Give yourself at least three days to take in the more important sights. In five days you can see the sights, have a little time at the beach, linger over a delicious seafood lunch (or two) at a beachfront restaurant, and still have time to get away from the built-up coastal strip to some of the more remote inland villages. A seven-day stay will allow you to, perhaps, get in a game of golf or spend a few days simply relaxing on some of the many excellent beaches. After all, it was the discovery of these sandy stretches by sun-starved northern Europeans that transformed this sleepy province into one of the continent’s most popular vacation spots.
If You Have 3 Days
Begin with a day exploring the provincial capital, Faro, and its surroundings. The following morning, head west to the lighthouse at Cabo São Vicente and the fortress and exhibition center at Sagres, where you can have lunch overlooking the cliffs. It’s a two-hour drive and traffic can be heavy in summer. In the afternoon, return to Faro, stopping along the way in Lagos or Portimão. On Day 3, drive east to Vila Real de Santo António , at the border with Spain. En route you can explore Olhão, with its Moorish-style architecture, and Tavira, one of the Algarve’s most attractive towns.
If You Have 5 Days
After a day in and around Faro, drive west to visit Portimão and the nearby beach resort of Praia da Rocha. Continue west to overnight in Lagos, a city whose origins go back to Carthaginian times. After seeing the sights in Lagos, head to Cabo São Vicente for views from the lighthouse and then to Sagres. The next morning, follow N268 along the west coast to Aljezur, where you take N267 through a remote part of the Algarve to the hill town of Monchique. Enjoy lunch at one of the terrace restaurants that afford views across the countryside to the sea. After lunch, head down the mountain on N266 to the coastal road N125 and swing east to Olhão and Tavira. On your last day, visit the border town of Vila Real de Santo António.