Strangely enough, as much as I love beaches, Praia dos Três Castelos in Portimão is one I haven't visited very often. But then again, there are so many beaches along this coast that it is almost impossible to keep returning to all of them.

This year, I had the chance to admire Três Castelos several times from above, from the viewpoint it shares with neighbouring Praia da Rocha. Every time I looked down at the golden cliffs, turquoise water and incredible rock formations, I thought the same thing: I really need to go down there.

Credits: TPN; Author: Tereza Pedro;

So finally, I did.

A staircase leads from the top of the cliffs down to the beach and Restaurante Rocha Azul. After finding our spot on the sand, I couldn't stop looking around. The huge rock formations are what make this beach so special, with arches, little passages and cave-like formations carved into the cliffs and rocks.

Later, we decided to walk west towards Alvor, and this was when I realised just how long Três Castelos actually is. The further we walked, the more impressive the scenery became, with something different appearing around almost every corner.

Watch the full video here 👇👇👇


Eventually, after passing through another large rock formation, you reach neighbouring Praia do Amado, making it easy to combine both beaches in one walk.

Praia dos Três Castelos reminded me that sometimes you don't have to travel far to discover somewhere that feels completely new.

Best for: Rock formations, coastal walks, photography and dramatic Algarve scenery.