Algarve
The southern coast of Portugal is the country’s beach destination — orange sandstone cliffs, hidden coves, and a string of resort towns from Lagos in the west to Tavira near the Spanish border. Praia da Marinha and the sea caves at Benagil are the most-photographed; the cliffs around Sagres at the southwestern tip are the dramatic edge. The eastern Algarve, with its salt-marsh lagoons and quieter towns like Olhão and Faro, is the local-favoured side. Wildly busy in July and August; off-season is the better trip.