My name is Mathias and I’m 24 years old. I was born in France but have lived in Portugal since I was two. Since then, I’ve called the Algarve home.
About four years ago, I took my first trip to the Azores. I visited Sao Miguel Island. It was amazing to experience the landscapes of this beautiful island. I instantly started taking photos with my phone and fell in love with the process of being able to capture moments in time.
This was the beginning of my passion for photography. The fact of travelling to different places and sharing my experiences got me hooked on travel. I started to learn a lot about myself in these experiences.
Why The Algarve is Awesome
The Algarve is the perfect destination, especially to take a Portuguese road trip in a campervan with My Van Portugal. It has something for everyone. It’s also a safe region, is totally affordable and the weather is superb most of the year. I enjoy travelling and exploring this area because there’s always something new to discover. The place is bursting with hidden gems.
My favourite place in the Algarve is Praia da Marinha. This was the place where I started to practice my photography after deciding to take it seriously. The views here are amazing and the rock formations are epic. There are a lot of interesting perspectives that make for nice photos.
But I don’t spend too much time laying on the beach. Like Praia da Marinha, there are a lot of beautiful beaches along the Algarve coast. Another favourite is Praia da Falesia. It’s a spacious beach and the sunsets here are nice, especially at low tide when the colours reflect on the sand.
7-Day Itinerary in The Algarve
I love the region of Barlavento Algarvio. This is where my favorite places are located. I really like this part of the Algarve because it is extremely diverse, the views are incredible and there are places to visit to suit everyone.
A stay of 7 days is more than enough time to get to know the Algarve as long as you have a plan in mind of what to see. I recommend starting your itinerary in the Carvoeiro area. This is a small charming village surrounded by a stunning coastline. It’s full of beaches and beautiful views.
Praia da Marinha is my favourite beach in this region. Another place that you must visit are the Benagil Caves which are one of the major attractions of the Algarve. Then head towards Portimao, Alvor and Lagos.
Lagos is also a must-visit place. It’s one of those destinations that is not yet highly commercialised. It has excellent typical restaurants and the whole town still preserves the typical Algarve architecture and culture.
Next I recommend visiting Salema and Burgau which are two places not yet discovered by tourists. They are typical Algarve villages – perfect for spending a quiet stay by the sea exploring the nearby beaches and coves.
To finish, head towards Sagres known as “The end of the world”. It’s the most southwestern place in Europe. This location has amazing views and is there so you can watch the most beautiful sunsets in the Algarve.
To add a little bit of adventure to your visit, I would suggest a guided boat tour to visit all the caves – including the secret ones. Who knows, you might see dolphins. The above destinations will make for an incredible 7 days of adventure. If you need more time you can always go for 10 days!
Hire a Car and Explore The Algarve
For travellers exploring the Algarve in 7 days, hiring a car is essential to get around. You can also choose a motorbike, campervan or motorhome. The train stations are generally not located in the centre of the places you’ll want to visit and the bus routes may not satisfy most travellers.
One of my favourite travel memories in the Algarve was when I explored the west coast in a motorhome. It was undoubtedly one of my favourite experiences as each day I woke up in a new place. What I liked most about this region was the calm yet wild beaches. Not to mention the epic sunsets!
Food & Culture of Portugal
I must say that here in the Algarve we have mastered the art of hospitality and welcoming guests from all over the world. We love to welcome people and show them the best that the Algarve has to offer. We’re always willing and ready to help and generally the same is true in the rest of Portugal.
Food of this region of Portugal is superb. Fresh fish and seafood is a staple food since the coastline and sea is always there. It’s easy to find good typical Portuguese restaurants and enjoy our gastronomy. I recommend everyone try the “Cataplana” – the most typical dish of the Algarve.
Need to Know Before you Go
There are many fantastic hotels to stay in the Algarve and the list would be huge if I mentioned them all! However, I always recommend staying in Airbnbs and if possible in the centre of the town you are going to visit. This way you can have an authentic experience as if you were an Algarve local.
As mentioned before, make sure you hire a car, motorbike or campervan. Plan your route and the places you want to visit and start your epic journey. I suggest visiting the Algarve at the beginning of June or at the start of September until October. The weather is still good and it’s cheaper too.
Thanks for reading my blog on how to spend 7 awesome days in the Algarve. Feel free to reach out to me if you need more info!
