Beyond the island's towns lie 30 villages, from the thatched cottages of Godshill to the hidden creek at Newtown. Many retain a character unchanged for centuries.
- Cacela Velha
A tiny clifftop hamlet overlooking the Ria Formosa lagoon, widely considered one of the most picturesque spots in the eastern Algarve.
- Estoi
An inland village north of Faro centred on a rococo palace with ornamental gardens and Roman ruins nearby.
- Moncarapacho
A working agricultural town on the eastern Algarve with a local museum, ancient olive groves and proximity to the Ria Formosa.
- Fuseta
A low-key fishing town on the Ria Formosa with a lively waterfront, a campsite and ferry access to a barrier island beach.
- Cabanas de Tavira
A waterfront village on the Ria Formosa with a long boardwalk, boat taxis to a sand spit beach and a growing residential community.
- Santa Luzia
A small fishing village west of Tavira that calls itself the octopus capital of the Algarve.
- Alcoutim
A remote border village on the Guadiana river facing its Spanish counterpart Sanlucar de Guadiana across the water.
- Castro Marim
A hill town above the Guadiana salt marshes with two castles, a medieval fair and a nature reserve rich in flamingos.
- Almancil
A parish town between Faro and Quarteira known principally for the baroque church of Sao Lourenco and its proximity to the Golden Triangle resorts.
- Ferragudo
A compact fishing village on the western bank of the Arade estuary, facing Portimao across the river.
- Salema
A low-key beach village on the western Algarve coast where fishing boats still share the sand with sunbathers.
- Burgau
A small clifftop village above a sheltered cove on the western Algarve, popular with walkers and families.
- Luz
A family-oriented beach village west of Lagos with a broad sandy bay, Roman ruins and dramatic coastal cliffs.
- Benagil
A tiny hamlet above a narrow beach cove, famous worldwide for its cathedral-like sea cave.
- Porches
A roadside village in the central Algarve known for its hand-painted pottery tradition and proximity to dramatic coastal scenery.
- Budens
A small inland village near the western tip of the Algarve that serves as a base for some of the region's finest beaches.
- Barao de Sao Joao
A hillside village north of Lagos with an alternative community, organic farming and a strong arts scene.
- Raposeira
A small roadside village near Sagres with a 13th-century church linked to the Knights Templar and Henry the Navigator.
- Ingrina
A sheltered cove hamlet near Vila do Bispo with calm waters, rock-pool snorkelling and a single beach restaurant.
- Mexilhoeira Grande
A hilltop parish town overlooking the Alvor estuary with a Neolithic passage tomb and a strong agricultural identity.
- Alvor
A former fishing village on the western Algarve coast with a characterful old town, a broad sandy beach and a protected estuary.