Carvoeiro: A Guide to the Algarve Beach Town
Whilst Carvoeiro was once a fishing village, it’s now very much a resort town. The beach remains picturesque, nestled between dramatic cliffs and with the shimmering Atlantic Ocean extending as far as the eye can see. The town is beautifully white-washed and from the outside looks quaint. In the town itself, however, you’ll find a plethora of Superbock branded bars, burger joints, and more Brits abroad than Portuguese locals.
It may be less touristy than Albufeira and Lagos, but Carvoeiro is a growing resort area. Whilst Carvoeiro attracts fewer stag and hen holidaymakers than the other big towns on the Algarve, you’re likely to still see a few out in town. In our experience, the tourists here were a friendly and mixed crowd of couples, families, retirees, package holidayers and more affluent resort-goers.
What you can expect from Carvoeiro is nice beaches, great coastal hikes, fantastic limestone rock formations, kayaking adventures into caves and coves, and a smattering of decent restaurants. Let’s get started…
Best Beaches in Carvoeiro
Praia de Carvoeiro – The main beach in town, Praia do Carvoeiro, is a small and picturesque sandy bay between two limestone cliffs. It’s the beach with the most plentiful amenities right on the main strip of Carvoeiro. The beach is ideal for families with small children and those not wanting to venture too far. Unfortunately, during our visit, there was a significant seaweed problem on the beach where the mounting seaweed was blocking access to the water.
Praia do Vale de Centeanes – Our favourite beach in the area was neighbouring Praia do Vale de Centeanes. It was less seaweedy than the other beaches in the area so it was possible to swim here when the water wasn’t too rough. The sand is soft and there’s an unpretentious beach-front restaurant called O Stop where we stopped for lunch salads and chips (Luke may or may not have made a chip butty out of his bread and chips).
Praia do Paraíso – A spiral staircase on the cliff side leads you down to a near-deserted beach. Rockier than the other two beaches mentioned, there are very few people on this beach. Ideal if your beach day plan is to sit and read on the rocks rather than swim or sunbathe on the sand.
Best Things To Do in Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro Boardwalk – This 570m-long wooden boardwalk runs across the clifftop and provides easy access to some of the coolest caves and rock formations in the area, including Algar Seco. The boardwalk starts at the top of the steps up from town by the quaint chapel and fort and extends over to Algar Seco. We also preferred to walk this route into town from the Tivoli Hotel to avoid part of the tourist strip leading into Carvoeiro.
Algar Seco – The famed Algar Seco is a small set of rock formations and caves and scenic viewpoints on the coastline. It’s pretty other-worldly and a good place to explore. Stop by Boneca Bar situated there for a beer to enjoy some shade and views of the impressive rock formations.
Kayaking to Benagil Caves – The best day trip from Carvoiro has to be a day-out kayaking. The best thing about this area of the Algarve is the impressive rock formations, cliffs and caves that run along the coastline. Kayaking is the best way to see these impressive caves, as you’ll kayak right into them and be able to hop off on the beach at the famous Benagil Caves. Tours can be organised at your hotel or you can book online. If you’re not a keen kayaker, then boat tours are also available but it’s worth noting that you cannot get off the boat at Benagil Caves or any other spots if you’re on a boat.
Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail – This rugged cliff-top trail runs from Praia do Vale de Centeanes to Praia da Marinha in the west. Whilst the total trail is 6km, we opted to do a shorter stretch given the high temperatures during the day in June. We passed the beautiful Alfanzina lighthouse and walked along to Praia do Carvalho, a beach that can only be accessed via cave tunnels. Don’t miss the fresh juice stand by this beach (cash only).
Sky Bar at the Tivoli Carvoeiro – The magical sunset view from the rooftop of the Tivoli Hotel is not to be missed. You don’t need a reservation and can rock up at any time during the afternoon or evening, but it’s best to get there a little earlier so you can get one of the sofa seats with the best views. From the bar, you’ll have gorgeous sea views over a cove and the cliffs.
Day Trips from Carvoeiro
Alvor – Praia de Alvor is by far the best beach we saw on our Algarve trip. This expansive stretch of soft golden-white sand runs along the edge of the beautiful Alvor Nature Reserve. This beach feels the most out-in-nature and away from the hustle-and-bustle of the resort towns that we found in the area. The sea here was flat as a pancake, making it a good swimming spot. However, just on the other side of the nature reserve, the thin beach area has enough wind for beginner windsurfers. The town itself is fairly nice, if a little touristy, with a beautiful blue and white church that is worth stopping by.
Ferragudo – A small fishing village, Ferragudo is a quaint place to while away an hour or two. The small town centre has a selection of good restaurants, patisseries and an ice cream parlor. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the coastline or head to the beach of Praia da Angrinha which is flanked by the São João do Arade castle.
Faro – The gateway to the Algarve, Faro is a destination best known for cheap flights and easy access to many of Portugal’s best beaches. But there’s so much more to this city and we were pleasantly surprised by how lovely it is. Faro’s old town is a beauty with its neoclassical arch, Gothic cathedral, quaint cafes and rooftop views of saltwater lagoons. Scale the cathedral’s tower, admire the views, enjoy an espresso at a cute cafe and spend time soaking up the old town. The airport is just 10 minutes away from the city, making it an ideal place to visit before or after a flight. Here’s a sneaky peek of our visit to Faro.
Where To Eat in Carvoeiro
There’s a real mix of restaurants in Carvoeiro, ranging from cheap and cheerful burger joints to 5-star dining experiences. We’re more mid-range eaters, preferring a nice meal without luxury price tags. Whilst fish and meat dishes are staples for the region, it’s possible to eat well as a vegetarian in Carvoeiro if you eat cheese. Vegan cuisine in the town (and the Algarve region) is limited.
Earth Shop & Cafe – Our favourite lunch spot was hands down Earth Cafe. This cafe has a friendly, lovely vibe with its yellow-painted walls and distant sea views. Serving lots of fresh and homemade goods, this cafe is a good spot for all eaters, including vegetarians and vegans. I highly recommend the vegan quesadilla! The best coffee in town is here too – including oat milk coffees which is a rarity in Portugal. The shop inside the cafe stocks beautiful local ceramics and wines from across Portugal.
Villa Medici – This unassuming Italian restaurant doesn’t look like much from the outside but was one of the best places we ate in Carvoeiro. The restaurant is a tardis with a few tables on the balcony leading through to an unexpectedly expansive inside and back courtyard. When we visited, we were surprised to find almost all the tables full. The open kitchen is a good sign, with homemade fresh pasta being made by talented chefs. We ordered the pasta arrabbiata which was perfectly spicy and the house white wine was the best we had in Carvoeiro. A real classic Italian!
Chef’s Kitchen Carvoeiro – Whilst we ate at Chef’s Kitchen Carvoeiro because the menu was one of the few in town that included vegetarian and vegan options, we wouldn’t recommend it. The food was fine but at €20 for a main and more for a meat or fish dish, it’s one of the more expensive restaurants in town without the quality to match.
Touriga Wine & Dine – This small wine bar serves a selection of plates alongside great wines. There’s no wine menu – just let the friendly staff know what kind of wine you like and they’ll give you a taste of one of the open wines on rotation that best fits the bill. We enjoyed some lovely vinho verde (a Portuguese specialty made from young grapes). Food includes cheese boards, pimientos de padron and other meat, fish and vegetarian plates.
Decadente Lounge – For drinks and picky bits only, Decadente Lounge is the loveliest place to be. This well-decorated courtyard bar is surrounded by light stone walls with a fountain and an olive tree too. Wine is €5 by the glass, making the bottles which start at €15 much better value. We had a great bottle of red from the Douro region here. Olives, bread and small bar snacks are available. Make reservations for evenings as it gets busy right up until closing.
Where To Stay in Carvoeiro
Tivoli Carvoeiro Hotel – We stayed at Tivoli Carvoeiro Hotel courtesy of Jet2. The hotel is perfectly situated just a 15-minute walk from town at the top of what’s locally known as ‘restaurant hill’ (where the best restaurants in town are) and 5 minutes walk to Vale de Centeanes beach. This 5-star resort is large with the majority of rooms being sea-facing and includes gym, sauna, indoor and outdoor pools, and a fantastic breakfast buffet. Rooms are very comfortable and the staff are lovely.
Castelo Guest House – With views over Carvoeiro beach, this charming, family-run guest house is an ideal option for those wanting to wake up to sea views and fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The hotel also offers shuttles to the airport.
Quinta do Ourives – This beautiful white-washed villa is a converted farmhouse lovingly restored by the family who runs it. The quinta is the best-rated place to stay in Carvoeiro! Set outside of the main town, the villa has mountain views all around.
How To Get To Carvoeiro
Faro is the closest airport to Carvoeiro and can be reached directly by flights from London airports. Carvoeiro can also be reached from Lisbon airport, but it’s closer and more convenient to arrive at Faro airport.
For UK travellers, flights go from London Stansted airport, as well as London Gatwick airport. We took flights to Faro with Jet2 from London Stansted. The total flight time is just 2.5 hours.
From Faro Airport to Carvoeiro
- Pre-Arranged Transfer – If you’ve booked a package deal to the Algarve, then transfers by coach or minibus are usually included. These are convenient but depending on the number of stops and passengers can vary in time taken.
- Bus – There are no direct buses running from Faro Airport to Carvoeiro. Instead, you would need to take the 56 towards Lagos and change in Lagoa for the 107 to Carvoeiro. Buses do not run consistently, so you would need to check Google Maps for bus times ahead of schedule. If you have a flight arriving in the evening or later, we’d recommend an alternate transport option.
- Taxi – Ubers from Faro airport to Carvoeiro start at €50. Expect fares to be higher on evenings, weekends and holidays.
We were kindly invited to visit Carvoeiro in the Algarve with Jet2holidays. Jet2 offers package holidays to Portugal, including to Carvoeiro. If you are booking a package holiday, we recommend making sure you support local businesses during your stay, including enjoying local restaurants and activities during your holiday.
