Praia de Quarteira
Sand beach
Praia de Quarteira is the town beach of Quarteira, a long, straight stretch of sand running along the waterfront of this former fishing village, now a mid-rise resort town situated on the central Algarve coast between Vilamoura and Albufeira. The beach extends for roughly two kilometres, backed by a wide promenade that is one of the principal gathering places of the town and the scene of a nightly passeio, the traditional Portuguese evening walk, when families, couples and groups of friends stroll the full length in the warm twilight air.
The beach is wide and flat, with fine golden sand that is raked and maintained through the summer season by the municipal authorities. The water is clean and calm, the beach facing south and sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic swell by the coastline's orientation. The seabed is sandy and gentle in its gradient, and lifeguards patrol the full length of the beach in summer, stationed at regular intervals. Sunbed and parasol hire is available along most of the beach, organised in orderly rows that reflect the town's well-maintained, if unflashy, character.
Quarteira is not glamorous and makes no pretence to be. It lacks the cliff scenery of the cove beaches to the west, the boutique charm of Tavira to the east and the nightlife reputation of Albufeira in between. What it offers instead is a straightforward, unpretentious beach town experience: good sand, warm water, a lively promenade, a famous fish market and some of the best-value seafood restaurants on the coast. The Wednesday market, held in a large open-air site near the town centre, is one of the biggest in the Algarve and draws visitors from a wide area for its stalls of produce, clothing, ceramics and household goods.
The eastern end of the beach merges with the Vilamoura marina area, and it is possible to walk along the sand from the centre of Quarteira to the marina in about twenty minutes. Vilamoura is more manicured, more international and considerably more expensive, and the contrast between the two settlements, separated by a few hundred metres of sand, reflects the broader spectrum of Algarve development in miniature. Quarteira has retained more of its Portuguese character, in part because it remains a real working town rather than a purpose-built resort complex.
The fish market, held every morning in a covered building near the western end of the promenade, is worth a visit even for those not planning to cook. The catch comes in from the small fishing boats that still operate from the town, and the variety and freshness are impressive, with sea bass, gilt-head bream, sardines, mackerel, red mullet and squid among the regular offerings. Several of the restaurants near the market serve fish bought that morning, charcoal-grilled and served simply with boiled potatoes and salad, in the traditional Algarve manner. This combination of town beach, promenade, daily market and fresh fish is Quarteira's essential offer, and it delivers it consistently and without fuss. The beach is at its most pleasant in the early morning, before the sunbeds are set out and while the fishermen are still unloading at the harbour, and again in the evening, when the promenade comes alive and the restaurants fill with the smell of charcoal and grilling sardines.