This summer, I visited my 26th country outside of the U.S.
Portugal.
Honestly, I’m surprised it took me this long to cross Portugal off my list. During my solo travel years, I saw plenty of cheap flights to Lisbon and Porto, but the timing never quite worked out.
Until this year.
My husband’s British cousin and her husband invited us to join them on an adventure on the central coast of southern Portugal’s Algarve region. And we booked the trip!
Keep reading for all the details, including:
- Where we stayed in Carvoeiro, Portugal
- All the day trips we took in the region
- Our favorite restaurants in Carvoeiro
- Things to do in Carvoeiro
- Must-try authentic Portuguese foods
Where We Stayed in Southern Portugal
Our home base in Portugal was the seaside town of Carvoeiro, located between Lagos and Faro. We stayed at an apartment in the Colina Sol Apartment House, overlooking Centeanes Beach (or Praia do Vale de Centeanes in Portuguese).
While there are plenty of rental options throughout the town, being steps away from this beach was ideal. Yes, the two-minute walk was convenient, but it’s also a stunning beach. Even the locals recommended it.
Getting to Carvoeiro
The closest airport to Carvoeiro is Faro (FAO), about an hour away by car. If you plan to stay in the Algarve area, it’s the most convenient airport, though likely not as cheap as Lisbon (LIS). If you fly into Lisbon, the drive is closer to 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Regardless, renting a car is the best option for transportation from the airport. With the car, we were also able to make several day trips from Carvoeiro.
Easy Day Trips from Carvoeiro
Each of these places are within an hour to 90 minutes of Carvoeiro.
Albufeira, Portugal
Another coastal town, Albufeira is the place to go for a day of shopping mixed with beach time.
The cobblestone shopping district is lined with shops, outdoor vendors, restaurants, and other businesses, and it just keeps going all the way to the beach.
Did you know? Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork and you’ll find cork products everywhere you go—from coasters and bags to hats and shoes.
Food-wise, you’ll find a little bit of everything. Truly. We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant and passed a Texas BBQ spot near the beach.
Oh, and the beach. It’s a large one with a longer coastline and picturesque views of the coastline and tiered buildings in town. A lookout point above the beach is accessible by riding an outdoor escalator to the top.
Viewpoint of Fóia
For stunning mountain views outside of Carvoeiro, we drove just over an hour to the Viewpoint of Fóia. This lookout area offers ample free parking, two gift shops filled with items made in Portugal, and food and beverage options.
Want a true 360-degree view? Just off the parking lot, there’s a short trail with a bit of a rock scramble that takes you to a higher vantage point. Wearing jelly flats, I did not come prepared, but still managed to make it up.
Portimão
Between the mountains and Carvoeiro, Portimão is a larger coastal town with a large beach to match. We stopped here for lunch after a morning in the mountains, and found lots of eateries overlooking the beach—on the street above and right off the beach boardwalk.
Whether you want to eat or lay out on the beach, Portimão is perfect for either. Or both.
Must-Try Restaurants in Carvoeiro
Speaking of eating, here are my three favorite dinner spots in Carvoeiro.
O Stop Restaurant
Located on Centeanes Beach, this restaurant is open from 10am to 10pm. The view alone is a reason to go, but the menu is pretty impressive as well. It was here that I tried two local delicacies—grilled sardines and sardine pâté.
Taberna Portuguesa
Stone steak is another must-try when in Portugal, and Taberna Portuguesa is the place to order it in Carvoeiro.
In full disclosure, I ordered the ahi tuna because I’ll almost always choose seafood over steak, but everyone else ordered the ribeye and raved about it. The staff outfitted us with bibs and we cooked our own entrees to our liking on individual hot stones brought to our table.
Happy’s
John’s family booked us reservations at Happy’s as soon as we arrived in town. But the place is so popular that we couldn’t get a table till the last night. A local establishment for nearly 30 years, Happy’s has an eclectic menu of Portuguese, British, Indian, and other cultural influences.
John ordered a local favorite, the piri piri chicken kebab that arrived on a dangling skewer and served with a tzaziki-type sauce. I opted for the turkey fillet in porto wine sauce with boiled potatoes—a popular side here. It felt like a gourmet meal but at a fraction of the price!
Unfortunately, none of the desserts were dairy free for me, but the cherry pie with cream and ice cream exceeded John’s expectations.
Best Things to Do in Carvoeiro
The day trips were fun, but Carvoeiro itself offers plenty to do, especially if you love outdoor adventures.
Coastal Hike Along the Cliffs
The cliffs along the coastline in and near Carvoeiro are unlike any I’ve experienced before. And they go on and on for miles… I mean, kilometers. A trail runs along the edge to connect beaches and even other small towns.
Technically, we could walk along the trail all the way from our apartment rental to the main part of town. We also walked the opposite direction to the Alfanzina lighthouse.
Carvoeiro Tours Cave Boat Tour
As much as I enjoyed the cliff hike, experiencing the coast of southern Portugal from the water was arguably an even greater adventure.
Carvoeiro Tours took us down the coast and through over half a dozen caves. Maybe it was 10?! I lost count. We also passed numerous beach coves. Actual time on the boat was 1 hour and 15 minutes, but the entire excursion was closer to 2 hours with the check-in process.
This tour was well worth the cost!
CLICK HERE for a recap of our boat tour with Carvoeiro Tours.
Carvoeiro Beaches
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the beaches. Each one is unique and tucked into a cove.
If you only have time for one or two, I recommend Carvoeiro Beach and Centeanes Beach. Oh, and they’re all free!
Authentic Portuguese Foods to Try
Sardines
As I mentioned earlier, grilled sardines are a popular local dish. They’re served whole—head, skin, bones, and all—and yes, they are a bit salty.
The sardine pâté is also served with bread at many local spots. To me, it tasted like tuna in spread form.
Stone Steak
Cooking your own steak on a hot stone is absolutely a thing in Portugal. If you enjoy a more interactive meal experience or prefer control over how your meat is cooked, order it!
Piri Piri Chicken
This dish is on SO many menus. Essentially, it’s a spicy grilled chicken, sometimes spatchcocked, or bone-in, or even in pieces on a skewer. I also saw it stewed.
I’m not a fan of spicy foods, but if you are, be sure to try piri piri chicken.
Local Fish Dishes
Seafood lovers rejoice! There is no shortage of local fish and seafood options on menus all over the region. Dishes are prepared in traditional styles, or simply grilled or fried. You really can’t go wrong with fresh fish.
Carob Chocolate
I bought a vegan chocolate bar for dessert one night and was surprised to discover it was carob, not traditional chocolate.
What is carob chocolate? I had to look it up myself. First, it’s not actually chocolate. Instead, it’s a caffeine-free alternative to chocolate, made from dried and roasted pods of a carob tree, native to the Mediterranean region.
How does carob “chocolate” taste? The texture is creamy and soft and it reminds me more of a dark chocolate. I ended up buying a few more bars to take home.
Alrighty. I think I covered everything. If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments!
