Best Places to Live in the Algarve

Some expats in Portugal choose to live in the Algarve for a variety of reasons.

It is safe, warm, and it is inexpensive relative to the rest of Europe. Like most of Portugal, it has a high-caliber health care system. Additionally, as noted above, it's got an impressive community of expats - literally tens of thousands - that seem to be very open to helping others adapt to life there.

Some say the better question may be "Why wouldn't expats choose to live in the Algarve?" Well, let's answer that question, too.

If you want to live in a "beachy" town where there will be a lot of tourists then the Algarve is a perfectly good option.

However, one of our most experienced expats in Portugal wrote that the "Algarve outside of a bit of Tavira is congested with high rises and frankly it attracts more Brits than Portuguese who only go to the Algarve for holidays on the great beaches."

So if you're interested in more of a cultural experience and interacting with native Portuguese and mastering their language, you may decide to opt out of the Algarve.

The Algarve is located on the southernmost part of the Iberian peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and has been popular with British expats and tourists for over 50 years.

As one expat living in Tavira shared:

"The cost of living is quite low, but the standard of living is high. That is, for very little money, one can rent a nice home, buy a nice car, enjoy travel and local culture and receive medical treatment pennies on the dollar."

Another expat shared that "the Algarve has a lot of variety to offer and it really depends on what you are looking for and your budget. My recommendation would be to go East or West and [if you want to] avoid the more crowded central area."

With all of that in mind, read below to explore some of the places to consider in the Algarve!

• Lagos
• Lagoa
• Carvoeiro
• Ferragudo
• Porches
• Tavira
• Vilamoura
• Albufeira
• Alvor

Lagos

Lagos is in the western part of the Algarve and situated at the mouth of Bensafrim River. It's restaurants, bars and vibrant nightlife make it one of the most visited cities on the Algarve. Let's not forget it's stunning beaches, which some rate as among the most picturesque in Portugal and beyond.

International Schools: Vale Verde International School offers a British Curriculum and welcomes students ages 5 to 18. It offers the Pearson and Cambridge IGCSE qualification. Vale Verde is located in Burgau, a quaint beachside village, that is a 15-20 minute drive west of Lagos. barlavento International School follows the UK Early Years Foundation program for its youngest students and the National Curriculum of England for students in primary years. It is located in Luz just outside of Lagos. Aljezur International School is barlavento's sister secondary school that welcomes students ages 10 through 18 and is located 30 minutes north of Lagos in the coastal town of the same name, Aljezur. It follows the UK national curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE exams. The school offers coach service from Lagos, Alvor and Bensafrim.

Lagoa

In and around the municipality of Lagoa there are a few options to consider.

Listed in alphabetical order, not any preference, you can read about Carvoeiro, Ferragudo and Porches below. (Technically, Lagoa e Carvoeiro is a civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa.)

Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro, which attained the status of town in April 2001, is also a major tourist area that is one of the most well photographed areas of Portugal. While it has catered to tourists for decades, you'll quickly note that it still maintains its coastal European appeal.

Ferragudo

Located in the western portion of Lagoa, Ferragudo was historically a fishing village, but it too has incorporated the tourism industry into its economy. You'll still see some fishermen making a living here, and it adds to the village character that appeals to those who come to Ferragudo seeking to avoid highrises and other less attractive aspects of more modern locales on the Algarve.

Porches

Porches is another gorgeous location with coastal views that are a huge draw for people from all over. Events like the Fine Wines Food Fair at the luxury Vila Vita Parc hotel are available, and you can't write about Porches without mentioning Porches Pottery, which was founded by Patrick Swift, an Irish artist, and Lima de Freitas in 1968. Portugal's love affair with tiles dates back hundreds of years, and Porches Pottery continues the tradition.

International Schools: Nobel Algarve is a British International School with campuses in Lagoa and Almancil. Welcomes students ages 3-18. The Lagoa campus is situated about a mile from the center of Porches.

Tavira

Here's what we wrote about Tavira in our article about the 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal:

"The small town of Tavira is considered by many to be the prettiest town in the Algarve. The Gilao River runs through Tavira and Praia do Barril is the closest beach to the town of Tavira. The beach located on Ilha de Tavira (Tavira Island), a barrier island that lies across a small channel. It's a little bit of a journey to reach this beautiful beach, but most people say it's well worth it. If you're checking out Tavira, have a meal at Pessoa's Cafe or Tasquinha Da Paula."

One expat shared their thoughts about Tavira and Carvoeiro and more:

"There are more things to do in Tavira year round than in Carvoeiro. I would characterize Carvoeiro as a more seasonal town than Tavira. I would also question the public transportation availability in Carvoeiro. Nearby towns such as Lagoa or Ferragudo are both about 6 kms away from Carvoeiro. In Tavira there are several train stations and a bus station where one can catch an express to Lisboa, for example. I would suspect that it will be difficult to find a long term rental in both cities but since Tavira is larger you might have more options."

International Schools: Colegio Santiago Internacional (CSi) welcomes students from ages 4 through 18. It follows the British National Curriculum and English is the primary language, but Portuguese is maintained for native speakers at a grade level proficiency and taught to non-native speakers as an additional language. CSi is located in a state of art 15th century building in the center of Tavira.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura has a centrally-located marina, resorts, casinos and high-end homes. Golf courses are plentiful for those looking to chase a little white ball around well-landscaped, coastal greenery. Vilamoura is located between Albufeira and Faro.

International Schools: Vilamoura International School (Colégio Internacional de Vilamoura - CIV) welcomes students from pre-school through secondary school. It incorporates three curricula: Portuguese National, British (adapted) National and the Cambridge International. Aspire International School is located about 15 minutes outside of Vilamoura and welcomes students ages 3 to 18. Their curriculum is built on the English national curriculum adapted to an international student body and offers iGCSEs and A Levels. Eupheus International School is located about 20 minutes inland from Vilamoura in Loule, follows the Cambridge International curriculum and welcomes students from pre-school through grade 9.

Albufeira

Albufeira is a major tourist hub in the Algarve - perhaps THE tourist hub in the Algarve. It is located in the central part of the Algarve coast. If you can take (or enjoy) these "touristy" realities, you'll never come up short when looking for something to do.

International Schools: EDEN Montessori International School welcomes students from age 3 to 9 in two programs Children's House (3-6) and Lower Elementary (6-9).

Alvor

Alvor is another fantastic location that has preserved its charm while still having plenty to do for expats that want a nice mix of local tradition and a welcoming environment that includes great places to eat and a variety of beaches, shops and more. Again, you won't be away from tourists, but if you're looking for charm at the beach, you've found a great option.

Here are some thoughts one expat shared about the Algarve:

"We ended up in Lagos area and find it rather nice. If you want to be near the beach, it is going to cost more. One thing to watch is that some towns "close" during the off season. For beach, I would check out Alvor, Lagos, Praia da Luz and Burgau. I will say that Burgau is much more of a seasonal town... visit in the off season too before deciding to settle. For non-beach towns, I would visit Silves (my favorite), Loule, Vila da Bispo and Espiche (actually not far from the beach). If you're on a budget... I personally think Silves offers great value in real estate prices, is well situated near A22 and has a year-round population."