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A beautiful and intimate beach, caressed by clear waters and flanked by huge outcrops of mustard-red sandstone. Easily reached by car and public transport, and about 25 minutes’ walk from the centre of Lagos. A nearby warren of coves and hidden grottoes is ripe for exploration by boat.

Ostensibly an elongated sand bar, Ilha de Tavira’s windward side is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts. Leeward, opposite Tavira, the sheltered beach skirts a campsite and a string of cafés and fine seafood restaurants. There are two access points to this spit. From Pedras del Rei, you can walk across a causeway or catch a ride on a miniature railway. Alternatively, regular ferry boats depart from the jetty at Quatro Águas.

This hugely popular tract of sand is characterized by the colourful fishing boats stationed at one end – indeed, Praia dos Barcos is also known as “Fisherman’s Beach”. Right in front of the town’s old quarter, the beach is reached through a tunnel next to the tourist information office.

Pummelled by Atlantic swells, Armado is one of Portugal’s premier surfing venues, and its surf school enjoys international patronage. Sitting well off the beaten track, this west coast beach also attracts families, and the rock pools at low tide teem with inquisitive children.

One of the most famous and impressive beaches in the Algarve, Praia da Rocha is one vast blanket of golden sand set against a backdrop of cliffs the colour of cinnamon. It can get very crowded in summer, but a tunnel at the western end allows access to narrower stretches of sand. At various points along Avenida Tómas Cabreira there is further access via steps, some of them steep.

With its shallow waters and soft white sand, Praia da São Rafael can fill up quickly. Its pretty bay is framed by some extraordinary rock formations, pocked by a number of caves just waiting to be investigated. It offers ideal snorkelling territory and is popular with families.

Praia da São Rafael

One of the Algarve’s best kept secrets, Odeceixe is in a spectacular setting, up in the northwest corner of the Algarve. Its sheltered, crescent-shaped beach is just a short drive (along a road that shadows the path of the river) from the quaint village of Odeceixe. Even in summer, the beach is always wonderfully uncrowded.

Steep steps hewn into rock lead down to two compact and secluded beaches tucked below soaring cliffs. A treat for snorkellers, Marinha is served by a small café.

This select swathe of sand is popular with youngsters and windsurfers. There are also some excellent nearby dive sites, such as Boco do Rio to the east, where the wreck of theOcean, an 18th-century French man-of-war, lies in shallow water. Praia de Figueira lies right in front of the village of Salema. Arrive early to find parking space.

A giant curve of sand 4 km (2 miles) in length makes this the longest beach in the Algarve. There’s plenty of room for water-skiing, windsurfing and jet-skiing and those seeking a little peace and quiet. It also makes for a lovely walk, especially in autumn when the summer hoards have begun to disperse.