The Ultimate Alvor Travel Guide
Alvor is a seaside resort and fishing village in the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region. In one direction, a beachfront walkway takes you to breathtaking sea cliffs. In the other direction, cobbled lanes lead down to the paved riverfront that's lined with bars and seafood restaurants. Continue along the promenade and you'll reach the wetlands of the Alvor river estuary that provide a habitat for resident and migratory birds. A
lvor is simply stunning! Don't believe me? Watch my Alvor Travel Video on YouTube.
Even better... travel to Alvor is easy, and it's an affordable place for a beach holiday! You can join boat tours here, with itineraries including a visit to Ponta da Piedade rock formations and Benagil Cave.
Still not convinced? Check out my ultimate guide to Alvor, starting with a list of Alvor highlights that offer great reasons why you should visit this incredible village on holiday...
Top 20 things to do in Alvor, Portugal
Praia dos Três Irmãos
- Praia dos Três Irmãos
Walk through incredible rock formations.
This stunning beach gets its name from three fantastical rock formations at its end. It means 'beach of the three brothers'. Sea cliffs, caves and sand make this one of the most beautiful locations in Portugal.
Praia da Rocha
2. Praia da Rocha
Beautiful beach, just east of Alvor.
This long beach is framed by dramatic rock formations and a boardwalk. Mix with the locals as you enjoy great food and coffee overlooking impossibly blue water.
Ria Alvor
3. Ria Alvor
Where the pure, fresh water meets the crystal blue sea.
This vast estuary features dunes & salt marshes, with migratory birds. You'll see people out sailing, kayaking, & kitesurfing. There's a restaurant area beside the Ria Alvor. It's great for sunset and wildlife photos.
Praia de Alvor
4. Praia de Alvor
The main beach of Alvor.
This long beach offers panoramic views and a boardwalk that connects it to other attractions. It's very safe for swimming and perfect for sunset picnics. This is a popular place for romantic sunset walks.
Castle of Alvor
5. Castle of Alvor
A medieval castle hidden within village charm.
The Castle of Alvor is a significant historic military monument associated with the nearby Castle of Silves. Within the castle walls, you'll find large shady trees and a children's playground as well.
Praia do Vau
6. Praia do Vau
Enjoy lunch or explore below the cliffs at low tide.
Praia do Vau is set between seaside hotels and takeaway venues, and framed by incredible rock formations. You'll be able to take great landscape footage from the lookouts you'll find along the cliffs that overlook this beach.
Praia João de Arens
7. Praia João de Arens
A hidden beach.
You need to be careful to arrive at this beach just before low tide and leave before the water returns. If you do, you'll be rewarded by a beach that feels more like an open-roofed cave!
Coral do Vau
8. Coral do Vau
Private street with accommodation, food and sea views.
This private street is lined by accomodation and food venues, and overlooks Praia do Vau. You can access the shops via the public street beside the beach. It's no surprise this incredible location is popular!
Praia da Torralta
9. Praia da Torralta
From the city to the beach in a few steps!
This is one of the most popular places in Alvor. Go people-watching or stroll along this broad beach. You'll have the convenience of the town and bars, yet feel like you're a million miles away!
Passadiços de Alvor
10. Passadiços de Alvor (Alvor Boardwalk)
Scenic boardwalk through wetlands.
Walk less than 7 minutes from the town of Alvor, and you'll find yourself on this picture-perfect boardwalk! You'll reach Praia de Alvor and overlook Ria Alvor as you go. Rest at the Pérgola do Alvor on the way.
Praia do Alemão / Barranco das Canas
11. Praia do Alemão / Barranco das Canas
Sandy beach backed by caves and cliffs.
This sandy beach overlooks calm, turquoise and deep blue water. Explore the cliffs and caves, or marvel at the rock formations out in the water. This is a good point to start for a beach walk to Praia do Vau or La Plage de Alemão.
La Plage de Alemão
12. La Plage de Alemão
An incredible view.
Settle your beach towel, picnic food and umbrella into one of the sheltered grottos. For incredible sunset photos, head up to the cliff lookout to the east of this interesting beach. Walk along in the shallows to Barranco das Canas or Praia do Vau.
Praia do Submarino
13. Praia do Submarino
Beach with a view of a 'submarine' rock formation.
Plan to visit this beach just before a low tide, and leave before the water returns. You'll be rewarded with a tiny secluded beach, framed by incredible rock formations and sparkling blue water. Enjoy the view of the Leixão do submarino.
Beach Três Castelos
14. Beach Três Castelos
Dream shoot location.
Create unforgettable holiday photos. Walk east up to the popular Miradouro dos Três Castelos lookout, and then onwards to the Beach Três Castelos. It's stunning!
Adventure Golf Alvor
15. Adventure Golf Alvor
Relax with some golf fun!
Alvor offers golf for all the family to enjoy. You'll really love the playful environment at Adventure Golf Alvor. It's decorated with dinosaurs a great spot for a cold drink and an ice cream. I really hope this wonderful 18 hole mini golf course survives the pandemic!
Igreja do divino Salvador - Alvor
16. Igreja do divino Salvador - Alvor
Where bright yellow meets brilliant blue.
Within the village of Alvor, you'll find this gorgeous church! The church features unique Manueline-style architecture and was built in the 1520s. You'll be dazzled by gold and 18th-century tiles inside.
Praia da Prainha
17. Praia da Prainha
Simply incredible!
You'll be walking between sea cliffs, then all of a sudden an expanse of perfect sand will open in front of you! You'll see why this is one of the most photographed places in Alvor. Explore Praia da Prainha and you'll find your very own private sandy retreat inside a sea cave.
Skydive Seven Algarve
18. Skydive Seven Algarve
Skydiving with the best view in Portugal.
The best place to film the action is the hiking path on the western bank of the Torre River. They'll fly right over you, and you'll see colourful parashutes drifting down over a gorgeous green and blue landscape. Better yet, go skydiving!
Morabito de São Pedro
19. Morabito de São Pedro
Small catholic chapel.
This small chapel with a quadrangular floor plan and a spherical cupola. Inside, you'll find beautiful polished timber seats and a colourful display. The heavy wooden doorway has long hinges and is a great textured backdrop for your holiday photo.
Gruta dos pescadores
20. Gruta dos pescadores
Rustic fishing hut and boats overlooked by a cave!
You will not find this on any tourist guides! It's a charming place, and still used as a fishing hut. Behind it, there's a little cave in the cliff. This isn't just a relaxing spot, it's a super-instagram worthy location. You'll find the start of the beautiful Estação da Biodiversidade de Alvor hiking trail just behind it.
Music in Alvor: How to experience Alvor's music scene
Alvor has a small local music scene, but a rich music tradition.
Alvor is a fishing village. Traditional working songs such as the 'leva-leva' were sung by fishermen to mark the rhythm of drawing in the nets in the Algarve region. Other folk music has a focus on dancing. The Algarve's folk music groups are hard to find! If you're very lucky, you could see carol singers called charolas going door to door in the Christmas season before this rare tradition finally fades away. If you want a good taste of Algarve folk music culture, seek out corridinho, the baile de roda and the baile mandado dancing.
You can find modern music performers in some restaurants, bars and cafes too. There's an indordinate number of Irish pubs in the village, and they're an easy place to start looking for live music in Alvor!
In wider Portugal, I'm loving music by Diogo Piçarra right now.
Top 5 Instagrammable Locations in Alvor
Wow. This is hard! There's so many photo spots on Alvor. It's hard to pick shoot locations. At a pinch, I'd say the top instagrammable location in Alvor are:
Cave praia de Boião
Gruta dos pescadores
Praia dos Três Irmãos
Igreja do divino Salvador
Clube Naval D. João II Alvor
Popular hashtags for Alvor travel posts on instagram, facebook twitter and other social media include: #alvor #algarve #portugal #algarveportugal #visitalvor #alvorportugal #visitalgarve #algarvecoast #algarvelovers #alvorreeffishing #algarvebottomfishing #algarvereeffishing #portugalfishing... and the location (e.g. #praiadarocha) . Consider adding related hashtags such as #sunset and #beach, for example.
Fun in Alvor: 10 Reasons you must visit Alvor
Ok, let's wrap it up. I've told you about the attractions and the music. In a nutshell, you should visit Alvor for its:
World class beaches
Hiking
Golf
Kitesurfing
Skydiving
Fishing
Diving
Waterfront dining
Biodiversity and pristine environment
Nightlife and fun village vibe
When you combine these reasons with the fact that it isn't the 'same old same old' destination, Alvor should be on your bucket list!
Share your Alvor Holiday Tips!
I know there are even more things to do and see in Alvor and I want to hear ideas from you! Comment below or head over to our Travel Fun Music Community Facebook Page , Travel Inspiration Instagram account or join the Our Travel Addict Conversations on Twitter. You can also leave tips in the comments on the Travel Fun Music YouTube Channel . Use the #travelfunmusic hashtag and it’ll show up on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Is Alvor Lively?
Usually, yes. Especially in summer, Alvor has some excellent nightlife with lively clubs and bars. So, you have great options for a night out with friends. Combine this with the crazy fun you can have shark fishing, kiteboarding, and skydiving and you have one lively holiday ahead of you!
What is Alvor like for a holiday?
An Alvor holiday offers you vast sandy beaches, glorious weather, drool-worthy holiday footage and exceptional value for money. Alvor maintains its traditional Portuguese charm and authentic fishing village vibe. You can walk from a modern world class restaurant meal out to a breathtaking beachfront sunset within steps.
What is the nearest airport to Alvor Portugal?
The nearest international airport is Faro Airport. Faro Airport is the main international airport of southern Portugal.
How far is Alvor from Faro airport?
Faro Airport is located 72km to the east of Alvor. It will take you about 65 minutes to travel between Faro Airport and Alvor.
How far is Alvor to Albufeira?
The distance between Alvor and Albufeira is 31 km. Albufeira is to the east of Alvor.
How far is Portimao from Alvor?
Portimao (Portimão) is only 5km from Alvor!
How far is Lagos from Alvor?
While the distance between Alvor and Lagos is 8 km, the road distance is actually 20.7 km.
Alvor golf holidays - what do you recommend?
The Penina Golf Hotel is on a 360-acre estate, which includes three golf courses. It makes Alvor the ideal golfing venue and has been voted Portugal's Leading Golf Resort by the World Travel Award. There's a total of 36-holes to test your skills on during your Alvor holiday. The Championship Penina Golf Course has been a firm favourite for British golfers for many years. The 9-hole Resort Golf Course at Penina Hotel offers 18-tees. So, players can play a full round. Their website has more details.
Airbnb
Airbnb is active in the country. You'll find a good variety of alvor holiday lettings, including holiday homes and apartments. You'll get extra good deals on holiday rentals around October. So, consider an Alvor holiday in September or October if you want cheap family holiday deals. You might be able to book a holiday house for the peak season price of an aparment!
If you want to book directly, both Albur Village Alvor and Alvor Vila da Praia seem popular for villa rentals.
Best places to stay in Alvor (Hotels in Alvor)
The most popular hotels in Alvor are:
Pestana Alvor: Alvor is home to the Pestana hotels including the Pestana Alvor Praia, Pestana Alvor South Beach, Pestana Alvor Park, and popular Pestana Blue Alvor all inclusive hotel and golf resort.
Alvor Baia Resort Hotel: The Alvor Baía Resort Hotel a modern hotel that's 2 km from the beach of Praia dos Três Irmãos.
Yellow Alvor Garden: Yellow Alvor Garden offers modern rooms with a private balcony, plus a poolside bar.
Currency in Alvor
The main currency is the Euro. Don't rely on finding a currency exchange open in Alvor. It's better to exchange your currency before you arrive, or withdraw money through an ATM. Watch out for the Euronet ATMs and similar ATMs branded with 'foreign currency' maketing though. I suffered significant fees! There's an ATM beside the Intermarché grocery store. The local bank ATMs provide currency at reasonable excange rates and minimal or no fees, with no problems.
Mobile Phone Service / Roaming in Alvor
Prepaid SIM cards are easy to buy, but it's easiest to buy them in a company branded shopfront. The main service providers are MEO, Vodafone, and NOS. You can get your SIM card in the Faro Airport, before you leave.
The calling code for Bosnia is +351.
Getting Around Alvor
There is a bus service within Alvor and bus routes out to the railway station and other villages and cities. All buses in all directions stop at the bus stop at the large roundabout junction at the entrance to the village. Car hire is available within Alvor as well, and you can also get car rentals at the Airport. The roads are ok for cycling, but don't expect separated bicycle lanes.
P.S. I've also received these questions. Don't worry - I haven't forgotten you folks! I just haven't had the chance to update this article to answer them yet! Sorry!
What to wear / what to pack for a trip to Alvor.
How To Use Public Transportation In Alvor
The Perfect Alvor Travel Itinerary (with a map to download)
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Alvor
Top 10 Free Things To Do In Alvor
Top 10 Things You Can’t Miss In Alvor
If you like Alvor, you may also like...
Valencia
Spain
Valencia offers some of the best coastal cycling in Spain. From orchards to a lively nightlife, you'll love exploring this upbeat city and its incredible surrounding landscape.
Cairns
Australia
Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Explore the cafes, bustling markets and stunning beaches!