Portugal · City Guide
Algarve (Carvoeiro)
Carvoeiro is one of the most charming and picturesque villages on the Algarve, a beautiful small resort built around a dramatic golden limestone cove beach with colourful fishing boats, excellent restaurants on the clifftops and outstanding access to some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Portugal including the Benagil Cave, Praia de Marinha and the Algar Seco rock formations. More intimate and less developed than the larger Algarve resorts, Carvoeiro is a genuinely beautiful destination.
Explore Algarve (Carvoeiro) →Elect's take
"Carvoeiro has the kind of intimate beauty that larger Algarve resorts have sacrificed for scale. The cove, the clifftops, the cave trips and the quality of the restaurants create a destination I find genuinely captivating."
The main cove beach at Carvoeiro is a beautiful crescent of golden sand surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs, perfectly sized and offering excellent facilities. The boat trips to the Benagil Cave, one of the most extraordinary sea caves in the world with its dramatic circular opening to the sky, depart from Carvoeiro and provide an unmissable experience. Praia de Marinha, consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in Europe, is accessible by clifftop walk or boat. The Algar Seco rock formations east of the village provide outstanding clifftop walking and snorkelling. The Slide & Splash water park is nearby. The golf courses of the central Algarve including Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago are approximately 40 minutes east.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Carvoeiro Cove
A beautiful crescent beach surrounded by dramatic golden limestone cliffs.
Benagil Cave
One of the world's most extraordinary sea caves accessible by boat from Carvoeiro.
Praia de Marinha
Consistently rated one of Europe's most beautiful beaches accessible by clifftop walk.
Algar Seco
Extraordinary limestone rock formations with outstanding clifftop walks and snorkelling.
Clifftop Restaurants
Excellent restaurants with dramatic coastal views around the Carvoeiro headland.
Central Algarve Golf
Access to Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago courses approximately 40 minutes east.