel guide here.
happy travels, liz stanford
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