If you are looking for a great family friendly destination on the Algarve, then Carvoeiro is where you want to be. A lovely village with everything that you want and nothing that you don`t. Livelier than the quiet western Algarve and quieter than party destinations like Albufeira, Carvoeiro has something for everyone.
Where is Carvoeiro?
About midway along the southern Atlantic coast of the Algarve, Carvoeiro sits above the ocean and below the Monchique mountain range. A short transfer of around 45 minutes from Faro airport (FAO/LPFR) Carvoeiro sits at 37.097522 degrees North , 8.471189 West. A former fishing village, Carvoeiro has successfully transformed itself in to a friendly, welcoming and rewarding holiday destination.
Who goes to Carvoeiro
A mixture of families with younger children, families with teens, young adults, older couples and golfers make up the main demographic of visitors. Many people are repeat visitors, hooked on the charm of Carvoeiro or older teens having a first holiday alone that have visited as children. A large number of visitors also own holiday homes here and visit for a few weeks or months at a time. The vast majority of people who visit Carvoeiro come back again and again.
What´s the demographic like?
Carvoeiro has a wide range of visitors, domestic visitors from Lisbon and the North, Europeans, Canadians escaping the winter, Americans discovering the value, visitors from the Far East and Middle East.
The majority of visitors are Europeans with Brits, Irish, French, German and Dutch making up the core. Many Scandinavians come here to escape the winter and enjoy the great value for money that Carvoeiro offers. Our Spanish neighbours are also here in number, enjoying the difference that a short cross-border trip makes.
Just a quick note here… we are Portugal we speak Portuguese it is NOT Spanish!
Increasingly a winter destination for Canadians escaping the snow-blower and also North Americans enjoying the value of a break here.
A smaller, but still significant, group is made up of curios travelers from Asia and middle eastern nations along with a growing number from Russia.
Whatever the mix, Carvoeiro has a genuinely inclusive feel and all visitors are made welcome here.
So why visit?
Come here for the friendly people, the inclusive feel of the place, the Ocean, the Mountains, the Dolphins, the micro climate with 300 days of sunshine every year. Enjoy the many free events from the Camara (local govenment) like parties at the start and end of summer, the famous Carvoeiro Black and White Night or live entertainment nightly by the beach throughout the summer.
Come here for the laid back, relaxed vibe. Enjoy the simple pleasure of relaxing with a drink or dining above the beach, cliffs and ocean.
What is there to do in Carvoeiro? (plenty!)
Drinking and dining
Carvoeiro has many great bars and restaurants where you can enjoy anything from a simple pint and a Bifanha to specialty cocktails, fine wines from across the country, simple, wholesome traditional food or Michelin Stared dining.
Bars range from simple straightforward no frills beer, wine and spirits in simple surroundings to upmarket cocktail bars offering superior drinks and service without the international price tag. Many bars in the village feature live music, DJ´s or Karaoke on various nights. All are family friendly and welcoming. Karaoke here ranges from the professional to the hilarious and no one is ever judgmental.
Restaurants here are all good or better, if you ever do manage to find a bad one, you can be assured that it won´t be there for long! Many places serve traditional Portuguese dishes like fresh fish, sardines and cataplanas alongside meat dishes of pork, lamb, beef and our Piri-Piri Chicken.
Many restaurants also offer more sophisticated European and fusion dining experiences. You can also find excellent Indian, Chinese and even Nepalese fare in the village.
In the daytime
Day Time enjoy the beach, walk the boardwalk, take a boat trip to the sea caves or to watch dolphins. Ride the mini-train, take an electric Tuk-Tuk tour, hire a cycle, ride a horse, visit nearby beaches like Albandeira or Praia da Marinha. Have a light lunch, have a huge lunch, kick back at a beach bar or enjoy coffe, cake and people watching.
Just out of town get wet at the huge Slide and Splash water park, play golf or go karting at the racetrack.
Night owls
Night Time enjoy “prinks” at one of the many lovely bars, maybe an ocean view sun-downer? Move on to dinner at any one of the great restaurants in town. Later enjoy a quiet cocktail or three with friends.
Feeling more lively, take in live bands at Bradys, Jail House, Roundup or Carvoeiro bar. Or sing at Roundup, Mungos or Carvoeiro bar.
Still not ready to hit the sack? Roundup closes late but the absolute last word in late bars is Mungos where you can still be dancing at 4AM
Getting Home Taxis are usually reliable to at least 2AM and often later in peak season. Uber or Bolt can be booked easily and are plentiful in high season.
