Praia do Castelo

Albufeira, Portugal, Portugal

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Praia do Castelo, often called “Castle Beach,” is a small but scenic Blue Flag beach in the Albufeira municipality on the western stretch of the Algarve coast between Albufeira and Armação de Pêra.

It sits in a sheltered bay surrounded by tall ochre cliffs and rocky outcrops, with a short strip of golden sand and clear, calm waters that are pleasant for swimming and snorkeling, especially in summer. The beach gets its name either from a large rock offshore that looks like castle battlements or from a ruined 16th‑century watchtower that once stood nearby to guard against pirates.

Access is via a wooden staircase from the cliff top, which keeps the beach quieter and more natural than the busier urban beaches, with a small restaurant, sun‑beds, toilets, and lifeguards in season, but limited facilities for people with reduced mobility.