28 July 2026

Journal

Panoramic surf beaches, flamingos in a nature park, and freshly baked pastel de nata: the Algarve in Portugal is a holiday region that makes everyone happy. This time, we zoomed in on the east and west of the region – around Tavira on one side and Aljezur on the other. The great thing is that these two extremes are only a 1.5-hour drive apart, so be sure to experience them both. In this photo report, I share the most beautiful spots.

We’ve started our week at Casas Quinta da Cima, a former farm turned into a quiet farm stay

Where you have your own house (with airconditioning) with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and private patio

A shuttle car brings you to the famous Ria Formosa national park. A boat can bring you to the beach, but make sure you go back on time as the tide leaves this water dry on certain times

Tavira is the nearby town and is stunning in Spring/Summer with all those bougainvillea

After Tavira we drove to Aljezur, and stopped in between at austa restaurant

The garden is already stunning, as is the interior of the restaurant. Zoom in at the bench: completely made from salt from a nearby salt factory

And then the food: every dish is a true party for your tastebuds. They use local ingredients in their seasonal menus for lunch and dinner. We tried the Summer Set Menu and got a taste of as many dishes possible. And I would recommend you to do the same. Thank me later!

We then arrived at Maybe October, a holiday home near Aljezur and the perfect luxury base camp to discover the beautiful surroundings

The house is very spacious with a kitchen, living room, dining room, extra relax room, bathroom and bedroom. The former farm was completely renovated by the founders and Studio Veronika Weiss

The surroundings of Aljezur: every road takes you to another beautiful (surf) beach. There’s also a famous hiking path, the Fishermen’s Trail, running along the coast. If walking with a view is your thing. I would recommend going in Spring/Fall for outdoor activities, as it can be quite hot in July/August