Every Monday morning: the news that matters, what’s on this week, where to eat and drink, the beaches, and the small print of Portuguese life, all from the western end of the Algarve. Written in Praia da Luz. Read over coffee.
Monday editions
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The Algarve Monday | 14 September 2026 14 September 2026
The 13th Guitar Festival of Lagoa opens on Friday, the inaugural Portimao World Beer Groove arrives at the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, fado fills the Antiga Lota on Saturday, and the region gets a new Bishop.
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The Algarve Monday | 7 September 2026 7 September 2026
Eyes of the Algarve brings a Grateful Dead weekend to Wake Park Lagos, the cultural centre stages three nights of Spanish flamenco, and Portimao's restored fish market launches six weeks of fado.
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The Algarve Monday | 31 August 2026 31 August 2026
Banho 29 brought thousands to the seafront on Saturday night; this week Noites no Cais opens in Lagos, Festival F fills Faro's old town, and the sea stays warm into September.
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The Algarve Monday | 24 August 2026 24 August 2026
Banho 29 brings midnight swimmers to Praia da Luz and Lagos on Saturday, FATACIL runs through the weekend in Lagoa, and one of the Algarve's longest-running nightclubs bows out quietly in the hills.
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The Algarve Monday | 17 August 2026 17 August 2026
FolkFaro closes in Faro on Saturday, FATACIL opens in Lagoa on Friday, and Portimão's riverside fills with food trucks and live music across the second half of the week.
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Welcome to The Algarve Monday 13 August 2026
A new weekly guide to the western end of the Algarve, landing every Monday morning. Here is what to expect, and why we are writing it.
Guides
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Planning a Large Group Villa Holiday in the Algarve: How to Organise 15 to 25 People
Bedrooms, money, transfers and feeding a crowd: what the organiser of a big Algarve villa trip needs to decide, and in what order.
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Benagil Caves Boat Trips from Lagos: Which One to Book
Speedboats from Lagos, the short hop from the Carvoeiro side, kayaks, and private charters: honest advice on which suits your group.
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Do You Need a Car in the Algarve? An Honest Local Answer
When you genuinely need one, when you don't, what it costs, and the middle path most visitors miss.
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Dolphin Watching in Lagos: An Honest Guide
What you'll actually see, which boat to choose, when to go, and the honest talk about sightings, seasickness and small children.
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eSIM for Portugal: Data for Your Algarve Holiday
Who needs one, who genuinely doesn't, and how to land in Faro with data already working: honest costs included.
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Faro Airport to Lagos and Praia da Luz: Transfers, Taxis and Every Other Way
Pre-booked transfers, the apps, the taxi rank, hire cars, the train and the bus: honest costs, and which one we would actually pick for your group.
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Lagos and Praia da Luz in October and November: The Locals' Favourite Months
Real temperatures, what's open, golf season, walking weather, and why the locals call this the good part of the year.
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Things to Do in Praia da Luz and Lagos: A Local's List
Beaches, boats, cliff walks, old-town Lagos, day trips and family days out: what's genuinely worth your time, from people who live here.
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The 12 Best Beaches in the Western Algarve
From the family-friendly sands of Praia da Luz to the wild surf of the west coast, an honest local's guide to twelve beaches worth your beach bag.
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Where to Drink in Praia da Luz
The bars we actually drink in, from village locals in Luz to rooftops in Lagos, plus how the locals sort out dinner.
