With breathtaking sandy beaches and dramatic natural scenery, Carvoeiro in Portugal is the perfect destination for holidaymakers and nature-lovers.  It’s a charming, traditional town in the Algarve, with something to offer visitors of all ages.

Carvoeiro is perfect for a long weekend getaway or a family holiday.  We went with a group of friends to celebrate a special birthday.  Luckily, they have been many times before and delighted in sharing all the best places to visit in Carvoeiro and the local area.  Needless to say, we had an amazing time and can’t wait to return.

So, whether you are looking for beaches, bars, golf, hiking or unique geology, there’s something for you.  Here’s our guide to all the best things to do in Carvoeiro, including the top places to visit, eat, and stay.

*contains affiliate links

Read on for our top 10 things to do in Carvoeiro, Portugal

The Algarve is renowned for its stunning coastline and gorgeous beaches.  Carvoeiro is no exception and one of the best things to do here is relax on the beach.

Luckily, there’s a choice of beautiful, golden beaches, many with unique rock formations.  So, in Carvoeiro you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which one.

At the end of the town, you’ll find Praia do Carvoeiro, the main beach in Carvoeiro.  This is a picturesque bay with golden sands.  If you’re staying in Carvoeiro, it is really convenient, as it’s just a short walk to the shops and restaurants.

If you prefer a more secluded beach, Praia do Paraiso (Paradise Beach) is just a short walk from the main beach.  To get to this hidden cove,  take the steep path on the right of the main beach.  You’ll be able to enjoy golden sands and swimming, with less crowds.

One of the Algarve’s most striking beaches is Praia da Marinha.

Just 4 miles from Carvoeiro, Praia da Marinha has been nominated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  With a stunning backdrop of limestone cliffs and unique rock formations, the Praia da Marinha beach is always a popular choice.  Who wouldn’t love the turquoise waters and golden sand?

Praia da Marinha is popular amongst families, as there are no strong currents or waves.  However, as you’d imagine, this beach can get extremely busy in high season.

One of our favourite beaches to visit near Carvoeiro is Praia dos três Irmãos (the three brothers beach).  It’s a splendid beach, known for its stunning ochre rock formations, including a double arch, caves and three famous rock stacks.

Located on the eastern end of Alvor beach, Praia dos três Irmãos is about 13 miles (21 km) from Carvoeiro, so we took an uber.  To get to the beach, you’ll take a lift down from the clifftop.  This leads to Caniço, a small restaurant overlooking the sea.

The waters here are transparent, making it a popular destination for snorkelling, though the waves can be a bit rough at times.

If you don’t fancy the beach, one of the most popular things to do in Carvoeiro is play a round of golf.  The Algarve is synonymous with great golf courses and Carvoeiro has three to choose from.

Carvoeiro’s  Vale de Milho golf course has a stunning setting overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  It is a 9-hole par 3 course, which is ideal if you want a friendly game.

If golf is your thing, there are also two 18-hole golf courses in Carvoiero, the  Vale da Pinta and the Gramacho.

One of the best ways to enjoy the rugged coastline around Carvoeiro is to take a walk on the wooden boardwalk.   This scenic clifftop walk starts at the little church above Carvoeiro and follows the cliff line to Algar Seco.  You can start the trail from the left side of Praia do Carvoeiro.

Algar Seco is a group of spectacular rock formations, including caves, arches, pools, and a blowhole.  It’s a stunning natural beauty, that has been formed over millions of years of coastal erosion in the limestone cliffs.

If you want a more challenging hike, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is a beautiful walk between Praia da Marinha and Praia de Vale Centeanes.

This breathtaking coastal walk will take you to some of the most popular sights near Carvoeiro, including the Alfaniza Lighthouse, Benagil Cave, and Carvalho Beach.  It’s about 3.5 miles (6km) each way, so you can choose whether you want to walk back or return by bus.

One of the must-see places on the Algarve coast near Carvoeiro is the Benagil Cave.  This huge sea cave with a large hole in the roof is one of the most popular natural attractions in Portugal.  It’s a unique cave and very photo-worthy.

Although it is close to Benagil Beach, the front of the cave faces the sea, so you can only access it by boat.  Luckily, there are plenty of tours to Benagil on offer and you can choose from a kayak trip or speedboat adventure.  You could also combine your cave visit with a dolphin watching trip.

If you want to pamper yourself whilst in Carveoiro, the Tivoli Spa Hotel has luxury spa facilities, with sauna, steam room, treatment rooms, and an indoor pool.

If you’re looking for an amazing beach bar experience, head to NoSoloÁgua in Portimão.  This relaxed beach bar is 8 miles (13km) away from Carvoeiro and takes about half an hour by car or taxi.

By day you can enjoy lunch in the bar, before retiring to one of the luxurious sun beds on the beach.  Alternatively relax by the bar with a cocktail.  The focus is on exotic and chill.  In the evenings, it’s a music vibe with a dj and dancing.

From Portimão you can take a small ferry boat across the river to the old village of Ferragudo.  With its white-washed cottages and cobbled streets, this quaint fishing village has retained plenty of traditional charm and authenticity.

You can go to the beach or explore one of the cliff top forts.  We headed to the town square, a laid-back plaza with several cafés and restaurants.

If you want to cool off, how about a day out at Carvoeiro’s aquapark, Slide & Splash?

Recently expanded, Slide & Splash is less than 5 miles (7km) from Carvoeiro.  It is Portugal’s largest  water park and has slides, drops and river rides for all ages.

Plus, if you’re not keen on slides, there have plenty of grassy areas where you can relax without getting wet.  Unfortunately, we didn’t go, but it comes highly recommended from our friend’s children.

One of the best day trips from Carvoeiro is to the historic city of Silves.  Just 15km away, this ancient Moorish city has a history dating back to 1000 BC and was once the capital of the Algarve.  The main attraction is Silves Castle (Castelo de Silves), a magnificent fortress which dominates the city from the hill.

We visited Silves on the second day of our getaway to Carvoiero.  After lunch at Recanto dos Mouros, a traditional Portuguese restaurant, we took a short downhill walk to the castle.

Built between the 8^th and 13^th centuries, Silves Castle is one of the best-preserved Moorish fortifications in Portugal.  Although much of Silves Castle was damaged by the Lisbon earthquake in 1755, some areas have since been rebuilt.

Today, visitors can wander round the ramparts and archaeological excavations and visit the small museum.  Admission is cheap, so it’s worth a visit to appreciate some of the Algarve’s cultural heritage.

There’s plenty of accommodation in Carvoeiro, to suit all budgets.  Here is our pick of the best:

If you’re looking for luxury accommodation, Tivoli Carvoeiro is a fantastic choice.  This 5-star spa hotel has amazing facilities and comfortable luxury suites.

Alternatively, the Mirachoro Carvoeiro is close to the beach and has two pools in a picturesque setting.  Or, if you’re looking for a more budget hotel, check out the Carvoeiro Hotel, which is centrally located and walking distance to the beach.

As well as hotels, you’ll find a good choice of holiday resorts in Carvoeiro.

Monte Santo Resort is a stunning 5-star resort with 6 outdoor swimming pools, luxury suites and spa facilities.

A cheaper option in Carvoeiro is the Rocha Brava Village Resort, a beautiful nature resort on the outskirts of town.

If you want to be within walking distance of the beach and village, we stayed at Monte Dourado, a complex of apartments set around small outdoor pools.  The accommodation was spacious, well-equipped and in a fantastic location.

Carvoeiro is a lively resort with plenty of bustling bars and restaurants.   It has three main streets, lined with restaurants and bars, many of which stay open late.

For the best location overlooking the beach, head to Levels a stylish restaurant with different menus on each floor.  Our other favourites in Carvoeiro included Casa Algarvia and Bar Havana.

Outside of town we loved NoSoloÁgua in Portimão and Recanto dos Mouros in Silves.

Carvoeiro is located in the South of Portugal on the Algarve coast.  The nearest airport to Carvoeiro is Faro and the easiest way to get there from the airport is by taxi or private transfer.

There isn’t a train station in Carvoeiro, but if you want to save money, you could take the bus from Faro.

Carveoiro is small and easy to navigate by foot.  However, it is hilly in places.

For getting around the local area you could hire a car or use an uber.  We took an uber everywhere, as it was so cheap.

Here are some of the websites we use when planning trips.

• A 3-day Porto itinerary: How to spend a long weekend in Porto
• 10 best things to do in Malaga, Spain
• 10 best things to do in Split, Croatia

We’d love to hear from you. Have you been to Carvoeiro in the Algarve? We’d love to hear your comments below.

Pin for later or share with a friend:  Best things to do in Carvoeiro, Portugal

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. (Read our full Disclosure Policy)