Last summer, in June 2025, I went on a trip to Portugal and Spain, and I can confidently say that Portugal was one of my favourite parts of the entire trip, especially the Algarve. Located in the south of Portugal, the Algarve is known for its stunning coastline, dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, and charming coastal towns. It’s the kind of place that feels relaxed and beautiful at the same time, with so much to explore no matter what type of trip you’re looking for.
We stayed at an Airbnb in Portimão, and it honestly ended up being the perfect location. It was situated between Lagos and Albufeira, which made it so easy for us to drive around the south and see as much as possible. It was truly an amazing trip, and in this blog post, I want to share the top four highlights from this portion of my travels.
Kayaking to the Benagil Caves
Wow, where do I even begin? This was such a fun and beautiful experience.The Benagil Caves are one of the Algarve’s most famous natural attractions, known for their incredible rock formations, sea arches, and the iconic cave with the opening in the ceiling that lets sunlight pour in. Seeing it in person was even more impressive than I expected. We chose to do the morning kayak tour so we would still have time to relax on the beach afterward, and it was definitely the best decision. The tour was well organized, the guides were knowledgeable, and they made everything very easy by outlining exactly what to bring and where to meet. The kayaking itself was so much fun and felt like such a unique way to experience the coastline. One of the best parts was getting to stop at a secluded beach and explore for a bit. It made the whole experience feel even more special.
Praia da Marinha
Before I get into this specific beach, I need to say this: the Algarve has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, and I genuinely dream of going back. Every beach we visited was stunning, and I honestly could not complain about a single one. Stay tuned for a full beach review, because they deserve their own post.
But Praia da Marinha? Absolutely stunning.
Let’s start from the top, literally. The cliffs and rock formations are incredible, and the views from above are unreal. Praia da Marinha is also connected to the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, which makes it the perfect spot if you want to mix a scenic hike with a beach day. I highly recommend waking up early, doing the hike, and then jumping into the water afterward to cool down.
The beach itself is smaller, and yes, it does get crowded, but honestly, I didn’t mind at all. It was still such a beautiful place to spend the day. The water was so clean, and it wasn’t as cold as I expected, which made it even better. It actually felt so refreshing after being in the sun. There are also snack and drink stands nearby, which is super convenient, but definitely bring cash. Then all that’s left to do is enjoy the view, soak up the sun, and get your tan on.
AllGarbe
This was our favourite restaurant of the trip, and it was so good that we went twice.
AllGarbe, located in Portimão, was honestly out of this world. From the moment we got there, the service was amazing. We didn’t have a reservation and the restaurant was full, but they still found a way to accommodate us, which already made the experience memorable.
The seafood was some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever had. Everything tasted incredible and felt like one of those meals you keep thinking about long after the trip ends. And surprisingly, one of the standout dishes for us was the cheese pizza. We really weren’t expecting much from it, but it was so good. It had a thin crust, the perfect amount of sauce, and somehow didn’t feel heavy at all. I genuinely dream of going back to this restaurant.
No Solo Água Pool Club & Beach Club
This ended up being one of the most unexpected highlights of the trip.
On our last day, we had to check out early from our Airbnb, but our flight wasn’t until late in the evening. Once we checked out, we came up with the idea to spend the day at a beach club, and I quickly looked up the closest one. That’s how we ended up at No Solo Água Pool Club & Beach Club.
I’m not saying this is the best beach club in all of the Algarve, but I can say that we had an amazing time there. We arrived early, around 11 a.m., and got a cabana, which ended up being the perfect choice. It gave us a private area to relax and made the whole day feel a little more special. The price was also quite reasonable compared to other beach clubs, which made it even better.
What I loved most was that it was busy enough to have a good atmosphere, but it never felt too overcrowded. The pool was clean, the food was great, and the drinks were even better. It was such a fun, easy way to spend our final day before heading to the airport, and I really couldn’t recommend it more.
The Algarve completely stole my heart. Between the dramatic coastline, beautiful beaches, amazing food, and unforgettable experiences, it ended up being one of my favourite trips. Staying in Portimão gave us the perfect base to explore different parts of the south, and every day felt like there was something new and beautiful to discover.
These were my top four highlights from this part of the trip, but honestly, there is so much more I could say about the Algarve. If you’re planning a trip to the Algarve, I hope this gives you a few ideas to add to your list.
Trippin with K 
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