Every Monday morning: the news that matters, what’s on this week, where to eat and drink, the beaches, and the small print of Portuguese life, all from the western end of the Algarve. Written in Praia da Luz. Read over coffee.
Monday editions
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The Algarve Monday | 26 October 2026 26 October 2026
The clocks went back overnight, the Algarve Classic Festival opens at Portimão from Friday with more than 300 historic cars, and November brings Pedra Dura, Walk and Art Fest and Rota das Algas in the first fortnight.
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The Algarve Monday | 19 October 2026 19 October 2026
Portimão hosts the largest European Veterans Judo Championships on record this week with 1,415 athletes from 36 countries, Mercadona opens its first Algarve store in Portimão, and the week brings walking football in Lagoa, Halloween at Zoomarine and chamber music at the Portimão Museum.
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The Algarve Monday | 12 October 2026 12 October 2026
The Sagres Bird Festival closes with 1,568 visitors, 165 species and a rare Eleonora's falcon, Portimão announces Portugal's first adaptive sailing training centre, and an exceptional October weekend delivers a garden fair in Lagoa, guitar in Alvor and theatre in Portimão.
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The Algarve Monday | 5 October 2026 5 October 2026
The easyJet cabin crew strike at Faro wraps up on Tuesday, Lagoa hosts three days of international magic from Thursday, and the final free fado concert of the season closes the Antiga Lota series on Saturday evening.
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The Algarve Monday | 28 September 2026 28 September 2026
A yellow storm alert greets Monday, the Guitar Festival of Lagoa closes its 13th edition on Thursday, and the Rallye Casinos do Algarve brings its service park to Lagoa and competitive stages through the Lagos countryside on Friday evening.
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The Algarve Monday | 21 September 2026 21 September 2026
A landmark Saturday concert by veteran Algarve musician Beto Kalulu arrives at the Lagoa Congress Centre, Ana Marques and João Leote bring fado to the Antiga Lota, and the Vila Vita Biergarten opens its doors for the 12th Oktoberfest.
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The Algarve Monday | 14 September 2026 14 September 2026
The 13th Guitar Festival of Lagoa opens on Friday, the inaugural Portimao World Beer Groove arrives at the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, fado fills the Antiga Lota on Saturday, and the region gets a new Bishop.
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The Algarve Monday | 7 September 2026 7 September 2026
Eyes of the Algarve brings a Grateful Dead weekend to Wake Park Lagos, the cultural centre stages three nights of Spanish flamenco, and Portimao's restored fish market launches six weeks of fado.
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The Algarve Monday | 31 August 2026 31 August 2026
Banho 29 brought thousands to the seafront on Saturday night; this week Noites no Cais opens in Lagos, Festival F fills Faro's old town, and the sea stays warm into September.
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The Algarve Monday | 24 August 2026 24 August 2026
Banho 29 brings midnight swimmers to Praia da Luz and Lagos on Saturday, FATACIL runs through the weekend in Lagoa, and one of the Algarve's longest-running nightclubs bows out quietly in the hills.
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The Algarve Monday | 17 August 2026 17 August 2026
FolkFaro closes in Faro on Saturday, FATACIL opens in Lagoa on Friday, and Portimão's riverside fills with food trucks and live music across the second half of the week.
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Welcome to The Algarve Monday 13 August 2026
A new weekly guide to the western end of the Algarve, landing every Monday morning. Here is what to expect, and why we are writing it.
Guides
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Your First 24 Hours in Praia da Luz: The Arrival Day Essentials
Getting connected, the first shop, the first cold drink and where the cash machine is: everything you want to know on the first day, answered before you land.
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Algarve Villa Weddings and Parties: How to Plan an Intimate Celebration in Portugal
Ceremony in the garden, dinner at one long table, dancing indoors at midnight: how to plan a wedding or a big private party in an Algarve villa.
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Milestone Birthdays in an Algarve Villa: Planning a 50th, 60th or 70th Abroad
One villa, one long table, everyone they love: how to plan a 50th, 60th or 70th in the Algarve without running a hotel.
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Planning a Large Group Villa Holiday in the Algarve: How to Organise 15 to 25 People
Bedrooms, money, transfers and feeding a crowd: what the organiser of a big Algarve villa trip needs to decide, and in what order.
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Benagil Caves Boat Trips from Lagos: Which One to Book
Speedboats from Lagos, the short hop from the Carvoeiro side, kayaks, and private charters: honest advice on which suits your group.
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Do You Need a Car in the Algarve? An Honest Local Answer
When you genuinely need one, when you don't, what it costs, and the middle path most visitors miss.
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Dolphin Watching in Lagos: An Honest Guide
What you'll actually see, which boat to choose, when to go, and the honest talk about sightings, seasickness and small children.
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eSIM for Portugal: Data for Your Algarve Holiday
Who needs one, who genuinely doesn't, and how to land in Faro with data already working: honest costs included.
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Faro Airport to Lagos and Praia da Luz: Transfers, Taxis and Every Other Way
Pre-booked transfers, the apps, the taxi rank, hire cars, the train and the bus: honest costs, and which one we would actually pick for your group.
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Lagos and Praia da Luz in October and November: The Locals' Favourite Months
Real temperatures, what's open, golf season, walking weather, and why the locals call this the good part of the year.
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Things to Do in Praia da Luz and Lagos: A Local's List
Beaches, boats, cliff walks, old-town Lagos, day trips and family days out: what's genuinely worth your time, from people who live here.
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The 12 Best Beaches in the Western Algarve
From the family-friendly sands of Praia da Luz to the wild surf of the west coast, an honest local's guide to twelve beaches worth your beach bag.
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Where to Drink in Praia da Luz
The bars we actually drink in, from village locals in Luz to rooftops in Lagos, plus how the locals sort out dinner.
