While millions of visitors flock to the western and central Algarve each year for its famous beaches and golf courses, the eastern region remains wonderfully authentic and less discovered. Here, you'll find the Portugal of decades past – traditional towns where daily life continues much as it has for generations.

The East Algarve offers a refreshing contrast to the more developed tourist centres. Local fishermen still bring their catch to morning markets, elderly residents chat in town squares, and village cafés serve strong coffee to regulars who've been visiting for years.

Day trips to the East Algarve give you a chance to see how the region looked before mass tourism arrived. Towns like Tavira, Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António maintain their historic centres, fishing heritage and genuine Portuguese atmosphere. The beaches here are among the Algarve's finest, yet remain pleasantly uncrowded even in summer.

For visitors staying in busier resorts like Albufeira or Vilamoura, a day exploring the eastern towns provides a more complete picture of the Algarve – one where Portuguese culture takes centre stage rather than holiday entertainment. With the excellent train connections between the main towns, exploring this authentic side of Portugal couldn't be easier.

Tavira – Charming riverside town with a seven-arched bridge, whitewashed buildings, and cobblestone streets revealing centuries of history.

Olhão - Working fishing town with a bustling waterfront market where locals buy the day's catch, maintaining the authentic rhythm of Algarve life unchanged for generations.

Vila Real de Santo António – Elegant planned town with Lisbon-inspired architecture sitting at Portugal's eastern edge, overlooking the mighty Guadiana River to Spain.

Faro - The Algarve's historic capital with a perfectly preserved walled old town, magnificent cathedral, and haunting bone chapel.

Castelo de Castro Marim - Medieval fortress with commanding views across salt flats to Spain, featuring remarkably preserved double castles that have guarded Portugal's border for centuries.

We recommend exploring the towns of the central and eastern Algarve in this order:
1) Faro 2) Tavira 3) Olhão 4) Loulé (central Alagvre) 5) Vila Real de Santo António 6) Castelo de Castro Marim

Insight: A detailed guide to what to see and do in each of these towns is provided later in this article

If you would prefer to discover the eastern Algarve with the convenience of a guide, GetYourGuide provides some excellent tours of the region, and these include:

While the main towns of the East Algarve offer plenty to fill your day, the region's true magic often lies in its smaller, less visited treasures. These hidden spots reveal the Algarve at its most authentic and with a car, you could add these hidden gems to your day trip:

Praia do Barril - Access this beautiful beach via a charming miniature train ride across the lagoon, where you'll discover the haunting "Anchor Cemetery," a collection of hundreds of rusting anchors from the old tuna fishing fleet arranged as art installation and memorial to a vanished way of life.

Cacela Velha - Tiny whitewashed village perched on a clifftop offering spectacular panoramic views across the Ria Formosa to the Atlantic, with a peaceful church square and remnants of an old fortress creating one of the Algarve's most picturesque scenes.

Ilha da Culatra - Car-free island accessible only by boat from Olhão, home to a small fishing community, lighthouse, and pristine undeveloped beaches where you can escape the crowds even in high summer.

Santa Luzia – A tiny fishing village specializes in catching and preparing octopus in traditional ways, with a peaceful waterfront promenade and boats bobbing in the harbour.

Praia da Ilha de Tavira - Take a short ferry ride from Tavira's center to reach this stunning beach island with kilometers of golden sand, crystal clear waters.

The interactive map below shows the towns and lesser-known sights of the Easter Algarve. (Note: zoom in or out to see all of the points)

Legend: 1) Tavira 2) Olhão 3) Vila Real de Santo António 4) Faro 5) Castelo de Castro Marim 6) Praia do Barril 7) Cacela Velha 8) Ilha da Culatra 9) Santa Luzia 10) Praia da Ilha de Tavira

The East Algarve boasts an excellent transport network that makes independent exploration simple and affordable. The railway line runs the entire length of the eastern region, connecting all major towns with frequent, reliable services. Clean, modern trains link Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, with journeys costing just a few euros. The stations are centrally located, placing you directly in the heart of these historic towns the moment you step off the train.

From Western/Central Algarve Resorts:
• From Albufeira to Faro: ~30 minutes (€3.60)
• From Albufeira to Tavira: ~1 hour 15 minutes (€6)

Between Eastern Algarve Towns:
• Faro to Olhão: 10 minutes (€1.60)
• Faro to Tavira: 30 minutes (€3.10)
• Tavira to Vila Real de Santo António: 25 minutes (€2.80)

Trains run roughly hourly throughout the day, giving you flexibility for your return journey. Full detail can be seen on the Comboios de Portugal (CP) website: https://www.cp.pt/

Within each town, everything is walkable. The compact historic centres mean you can easily explore on foot, wandering through charming streets and discovering hidden corners without needing any further transport. Even some of the beaches are accessible by public ferry services from the towns. From Tavira, regular boats take visitors to Ilha de Tavira beach, while from Olhão you can reach the islands of Armona and Culatra.

Don't let transport concerns keep you confined to just one part of the Algarve. The eastern region's treasures are just a simple train journey away, offering a more authentic Portuguese experience that perfectly complements the resort atmosphere of the central and western areas.

Olhão offers visitors an authentic glimpse into traditional Algarve life, centered around its fishing heritage. Begin your exploration at the famous red-brick markets (Mercados de Olhão), two distinctive buildings along the waterfront where fishermen bring their daily catch. The atmosphere inside is vibrant and colourful, with the seafood market particularly impressive.

The waterfront promenade (Avenida 5 de Outubro) provides a pleasant walk alongside the Ria Formosa lagoon. From here, you can hop on a ferry to visit the barrier islands with their pristine beaches. Ilha da Armona is the closest, just a 15-minute boat ride away, offering golden sands and crystal-clear waters.

Stroll through the historic neighbourhood of Barreta, characterized by cube-shaped whitewashed houses with distinctive Moorish-influenced rooftops and intricate chimneys. The narrow, winding streets create a labyrinth worth getting lost in, with unexpected squares and hidden corners revealing the town's character.

Don't miss the Igreja Matriz (Parish Church), a simple but beautiful 17th-century church with an impressive baroque altar, or the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos with its striking blue-and-white tiled façade.

Olhão's charm lies in its authenticity—this is a working town first and tourist destination second, giving visitors a genuine Portuguese experience away from the more developed western Algarve resorts.

Tavira straddles the Gilão River with its Roman bridge connecting the two sides of this enchanting town. With over 37 churches, Tavira boasts remarkable religious architecture spanning various periods. Begin at the Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, built on the ruins of a mosque and containing the tombs of seven knights killed by Moors in 1242.

Climb to the castle remains for panoramic views over Tavira's distinctive rooftops and surrounding countryside. Though mostly in ruins, the castle's walls and garden provide insight into the town's strategic importance throughout history.

The Camera Obscura, housed in the old water tower, offers a unique 360° real-time projection of the town. This fascinating optical device provides both entertainment and a different perspective on Tavira's layout.

Wandering through the cobbled streets reveals numerous architectural gems, including the 16th-century Igreja da Misericórdia with its renaissance portal and magnificent azulejo tiles inside. The Praça da República forms the heart of town life, a vibrant square where locals gather around the bandstand.

Cross the seven-arched Roman bridge (though the current structure dates mostly from the 17th century) and explore the riverfront with its traditional salt pans visible in the distance.

The Palácio da Galeria houses temporary exhibitions in a beautifully restored Renaissance building, worth visiting both for its architecture and cultural displays.

Tavira's unhurried pace and preserved historic center create an atmosphere of timeless elegance that transports visitors to a more genteel era of Algarve life.

Faro, the Algarve's capital, offers much more than just an entry point to the region. Begin your exploration in the Old Town (Cidade Velha), enclosed by medieval walls with the impressive Arco da Vila serving as its grand entrance. This 19th-century neoclassical arch incorporates an original Moorish gateway visible inside.

The cobblestone streets lead to the 13th-century Cathedral (Sé), worth ascending for panoramic views from its tower. Inside, admire the intricate azulejo tiles and a magnificent 17th-century gilded wooden altar. Nearby, the Episcopal Palace adds to the architectural splendour of the cathedral square.

For something uniquely haunting, visit the Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel) within the Igreja do Carmo, where the walls are decorated with the bones of over 1,000 monks - a sombre reminder of mortality.

Wander along Rua de Santo António, Faro's main shopping street, to observe local life and admire the 19th-century architecture. The nearby Manuel Bivar Garden provides a shady respite alongside the marina.

Faro maintains an authentic Portuguese character despite being a provincial capital. Its compact historic center, cultural attractions, and gateway to natural wonders make it an essential day trip destination in the Algarve.

Vila Real de Santo António, sitting at Portugal's eastern edge along the Guadiana River, offers visitors a fascinating planned city built from scratch in 1774 under Marquês de Pombal's direction. Begin your exploration in the striking Praça Marquês de Pombal, a perfectly symmetrical square paved in a black and white mosaic pattern radiating from its central obelisk. The surrounding buildings showcase the town's uniform Pombaline architecture, characterized by elegant simplicity.

Stroll down Avenida da República, the main commercial street, where traditional Portuguese businesses operate beneath covered arcades. The Igreja Matriz (Parish Church), while modest in appearance, fits perfectly into the town's architectural harmony.

At the river's edge stands the Arquivo Histórico Municipal, a former lighthouse keeper's residence that now serves as the town's historical archive. From here, continue south to Ponta da Areia for views of where the Guadiana meets the Atlantic.

The charming riverside promenade extends along the Guadiana River, providing views across to Spain. Here you'll find the ferry terminal for the short crossing to Ayamonte, Spain - an exciting way to visit two countries in one day. The 15-minute ferry ride offers beautiful views of both riverbanks.

Our most popular guides to the Eastern Algarve