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Package options: Holidays to Portugal with Jet2holidays

Where to stay: W Algarve with Jet2holidays

Travel insurance: SafetyWing

This article was written as part of a press trip with Jet2 and Visit Algarve, all words and opinions are my own. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you book through one of my links I may make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Practical Tips for a Weekend in the Algarve

Getting around: Renting a car is strongly recommended if you want to explore beyond the resorts. The roads are good and parking is generally easy outside of peak summer. Alternatively, Bolt and Uber are affordable and reliable throughout the region.

Best time to visit: Spring (March - May) and autumn (September - October) are ideal. Warm, sunny, far less crowded than summer, and the landscape is at its most beautiful. March is particularly good for wildflowers.

Language: Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas. A few words of Portuguese (obrigado/obrigada for thank you; por favor for please) are always appreciated.

Currency: Euro. Most places accept card, but it's worth carrying some cash for smaller markets, ferries and local cafés.

Tipping: Not obligatory, but rounding up or leaving 5 - 10% is appreciated in restaurants.

Getting to the Ria Formosa islands: Ferries to Culatra, Farol and Armona run from Olhão harbour and are very affordable (a few euros each way). Alternatively, book a guided boat tour for a more curated experience.

The Algarve, Portugal's sun-drenched southern coast, is one of Europe's most beloved travel destinations and for good reason. Golden cliffs, turquoise water, world-class seafood, charming historic towns, and some of the warmest hospitality you'll find anywhere on the continent. But beyond the well-trodden beach resorts, there's a richer, more authentic Algarve waiting to be discovered.

Here's how to spend a long weekend there properly with the best food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural stops, and hidden gems, all in three days.

Getting There

Faro Airport is the main gateway to the Algarve and is well served by direct flights from across the UK and Europe. Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair and TAP Portugal all fly direct, with flight times from the UK typically around two and a half hours. From the airport, transfers to the central Algarve take around 30 to 45 minutes by car or taxi. Bolt and Uber both work well throughout the region and are very affordable.

Tip: Flying into Faro and basing yourself in the central Algarve. Around Galé, Albufeira or Quinta do Lago gives you the best access to both the coast and inland towns.

Where to Stay: W Algarve, Galé

For this weekend, we stayed at the W Algarve in Galé, and it's a genuinely spectacular base. Part of Marriott Bonvoy's W Hotels collection, it sits just a short walk from Evaristo and Balbina beaches on the central Algarve coast, about 45 minutes from Faro Airport.

The hotel has 134 west-facing guest rooms and suites, all with large private balconies and stunning ocean views. The design is contemporary and playful, with Algarve-inspired touches throughout Portuguese tiles, handcrafted furnishings, and local artwork.

Beyond the rooms, the W Algarve has an excellent pool area, AWAY Spa with six treatment rooms, a 24-hour gym, sunrise yoga sessions, and four on-site restaurants including Paper Moon (Italian) and Market Kitchen (local and international cuisine). The energy here is vibrant, there are regular DJ sets from Wednesday to Sunday, but it also manages to feel relaxed and unhurried. The staff were all so lovely and genuinely went out of their way to make our stay special.

It's a great choice whether you're looking for a lively, design-led hotel experience or simply a luxurious, comfortable base from which to explore the region.

W Algarve, Galé, Albufeira | W Algarve with Jet2holidays

Day One: Arrive, Cook, Explore

Morning: Arrive at Faro Airport

Flying in to Faro is straightforward, and once you've cleared passport control and collected your bags, the transfer to the central Algarve is quick and easy. If you're arriving mid-morning, you'll have time to squeeze in a fantastic first experience before check-in.

Lunch: Cooking Class at Taberna Lúcia Ribeiro

Rather than heading straight to a restaurant, consider doing what we did: a hands-on cooking class learning to make the Algarve's most iconic dish, the Seafood Cataplana.

The cataplana is both the dish and the vessel it's cooked in: a hinged copper pot that seals like a clam shell, trapping all the steam and flavour inside. It's been used in the Algarve for centuries, with roots stretching back to the Moorish occupation, and it remains the definitive taste of the region. A classic cataplana is filled with clams, prawns, chorizo, tomatoes, white wine, garlic and fresh herbs. Simple, aromatic, and utterly delicious.

The class at Taberna Lúcia Ribeiro gives you an authentic, hands-on introduction to Portuguese cooking with local ingredients and techniques. It's a fantastic way to start a food-focused long weekend.

Afternoon: Check in and Jeep Tour with Alsafari

After lunch, head to the W Algarve to check in and drop your bags, then get straight back out because one of the best ways to see the Algarve's dramatic landscape is from a 4x4.

Alsafari runs 3-hour guided Jeep tours departing from the hotel, taking you through the rugged countryside, hilltop villages and stunning coastal scenery of the central Algarve. You'll see a side of the region that most visitors never discover away from the beaches and resorts, into the orange groves, carob trees and traditional whitewashed villages of the interior. The guides are knowledgeable and the tours are great fun, suitable for all ages.

It's an excellent introduction to the wider Algarve landscape and context for everything you'll see over the weekend.

Evening: Faro Rooftop and Dinner

End the evening in Faro, the Algarve's capital, a beautiful, often underrated city with a medieval old town, Roman walls and a lively waterfront. Head up to the rooftop at Hotel 3HB Faro for a welcome drink with views over the city, before dinner at Forno Nero. A well-regarded restaurant known for its relaxed atmosphere and delicious food. I cannot recommend the Algarvia burrata salad enough.

Faro is only about 30 minutes from the central Algarve and well worth a visit, even briefly. The old town (Cidade Velha) is particularly atmospheric in the evening.

Day Two: Loulé and Coastal Hiking

Morning: Guided City Tour of Loulé

Loulé is one of the most rewarding towns in the Algarve. A genuine, working Portuguese market town that feels completely removed from the tourist trail, despite being only about 20 minutes inland from the coast.

Start your morning with a guided city tour. We were shown around by a brilliant local guide, and the added context made a huge difference. The tour takes in the town's 13th-century Moorish castle, the stunning Art Nouveau covered market with its distinctive red domes (overflowing with fresh produce, local honey, spices and handicrafts every Saturday morning), and the historic old town with its network of craft workshops.

Loulé's artisan workshops are a genuine highlight and deserve a special mention. The town is home to a remarkable network of traditional craft studios. They are part of the Loulé Criativo programme run by the local council and all dedicated to keeping ancient crafts alive:

• Casa da Empreita (Rua Vice-Almirante Cândido dos Reis, nº 20) A collective of skilled women who twist and weave dwarf palm leaves by hand, creating everything from traditional baskets to contemporary pieces. It's a beautiful project that gives the women involved a real sense of community and a source of income doing something they love.
• Oficina de Caldeireiros / Copper Shop (Rua Barbacã) The sound of hammering on copper has returned to Loulé after a 35-year gap. At this small workshop, everything is handmade right in front of you. Cataplanas, lamps, bracelets and more. The craftsman loves showing visitors how it's done.
• Teresa's Pottery / Casa Louart (Largo D. Pedro I, nº 15) A tiny gem of a shop tucked down a side street. Teresa draws freehand, fires at high temperatures, and signs every single piece herself. No two are ever the same.

Lunch: Café Calcinha

For lunch, head to Café Calcinha on Praça da República. One of the most iconic historic cafés in all of Portugal, open since 1929 and part of the prestigious Historic Cafés Route of Europe. The art-deco interior with its beautiful Brazilian wood features has been lovingly restored to its original glory, and the food is excellent value. Traditional Portuguese, generous portions, and full of locals piling in for their midday meal.

Don't leave without trying the Folhado de Loulé. A local version of the pastel de nata that is absolutely not to be missed.

Café Calcinha, Praça da República 67, Loulé

Afternoon: Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

After lunch, make the short drive to Praia da Marinha on the coast for one of the most beautiful walks in Portugal, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos).

The trail runs for 6km one way (12km if you do the full out and back) along the clifftops between Praia da Marinha and Vale Centeanes, with the most extraordinary views of golden limestone cliffs, turquoise water, hidden beaches and sea caves the entire way. The name comes from the ancient valleys formed where rivers once met the sea, each one shaped by millions of years of coastal erosion.

The great thing is you can make it as short or as long as suits you. But if you love a coastal walk, do as much of it as you can. Start at Praia da Marinha and head west, the sun will be at your back and you'll get the best views of the coastline. Bring water, sunscreen and good walking shoes.

Practical info:

• Distance: 6km one way / 12km return
• Duration: 2–3 hours one way; 4–6 hours return
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Start point: Praia da Marinha, Lagoa (free parking at the trailhead)
• Best time: Spring or autumn; start early in summer to avoid heat and crowds
• AllTrails: Search "Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos"

Evening: Dinner at Paper Moon, W Algarve

Head back to the W Algarve and end the day with dinner at Paper Moon. The hotel's acclaimed Italian restaurant. Paper Moon is a legacy brand known for exceptional cuisine, and the Algarve outpost lives up to the name. A sophisticated, relaxed dinner to cap off a full and brilliant day.

Day Three: Island Hopping in the Ria Formosa and Olhão

Morning: Free Time

Use the morning for a slow breakfast, a dip in the pool, or a walk on the beach. The Galé coastline is stunning, and the sunsets here are particularly special. Galé beach at golden hour is not to be missed if the timing works.

Afternoon: Boat Tour (Ria Formosa Islands)

Head to Olhão for a boat tour through the Ria Formosa Natural Park — one of Portugal's seven natural wonders. There are a few different options depending on what takes your fancy:

1. Around the Islands Tour: A popular option and the one we did. The tour makes two stops: Ilha da Culatra (around 90 minutes), a genuine working fishing community with colourful houses, sandy streets and the freshest seafood for lunch, and Ilha do Farol (around 30 minutes), a peaceful, pretty island dominated by a beautiful 19th-century lighthouse and a pristine Atlantic beach.

2. Sunset Cruise: If your timings work, the sunset cruise is a wonderful alternative. You glide through the calm lagoon channels of the Ria Formosa as the sky turns golden, stopping at one or two of the barrier islands along the way. A really special and romantic option, particularly lovely in the spring and autumn months.

3. Dolphin Watching Tour: A 2.5-hour wildlife-focused excursion out into the Atlantic coast, with a nature guide on board. Common sightings include dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. A brilliant option if you're travelling with children or are keen on wildlife.

Late Afternoon: Explore Olhão

Before of after your boat tour, spend some time exploring Olhão itself. The largest fishing port in the Algarve and one of the most authentic, unpolished towns in the region. It sits just 10 minutes from Faro and is well worth a visit.

Olhão is unlike anywhere else in the Algarve. Wander around the old fishermen's quarter and you'll find flat-roofed cubic houses stacked together like sugar cubes. Their North African-inspired architecture a reminder of the town's centuries-old trading connections across the Mediterranean. The famous waterfront market, two striking red-brick buildings dating back to 1915, is the largest fish market in the Algarve and well worth a visit. On Saturdays it spills outside onto the waterfront, brilliant for local produce, crafts and people-watching.

Must visit: Avenida 5 de Outubro market. Go early for the best atmosphere.

And before you leave, head up to the Pure Formosa rooftop bar for sunset cocktails with a 360° view over the town and the Ria Formosa. The perfect end to the afternoon.

Evening: Dinner at Casa do Lago, Quinta do Lago

End the weekend in style with dinner at Casa do Lago in Quinta do Lago. One of the Algarve's most celebrated lakeside restaurants. Set right on the edge of the lake with views over the Ria Formosa, Casa do Lago serves fresh fish and seafood brought in daily from local markets, in a beautiful nautical-inspired setting. It's the kind of restaurant where the setting alone is worth the trip, and the food more than lives up to it.

Casa do Lago, Quinta do Lago, Almancil | quintadolago.com

Day Four: Departure

After breakfast and check-out. Make sure to organise a transfer back to Faro Airport or if you have hired a car, it will be approximately a 45min drive. If your flight is later in the day, Faro's old town is a lovely final stop. The waterfront gardens, the Cidade Velha and the cathedral are all within easy walking distance of the city centre.

Quick Reference: Key Stops

Flights to Faro are available year-round with Jet2

Flights from London Stansted Airport

Package options: Holidays to Portugal with Jet2holidays

Where to stay: W Algarve with Jet2holidays

Travel insurance: SafetyWing

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