Golden sands, jagged coastlines, and crystal clear waters. These are some of the characteristics of the most beautiful beaches in the world, according to the annual ranking drawn up by Tripadvisor.

TripAdvisor has collated the opinions of millions of users to rank the world’s best beaches for 2024

Praia da Falesia translates to “beach of cliffs” and it is widely believed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. With golden sand, clear waters, stunning red cliffs and an abundance of things to do both on the beach and off, you should definitely make this a must-see stop on your Portuguese holiday.

Located in the Algarve, between Vilamoura and Albufeira, Praia da Falesia is 6 kilometers (km) of sheer perfection. The name translates to Beach of Cliffs and with one look at the bright red cliffs that serve as a backdrop to this sandy oasis, it isn’t hard to see why.

Blue flag Beach

This is one of Portugal’s blue flag beaches, which is a symbol of quality and an award granted every year to the beaches and marinas that apply for it. A beach with the Blue Flag means, among other things, that it has good water quality, that it is clean and equipped with rubbish bins and toilets in good hygienic conditions, that has good accessibility and posted lifeguards (from January 15 to September 15, from 9.30am to 7.30pm), emergency equipment and information and activities on environmental education.

How to Get to Praia da Falesia

Like most places on the Algarve coast, Praia da Falesia is pretty easy to get to.

If flying into the Faro airport, you can book an transfer and reach Praia da Falesia in about 30 minutes.

Click here and book your way to Praia da Falesia

Things to do in Praia da Falésia

There are a wide range of things to do both on Praia da Falésia itself and in the surrounding area. Relaxing on the beach is a must: the soft golden sands and clear blue waters of Praia da Falésia make it a perfect spot to unwind and soak up the sun.

You can easily walk from the Vilamoura Marina to Falesia Beach ( Rocha Baixinha). It will take you approximately 20 minutes a distance of 1.5 km. Walk past the Museum Cerro da Vila & the Domes Lake Algarve Hotel.

If you like walking & appreciate nature, you can walk the full length of the Praia da Falesia. There is a trail along the tops of the cliffs; you can walk or cycle this trail.

You will be able to take breathe taking photos along the trail overlooking the beautiful beach, ocean & vegetation.

Please do not walk too close to the edge of the cliffs, safety comes before the perfect selfie photo!

You can also walk along the beach,  take in the breathtaking views of the cliffs, with their varied colors and shapes, and appreciate their natural beauty.

Falesia beach is a popular place in the Algarve for surfing, waves are pretty consistent although not huge so great for beginners. Head to the East of the beach near Vilamoura for the best waves. You can easily book surfing lessons at Falesia Beach online to secure your spot.

What to do at night on Falesia Beach

Sunsets at Falesia Beach are jaw droppingly beautiful. The combination of the vibrant orange cliffs and red sky turn the whole beach scarlet. If at all possible try to stay till the end of the day to soak it all in. The beach clubs are the best places to spend golden hour and will often have DJs or live bands.

Facilities on Praia da Falésia

During the summer months there are life guards on Falesia beach keeping swimmers and surfers safe. There are public toilets at Açoteias which are free to use.

What to eat

Praia da Falésia is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and bars, where visitors can enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine and refreshments while taking in the spectacular views. Many of them are located close to the town of Olhos de Agua. Oysters, fish cataplana, fish pasta, fish and shellfish from the Algarve coast, seafood malandrinho rice, clams à Bulhão Pato, are some of our proposals.

When is the best time to visit Praia da Falesia

Whilst most beaches in the Algarve get overcrowded in the summer, Falesia beach manages to stay pretty calm year round. You’ll see plenty of locals walking the beach over the winter months although the sea is probably a little too cold for swimming. Not all restaurants and bars stay open during winter. It’s not really a problem as there are plenty that do in Vilamoura marina.

Price wise it’s always best to visit out of the European school holidays – April, July and August. I love the Algarve in October when the area feels calmer, slower and prices drop quite dramatically.

These are the ten best beaches in the world, according to TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards

• Praia da Falésia – Algarve, Portugal
• Spiaggia dei Conigli – Sicily, Italy
• La Concha Beach – Basque Country, Spain
• Ka’anapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii
• Grace Bay Beach – Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
• Anse Lazio – Seychelles
• Manly Beach – NSW, Australia
• Eagle Beach – Aruba, Caribbean
• Siesta Beach – Florida, US
• Varadero Beach – Cuba, Caribbean