Where is Carvoeiro
Situated about half way along the south coast of the Algarve, Carvoeiro is around 45 minutes drive from Faro Airport (FAO). Easily accessible from the A22 and EN 125 east-west roads.
GPS
37.096158, -8.472169
What can you expect from a visit to Carvoeiro
The ocean front village of Carvoeiro is located about midway along the stunning Southern Algarve coastline. A one-time fishing village, Carvoeiro retains much of its original charm whilst offering a wide variety of tourist activities.
Who Visits Carvoeiro?
The majority of visitors are family groups, retired couples, golfers and older children enjoying a first holiday away from mum and dad, often this group comprises young adults who have holidayed here repeatedly with their families.
Tourists are British, Canadian, American,Irish, Dutch, German, French, Scandinavians, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and of course Portuguese!
Where can I eat in Carvoeiro?
Almost anywhere! Carvoeiro has a large number of restaurants covering styles from traditional Portuguese cuisine, through modern international, Mediterranean, Sushi, Italian, Tapas, Chinese, Indian and even Nepalese.T here is a restaurant to suit every taste and every budget, food quality is always high with lots of fresh ingredients. Service is generally excellent and cheerful.
Portuguese Specialities
Being on the Atlantic Ocean and having a long history of fishing and seafaring, seafood is always on the menu in the Algarve, always fresh and always plentiful. In many places from boat to plate within hours.
Cataplana
A dish named after the double sided copper pot in which it is both cooked and served. Cataplanas are usually for two people to share and can be seafood or meat based. The meat or fish is sealed in the closed Cataplana dish and cooked in a rich sauce.
Arroz Tamboril (Monkfish rice with prawns)
Like a cataplana but cooked and served in a regular pot, this dish contains succulent monkfish and prawns with rice in a traditional tomato seafood sauce, Once again, usually for two people to share.
Biffe a Portuguesa (Portuguese steak)
A sirloin steak cooked and served in an earthenware dish with a garlic “gravy” usually surrounded by thin, hand cut sliced potatoes
Sardines
Very popular among the locals, sardines are usually grilled (often on charcoal) and served six at a time with boiled potatoes and a salad.
Sardine season is May to October with August being the month of maximum consumption!
Chicken Piri-Piri (NOT Peri-Peri!)
If you have ever been to Nandos, you will not recognise Algarvian chicken Piri-Piri. This dish has its origins in the Algarve town of Guia and you will find it on almost any Algarvian menu.
Small chickens, chargrilled for crispy skin served as a half or whole bird, cut up into pieces. The Piri-Piri is an oil based sauce containing garlic and chili in varying degrees, everything form mildly interesting to red-hot. Algarvians have loyalty to a particular restaurant, based on their individual style, It is said that a good Chicken Piri-Piri should be hot enough to leave your lips tingling for a while after you have eaten
Bacalhau (salt dried cod fish)
This dish is so synonymous with Portugal that it is almost iconic. You will see it everywhere you go, fishmarket, supermarket and restaurant. A staple diet of the Portuguese through the hard times, it is nicknamed Fiel Amigo (faithful friend) and is celebrated in song and story.
It is said that there are 365 ways to cook Bacalhau, one for every day of the year
Popular Bacalhau dishes are
- Bacalhau com natas (with cream)
- Chopped and seasoned Bacalhau cooked in garlic and cream in an oven dish
- Bacalhau no forno (in the oven)
- Bacalhau baked in the oven, usually with tomatoes and onion
- Bacalhau a Bras
- Bacalhau cooked with fine straw potatoes in a garlic, cream and herb sauce
Got a sweet tooth? The locals have!
Cafes and Pastelarias offer a wide range of fresh baked goods. Enjoy the famous and delicious Pastel de Nata or why not a Bolo Berlim? If you like your bread freshly baked you are in the right place, visit Fabrica Velha for fresh baked goods daily
Our top Restaurant Picks in Carvoeiro
Budget
Bella Rosa / Vimar / Taberna Portuguesa / A Rosa / Califórnia
Mid-priced
Taste / Primavera / Lanterna / Casa Algarvia / A Vela / Jota Lita / A Gale
Higher End
Garden / O Patio / XAMOR / Chefs Kitchen / Villa Medici / ETXEA
Non Portuguese Fare
Chinatown / O Indiano / Gurkha Kitchen / Pani Indian (right above the beach)
Bars and Nightlife
Just as there are many restaurants, Carvoeiro is not short of a bar or two!
Bars in the village range from basic, on the pavement, plastic chairs and reasonably priced drinks up to dedicated and sophisticated cocktail bars. You can find a bar with a TV, a bar with an ocean front terrace or a secluded bar with good cocktails and a pleasant atmosphere.Many bars have live music and / or DJ´s in the evening and you can stay late ( 1, 2, 3 or sometimes even 4AM!) Drink prices range from absurdly reasonable up to fairly standard European bar pricing. Mixed drinks (G&T) are usually much stronger than most of Europe and always much stronger than a UK offering, Cocktails are also generally strong here.
Our top picks for Carvoeiro bars
Basic Bars
Smilers / Hemingway’s / Accordiao
Bars with a View
Matabixo / Atlantic View / Smilers
Music Bars
Carvoeiro Bar / Roundup Karaoke bar / Brady’s Irish Pub / Mungos (until very late!)
Cocktails (sophisticated)
Liberty’s / Decadent / Sky Bar
Activities
With the ocean lying right at the village square, anything on water is an obvious choice.
Right from the beach you can take a sea-cave trip in a traditional fishing boat to see the wonderful features of the Algarve coast wrought by centuries of erosion.
You can also hire a pedalo with or without a slide!
Or you could just hire a beach bed or simply sit on the sand and watch the world go by.
Mini-Train
Departing from the beach square, the mini train runs different circuits of the Carvoeiro area. A great way to check out the village and surroundings.
On Tuesdays and Fridays you can take the train to nearby Ferragudo, leave at 11:00 and return at 14:00. Have lunch in the square at Ferragudo and walk through the village before heading back on the train.
E-bikes
You can hire e-bikes at two locations in the town
E-bike tours Carvoeiro and Motorent
Water Parks
Carvoeiro is sandwiched between two water parks.
The “Big One” at Alcantarillha and the (ironically, very much bigger) Slide and Splash at Lagoa.
Discount tickets can be obtained from the Tourismo office on the Largo da Praia (beach square) or at almost any shop in the village. Slide and Splash is an excellent park for all ages.
Zoo Zoo Zoo Marine!
Zoomarine is an educationally themed marine park located in Guia. The park features shows with Dolphins, seals and birds of prey along with the absolutely excellent Jolly Pirate shows.
This park is easily a 2 day visit for children and teens as it has the shows, fairground rides, a wave pool and a large water park all in one place. There are big rides like the Jurassic River and the Iguacu (waterfall) which is new for 2024.
Shows are presented in Portuguese and English
Top Tip
If you buy a one day pass as you are heading for the exits you will find a discount ticket counter where you can buy a second day at a good discount. You really can spend a day on rides and shows and then go back just for the water park.
Boat trips & Buggy rides
There is a huge range of things to do on the water with many trips departing from nearby Portimao or not quite so nearby Lagos. You can also book buggy, quad bike and Land Rover tours from almost any shop in the village. Dolphin watching trips have a very high probability of sightings.
- Dolphin Watching
- Catamaran Trip
- Jet Ski (Seadoo)
- River trip to Silves
- Santa Bernarda Party Boat (Pirate Ship)
- Jet Boat
- Private boat hire
- E-bike tours
- Buggy Safaris
- Jeep Safaris
- Skydive Alvor
- Fly the Algarve Costline
- Karting at the racetrack
Entertainment and Special Events
During the “summer” which means August in these parts, the local council (Camara Municipal de Lagoa)
set up a stage on the Lago da Praia at the beach to showcase different musical acts in the evenings. You could be listening to pop, rock, Fado, Baille or a DJ any evening and dancing in the square is encouraged. All of this is provide free of charge to entertain our summer guests
Special Events
Black and White Night ( Noite de Preto e Branco)
Held on Saturday in June each year the 2025 event is set for 21st June. This event attracts around 40,000 visitors.
The roads in the center of the village are closed to traffic and the restaurants and bars set up in the street. Three or four stages will be set up in different locations with different performances and bands throughout the evening.
Street “animations” featuring jugglers, fire eaters, stilt walkers and clowns run throughout the evening
Later on, the action moves to the Lago da Praia and the beach where there will be a major DJ set until around 2AM.
People are encouraged to dress in black and white although this is by no means compulsory
A major agricultural show at the Lago fair ground is held every year in August from 19th until the 28th.
A large showground features stands showcasing traditional crafts, farming and building equipment, cars, boats, hot-tubs, water pumps and just about anything you can think of.
There are restaurants and bars around the site along with traditional food stalls selling cheeses, prejunto, preserves, sandes de leitao and every kind of drink. Different stages around the grounds host various performers in the early part of the evening before the big stage kicks in a 11 PM Each night features an equestrian show in the arena with different performers and themes each evening between 9 and 10 PM Later on it is time to head for the big stage!
This stage hosts a different act each evening, all of the performers are well known in Portugal from famous Fado and Baille acts to rock and pop bands with national and international followings
- Performers have included
- Quim Bareiros
- Xutos e Pontapes
- Richie Campbel
- Mariza (Fado)
- Orquestra do Algarve
