Glamping Parque Retiro Dos Sonhos

For those much-needed beach days, you may want to consider Praia da Rocha Baixinha (35 minutes’ drive), a spacious golden beach with lush cliffs and standalone rock formations. Carvoeiro (20 minutes) is a traditional resort town with yet more sandy beaches, so you should consider yourself quite spoiled for options. For some manmade attractions and a bit of history, travel to Lagos (40 minutes). The walled old town has an 18th-century church and a gorgeous baroque castle. Down some steps, you'll reach another sandy beach, and if you don’t mind driving, Ponta da Piedade (40 minutes) has gorgeous rock formations and caves a short drive away from Lagos. Faro (45 minutes) is another worthwhile day trip. The old town’s cobbled streets centre around a 13th-century cathedral, and there are of course plenty of restaurants where you can sink your teeth into tasty local seafood and other dishes.