The area is known for its beautiful white washed houses (Image: Getty)
Away from the hustle and bustle of Portugal’s tourist towns lies a quiet village, offering the perfect getaway at a friendly price tag.
Less than an hour away from Faro Airport, approximately 43 miles away, lies the charming village of Ferragudo. Its peaceful setting along the river estuary, adjacent to Portimão, allows for a tranquil escape with the sun, sea and far fewer tourists.
The area is known for its picturesque whitewashed houses and narrow cobbled streets, offering an authentic Portugal getaway without all the fuss. Although it still remains close enough to the likes of Albufeira and Lagos, if you did want to plan a day trip or two.
Making it all the more appealing this spring are super cheap flight prices from major airports across the UK throughout April. Currently, there are flights starting at £14 from Manchester Airport, with others costing £15 when departing from Bristol, London, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and others.
A quick and cheap flight and less than an hour’s transfer, and you’ll find yourself in a tiny slice of paradise, with temperatures as high as 22 degrees for this time of year.
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The village is famous for its fresh seafood (Image: Getty)
Beaches
There are several beaches dotted in and around the village that make for the perfect day of sunbathing and paddling in the crystal-clear waters. A popular spot for families is Praia Grande, the village’s largest beach and a destination ranked as the top thing to do when visiting the area.
One recent visitor shared on TripAdvisor: « A beautiful clean beach with great views of the harbour, no seaweed and some sweet beach bars with delicious snacks and sangria – absolutely recommended! »
Another wrote: « Great beach for kids and families! Very good to rest for a few days, being a beach with good sand and with clean water and no waves. Waves only when the boats pass and are great. »
Also nearby is the serene and secluded beach, Praia dos Caneiros, a highly rated spot for its stunning cliffs. Spanning around 200 meters long, the beach is an ideal swim spot, with a cave nearby, and is guarded throughout the summer.
You can take boat trips to and from the village (Image: Getty)
One beachgoer described their experience, writing: « Gorgeous small beach surrounded by cliffs. The restaurant Praia da Rei on the beach is also worth going to, as the food there is incredible – especially the seafood. We had the beach to ourself, but it was November! There are some great cliff walks that lead to here too. »
Restaurants
Local fishing and meat are at the heart of the very best food Ferragudo has to offer, and one of its popular restaurants offering a true taste of the Algarve is Fim do Mundo. The traditional restaurant tucked away within the village specialises in serving great steaks and tasty wine pairings.
A customer shared: « We were really looking forward to trying this, so we booked it in advance. We were not disappointed. It was lovely. We both had a steak. It really is the place to go for a good steak. Loads of choice of cuts of steaks. »
As for seafood, both locals and travellers continue to rave about A Ria, a quaint restaurant along the quayside off of the main square. Its locally sourced goods allow for a specialised Algarvenian cuisine with cataplana and monkfish, cuttlefish and clams being its speciality.
Others opt for Rei das Praias for its glorious coastal views and serene setting as they tuck into « amazing prawns » with « amazing views ».
The top spot, according to TripAdvisor, for not just food but also a round of drinks is O Barril Bar Restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can dine al fresco in the sunshine. Their menus are served in a number of languages, making it easy for tourists to order, and as reviews suggest, it’s in an « excellent location » for exploring.
Luckily, for those who prefer a destination off of the beaten track, there is a wide range of accommodation options, with some hotels offering rooms for as little as £50 a night.
There is a variety of private apartments, villas to hire and hotel rooms to choose from throughout spring; despite the villages’ charmingly small size, you won’t struggle to find an affordable place to unwind.
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