The Algarve may not quite have a “thousand and one” beaches, but there are certainly plenty of them. All in all, the Algarve’s golden sandy beaches stretch for as far as the eye can see; 200 kilometres of them, making the region the talking point of people all over the world.
And there are reasons aplenty. For example: In 2023, 85 of the Algarve’s beaches qualified for a Blue Flag, a European symbol awarded by the Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa and attesting to quality of the water, safety, cleanliness and the diversity of the services on offer; 85 received the Gold Standard award from the conservation organisation Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza, which distinguishes beach areas with the highest water quality; and 21 were also classed as Zero Pollution, according to the sustainability association ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável. And these numbers include 45 accessible beaches.
It is this scenario that has put the Algarve firmly among the top international tourism rankings, with a particular emphasis on certain beaches in the region that are unanimously considered to be real gems. And if that were not enough, we have still more reasons to be proud.
At the November 2020 edition of the World Travel Awards, the "Oscars of the tourism industry", the Algarve was voted World's Leading Beach Destination for the first time ever, renewed in 2021. The region also successfully retained the title of Europe's Leading Beach Destination, an award which it had previously won in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
The Algarve also took the prize for Best Summer Destination at the 2020 Irish Travel Industry Awards hosted by the Association of Irish Travel Agents.
Two of the Algarve's beaches made it into the top 25 Best Beaches in Europe in TripAdvisor's 2020 Travellers' Choice, with Praia da Falésia coming in at 22nd and Praia da Rocha taking 24th place.
European Best Destinations, the official website of the Best Destinations in Europe put the Algarve on the map as one of the Best destinations in Europe for a beach holiday in 2020.
And still in 2020, Forbes, the most highly-regarded business and economics magazine in the world, chose the Algarve – "with some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and over 330 days of sunshine a year" – as one of the best European regions for Americans to live in.
The more general but nevertheless highly influential international website, the “Huffington Post”, actually went so far as to refer to the Ponta da Piedade area in Lagos as being “probably the world’s prettiest beach.” And these are just a few of the many awards that the Algarve’s heavenly beaches have won in recent years. If you are still unconvinced, then what could be better than seeing for yourself? Come on over and visit the “thousand and one” beaches at any time of year. We are sure that, when you do, you will find a thousand and one reasons to return.