The Algarve has some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. The food is also out of this world. Combine the two, and it's pure paradise. We stayed in Moncarapacho but had a car and moved around the coast easily. We did various day trips and even an late-night, impromptu trip across the Spanish border to Ayamonte, where we found an incredible wine bar. You could also park yourself on the beach and, I would imagine, be pretty content spending your time that way. Whatever route you go, you can't really go wrong when the surroundings look like they do here.
Activities:
I really didn't know much about seahorses before this experience, other than that they were magical looking sea creatures. My husband was set on doing this as soon as he heard the mention of a seahorse. As someone who has worked in seafood for over 15 years, it's not every day you get the opportunity to swim with (and hold) a species so unique. They're also an endangered species and one where the males carry the babies. Our guide who took us out was a marine biologist and extremely knowledgable about all of the creatures we were swimming with. Even if you don't come across any, you'll be spending time on some of, in my opinion, the most beautiful beaches, which brings me to my next activity.
You really could spend your time here just visiting different beaches and basking in their beauty. You may read that and think it sounds like an obvious suggestion. It is, but for someone who has a hard time sitting still for more than an afternoon, it's a novel concept that I'd like to do more of. One of the things that amazed us most about Portugal was the varying terrains. One minute you're driving through the mountains, and the next you're sitting on some of the bluest beaches. The only beach town I will advise against going to is Albufeira. It's so touristy and pushy that it was actually unpleasant. If you're on the western portion of the Algarve, take a trip to Sagres, which is the most south-western point of all of Europe and a pretty incredible panorama.
Around 80% of Portugal's clams come from Olhao, so we knew the market here had to be on the itinerary. It doesn't matter how many food markets in other countries I've been to - I always like to see what's really native that wherever I am and what each vendor has to offer. Here, seafood unsurprisingly dominated. This is one of those times where you need an apartment with a kitchen to really be able to take advantage of its offerings.
Eateries:
This was our last meal in Portugal, and it did not disappoint. It was recommended by our seahorse swim guide as one of the most beautiful towns on the Algarve. It was absolutely stunning. There wasn't much to it, but it just had this feel like you stepped back in time. The restaurant was in the main (and I suspect only) square and had a handful of benches set up outside. The food was simple but memorable - we ordered jamon, tiny sautéed clams indigenous to the area that were as fresh as could be, local oysters and grilled chorizo done in true Portuguese fashion. The restaurant doesn't serve dessert, but fortunately, there's a woman set up in front of the church selling her freshly baked cakes. We couldn't control ourselves and ate dessert first alongside a bottle of wine from the restaurant while waiting for our table. Naturally, we ordered a few different pieces to try them, all delicious.
This was a memorable spot in different senses of the word. The service was so initially terrible that we were laughing about it. If we were in New York, we likely would've just gotten up and left. But alas, we were sitting in a small town in Portugal with nowhere to be and decided to just stick it out. The food more than made up for the chaotic waitstaff. One was speaking French to us, while the other was going in so many different directions, it was hard to catch him. Aside from the food being delicious, it really highlighted the ingredients and flavors of Portugal and the local seafood in a beautiful way. I would 100% still recommend this restaurant, but don't go if you're on a schedule.
We loved this place so much, we went twice. I initially found it because it was close to our seahorse experience, but let's face it, I don't choose restaurants solely on convenience. The seafood looked incredible, and it was. We learned our lesson the first day after going later in the afternoon. The seafood comes in fresh every morning, and there are limited quantities of whatever is in season, so things will run out and do. Everything is displayed in its original styrofoam container right from the boats and markets. This is simplicity in its purest form. The fish is grilled and finished with olive oil, lemon and herbs and is served with a side of boiled potatoes and a salad. It's some of the freshest and most delicious grilled fish we've ever had, if not the best. The waiter was on top of his game and spoke English, something you won't necessarily find in these small fishing towns along the Algarve. Their desserts are not made in house but by a local bakery and change daily (this seems to be a pattern here), and we loved them.
Evaristo was a stunner. Though I did not like anything about central Albufeira, this restaurant is a good drive from the center and a must. The calamari was like none I'd ever had before. It's a bit more "formal" than the other restaurants we went to, but you'd still be fine in pretty casual attire or even chic beachwear. Definitely make a reservation, and I would recommend going early, grabbing a cocktail at their beach bar and taking in the views because these aren't going to happen every day.