4 Days in Algarve: Travel Guide

In Algarve, we saw some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. Absolutely unreal views and time well spent.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas which was a massive golf and spa resort. This is the perfect resort for families who are looking for a restful little getaway. The area is very beautiful, but it was a little far from civilization. With the beach being a couple of miles away, we usually had to take an uber for every little trip, or we took the shuttle that the hotel provided. Hunny buns, Bella and I took full advantage of the spa and absolutely loved it.

Day 1

On our first day, we headed to a little restaurant on the beach called MY.AL.MAR. I would not recommend this place for the food or the prices. Portugal is known for having great food at affordable prices, and this food was average in flavor and extremely overpriced. Beware of the hefty taxes that will come with some restaurants as well. We definitely fell into a beautiful little tourist trap.

Although this restaurant was not our favorite, we ended up staying until late afternoon chatting over drinks. The fam and I went to bed pretty early on our first day and this helped us get into a good groove for the next few days.

Day 2

We woke up on our first full day with an empty agenda and lots of energy! The hotel provided breakfast for $18 per day per person, it was a full buffet and it had all kinds of breakfast foods. After breakfast, we decided to sign up for a Caves and Coastline Cruise from Albufeira to Benagil. The trip was three hours long and absolutely stunning. We were able to jump in the water about half way through the trip and Bella and I took the plunge! We paid an extra five euros to be seated on the top deck of the boat and this came with a complimentary drink and a lot more room.

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was time for dinner. We went to a super cute spot in Old Town Faro called Tertúlia Algarvia. The vibe there was great and the food was absolutely delicious. From here, we walked around and took some super cute pics. Old Town Faro is definitely the historic vibe that is great for pictures and beautiful sunsets.

Tip: I would recommend asking your concierge for help dinner reservations especially during the high season.

Day 3

After a quick breakfast we headed off to our favorite tour of the entire trip. It was a body board/hiking tour of the Algarve coast. So we got to see the coastline from a completely different point of view. The tour started with a pickup in Faro and took us to see the Benagil Cave by body board. Afterwards we hiked to see the cliffs. Finally, the tour ended with a group split up on the Praia da Marinha. This tour can be pretty tiring so the girls and I took a nap on the beach while the boys went snorkleing with the gear provided from the tour guide!

This tour, was great because it was only our family and another couple. The tour guide taught us a lot of history behind Algarve and was able to make the tour more personal. I would recommend this tour over the boat one because these views are unbeatable and the experience was unforgettable.

For dinner, the fam and I went to a spot recommended by the concierge. Tico Tico Algarve had a great setting and even better fresh seafood! The prices here were a lot more reasonable and we ended up staying for a few hours enjoying!

Day 4

For our final full day, I decided to pay the spa a much needed visit. Bella and Brian joined me and Bella and I got facials and full body massages while Brian opted for just a full body massage. The spa was absolutely amazing and included a lot of things with the facial and massage. I would highly recommend this!

Before an early dinner, we took the hotel’s shuttle to the beach for a few hours of sunbathing. The beach was super quiet and was perfect for our final day in Algarve. Dinner on our last night was selected by Hunny buns because this was actually his birthday trip! We went to a Brazilian rodizio restaurant that I would not really recommend, at all. So I’ll just keep the name of it to myself!