Albufeira, Algarve

Praia de São Rafael

The rock formations everyone photographs, four kilometres west of town

Written by Tiago, who grew up in Albufeira and drives a tuk tuk down to this cove most days.

Parking

A car park on the cliff above, plus free roadside spaces along the approach. It is the biggest of the three and still goes early in July and August.

Getting down to the sand

A road and then steps down from the car park. The beach itself is wheelchair accessible, which is unusual for a cove on this coast — ask Tiago before you rely on it.

What's there

Restaurant on the sand, toilets, showers, sunbeds to hire on the left-hand side, kayak and paddleboard rental, and lifeguards through the summer. Blue Flag.

Swimming

Shallow a long way out and sheltered by the stacks, so it is usually calmer than the open beaches east of town. Lifeguarded and flagged through the summer; outside the season nobody is watching, and the water moving between the rocks does more than it looks like it does.

Shade

Almost none on the sand in the middle of the day. The cliff behind throws a shadow over the eastern end late on, and the hired sunbeds come with a parasol — but those go early. If you are staying past lunch in July, bring your own.

With children

The easiest of the three. Shallow water, a restaurant and toilets down on the sand rather than up on the cliff, and caves at the western end to explore when the tide is out.

Without a car

Not well served. Route 75 from Albufeira bus station passes nearby a handful of times a day; a taxi is ten minutes and most people end up doing that in one direction and struggling in the other.

When to go

Late afternoon, when the low sun is behind the stacks. The caves at the western end need a low tide — check before you go, or you'll be looking at water.

How long to stay

An hour if you came for the photograph, half a day if you are swimming. Ten minutes from the old town by road, and there is enough here to fill the time.