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If you’re thinking about taking a little impromptu trip to Europe this summer, but you’re not sure where to go with reports of the crackdown on Airbnbs in Barcelona and the increasing curbs on mass tourism in Amalfi, we’ve got just the answer for you.
Tucked in the southern corner of Portugal, bordering the clear blue Atlantic Ocean, the Algarve is currently one of the few European destinations that not only welcomes, but actively encourages Americans to visit them.
In fact, promoting the Algarve to the American and Canadian public is one top priority on the agenda of the ATR (the tourist region of the Algarve). The best part? You can now fly there non-stop.
No more stopovers in Lisbon.
Fly non-stop to the best beaches in all of Portugal
Portugal itself has been quite overrun with tourists in recent years, with cities like Lisbon and Porto seeing their fair share of gentrification and rising prices.
Be that as it may, there’s one Portuguese region that never really broke into the American mainstream, and has only recently appeared on travelers’ radars thanks to the launch of the first ever non-stop flights from the US
That’s the Algarve, the southernmost province of mainland Portugal, known for its golden sandy beaches, whitewashed coastal towns that exude Old World charm, and, although this last stretch is vastly understated, its rich ancient heritage.
The Algarve is one proven Eurosummer favoriteespecially for vacationing Brits and Germans, but 2026 is really the first year that the average American started seriously considering it as a destination in its own right, and it’s not hard to see why.
Before this summer, American tourists planning a trip to the Algarve often had to land in Lisbon or Porto and then take a second domestic flight to Faro (FAO).
This usually added several hours on top of their already long transatlantic journey, especially if you’re already coming to Portugal via a connecting route in the United States, and you know, if you only have 7 days of paid vacation a year, and you chose to spend them in Europe, wasting a whole 2 days in airports and the transit there and back kinda sucks.
If it’s not non-stop, it’s not worth it.
Thanks to United Airlines, Reaching the Algarve just got a lot easier.
Everything you need to know about the flight from the US to the Algarve
The American airline currently operates the only transatlantic flights between the US and Faro, the capital of the Algarve, with a seasonal schedule running from summer (as now) to early autumn:
- Route: Newark (EWR) ↔ Faro (FAO)
- Airline: United Airlines
- Frequency: 4 flights per week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
- Distance: 3,504 miles
- Flight time eastbound (EWR → FAO): 7:20 am
- Flight time westbound (FAO → EWR): 8:25 am
- Aircraft: Boeing 757-200
Average return prices
- Economy (early sales rates): $660+
- Typical summer rates: $1,200+
- Premium cabins: $2,000+
There is growing interest among Americans in traveling to Portugal, and United appears to be working with ATR to make secondary Portuguese destinations more accessible to U.S.-based customers.
Of the Algarve destinations most interested in conquering Americans, Albufeira definitely takes the lead:
Where to go in the Algarve this summer
Albufeira
For the social scene and nightlife
It is a medium-sized city with around 48,000 inhabitants and feels surprisingly international and cosmopolitan for a place of its size. It’s actually the most sought-after beach destination in the south, mainly because it ticks all the boxes and then some:
- It has a huge variety of beaches
- An old town that looks completely like a postcard, with cobbled streets and azulejos in abundance
- The nightlife is second to none
- English is widely spoken in the catering sector
That said, Albufeira can feel a little too commercialized, so if you’re hoping to experience the more rural, laid-back Algarve, and not the British staghound crowd, you might want to consider it as a one stop beach day instead of basing yourself there.
Prepare for border delays if you go to Portugal this summer
Before you start booking your flights, however, you should know that travelers have reported long delays at the Portuguese border this summer thanks to Europe’s messy EES rollout.
If you don’t understand this niche European jargon, refer to their new mandatory fingerprinting rule that all American tourists are now subject to… resulting in wait times of between 3 and 8 hours at Portuguese airports.
You know the drill. Use the Admission Requirements Checker to check whether you have all your documentation in order forward of flies, like it is now more important than ever.
Faro
The medieval capital
Of course you cannot visit the Algarve without visiting the cozy, fortified coastal capital of Faro.
The narrow streets, surrounded by medieval walls, lead to the most beautiful cathedral square, and you might want to save room in your tote bag for all the oranges you’ll sneak from the orange trees on the way up.
Faro is all about aimless wandering, long lunches and experiencing the Algarve’s typically slow way of life. For the best cataplana in town, try A Venda, and if you want to see it something truly unique, if a little creepyyou’ll want to add the Bone Chapel to your bucket list.
It’s this little oratory on the edge of the old town, decorated with real human bones, and all four walls are covered from floor to ceiling.
Dark tourism aside, the Algarve is everything But scary to visit. It actually is one of the safest destinations in Portugal and Western Europe as a whole, which currently scores an almost perfect 90 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, with no incidents affecting tourists reported recently:
Lagos
This is where those epic beaches are
Lagos, the best town in the Algarve for beach hopping, is located on the western side of the province and is known for its seemingly endless string of golden sandy coves that run along a wooded footpath for several kilometers.
This is where you will find it the iconic Praia dos Estudantesa sand-lined bay wedged between two rock outcrops, overlooked by a stone arch bridge that spans the narrow gorge between them.
It’s not a real Roman bridge – it was originally part of a late medieval fortress that collapsed after the devastating earthquake of 1755 – but it’s a beauty nonetheless.
In Praia Dona Ana, the wooden stairs lead straight to the most beautiful honey-colored sand and turquoise sea. The whole thing feels more Mediterranean than Atlantic.
My own personal favorite has to be Meia Praia: a mile upon mile stretch backed by dunes and a handful of beach bars.
This is the North Atlantic Ocean after all, so you should know that the waters off the coast of the Algarve are, ahem, more fluid than those Greek or Italian coasts, but the temperatures here actually felt bearable and the clarity of the water was unreal.
Where to stay in the Algarve
A few years ago we tried out this historic luxury villa for ourselves, hidden a few kilometers inland where the foreign crowds don’t normally come, but still a short drive from the most popular spots.
The Almóada Boutique Home felt like a typical European villa escape, but it was much more affordable than you’d expect for a home of this caliber, with its private pool, concierge service and serene rural setting.
In fact, the Algarve remains one of the best value-for-money destinations in Western Europe: we’re talking an average of $15 per restaurant meal, budget stays ranging from approx. $50 per night to $90, and affordable transportation.
The entire region is easily accessible by train, and city trips along the coast cost less than $7 per stop.
