Algarve’s beaches have received glowing accolades in an assessment by online travel site TripAdvisor, which rated Falésia beach in Albufeira as the best Portuguese beach in Europe, ranking 18th in the top 25 European beaches.
Another Algarve beach, ranking 22nd in the European ‘2013 Travelers’ Choice Beaches Awards’, is Ponta da Piedade in Lagos. Cascais beach in Lisbon is the second best Portuguese beach in Europe, taking the 21st position in the European list.
In the Top 10 Portugal Beaches ranking, Algarve beaches occupy most of the positions, with Falésia in Albufeira taking the top place, Olhos d’Água ranked 4th and five others, all in the western Algarve, among the 10 best in the country: Ponta da Piedade (Lagos), Praia da Rocha (Portimão), Praia Dona Ana (Lagos), Praia da Luz (Burgau) and Praia de Odeceixe (Aljezur).
Last year, Albufeira was voted one of the European tourist destinations with the best beaches, owing to their beauty and diversity which placed the municipality in 6th place in the Top 10 of Travellers’ Choice Awards.
Albufeira was also given top marks for good environmental practices with 20 blue flag beaches in the district.
||Top 10 beaches in Portugal Travellers’ Choice 2013 (TripAdvisor)
1 – Falésia, Albufeira
2 – Cascais, Lisbon
3 – Ponta da Piedade, Lagos
4 – Olhos D’Água, Albufeira
5 – Praia da Rocha, Portimão
6 – Dona Ana, Lagos
7 – Tróia, Grândola
8 – Guincho, Sintra
9 – Luz, Lagos
10 – Odeceixe, Aljezur
