Burgau Family Beach Vacation

I was planning a trip to Europe for the month of June.  Wanting to go somewhere sunny and warm with great culture,  my focus was on the southernmost countries.  Some relaxing beach time with the family was one of my top priorities for this trip.

Miles seats were wide open so I narrowed it down to three countries.  Return to Greece and go south to Crete?  The heel of the boot in, mi amore, Italy?  Return to Portugal after 25 years?

When I meet someone who is from another country or is well-traveled, I ask a lot of questions.   I love to talk travel and have planned some of our best trips through these types of invaluable conversations.

I know a Frenchman and winemaker extraordinaire who is one of the most well-traveled people I have ever met.  He was sitting across from me at a lunch at my sister and brother-in-law’s house so I asked for his advice.

“Go to Portugal,” he responded without any hesitation.  The planning for our family trip to Portugal began.

We talked about the highlights of Portugal and the best towns in the Algarve.  Where to stay in the Algarve?

Burgau, one of the best towns in the Algarve

We flew into Faro, picked up our rental car, and drove one hour west along the rolling green hills of the Algarve.  An hour later, we arrived at the quiet, whitewashed village on the Atlantic, Burgau.

This gem is unlike most of the other towns in the south of Portugal which have been overbuilt and overrun with tourism.  Our expectations were far exceeded.

Burgau is a small fishing village made up of white stucco houses with blue trim. The cobbled road leads down to the Burgau Beach (Praia do Burgau)- vast golden sand with an aqua green ocean.

Our five-night stay was relaxing, fun, and felt like an authentic Portuguese beach vacation.

Locals and tourists both enjoy Burgau Beach. There is just enough activity to make it fun for a family, but slow enough to be relaxing.  It doesn’t feel crowded and there is plenty of room to play Smashball, kick around a soccer ball, or just sit down and breathe in the fresh Atlantic air.

Morning and evening walk on the beach (about 10 minutes from one end to the other) are a must!

Things to do in Burgau, Portugal

There are some fun things to do in Burgau and some great adventures in nearby areas on the Algarve.  Enjoy the quiet early mornings in Burgau, take an outing, have a Portuguese lunch, then return in the early afternoon to spend the rest of the day at the beach.

Don’t miss the ice cream truck (think homemade gelato) for an afternoon treat.  If your accommodations don’t have an ocean view make sure to have a drink or dinner at the Burgau Beach Bar.

Visit Cape Sagres,

also known as “the end of the world.”  You can see the sight of Prince Henry the Navigator’s school from the 1400’s.  Magellan, Vasco de Gama, Cabral, and Dias all studied there.  Later, Columbus arrived after being shipwrecked by pirates!

On your way back to Burgau have lunch at A Tasca do Careca in Vila do Bispo for a truly local dining experience.  The calamari is outstanding!

In Lagos,

be adventurous and hire a high-speed boat at the Marina to take your family on a 1-hour tour of the Ponta da Piedade.  These golden sandstone cliffs, rock formations, tunnels, and grottos are stunning on the turquoise waters.  The small boats are able to take you inside some of the grottos which provide an up-close look and a memorable experience!

Walk around the old town and piazza then follow with lunch at the family-run Restaurante Prato Cheio.  Everything was excellent and the prices for the daily specials were so low!  The Cataplana is a seafood dish that originated in the Algarve and was one of the best things I have ever eaten!

Another fun outing is to hike from Burgau to the neighboring town of Salema.

Make sure to get on the trail on the cliffs, looking out at the glistening ocean.  Allow a couple of hours for the hike and get an early start to beat the heat.  Have lunch in Salema, at one of the many highly-rated Portuguese restaurants, then stroll the beach.  Take a taxi back to Burgau.

Burgau is a fantastic town to take in and enjoy the Portuguese culture while enjoying a relaxing vacation. It’s nice to take a few days (or even a week!) when traveling to slow down and rest. Here, the pace is slow- no one is in a hurry and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

Burgau Accommodation

Click here to search for a house or apartment to rent in or near Burgau

For more information on Burgau and the best of Portugal, read my Portugal Itinerary

Travel to Portugal and Spain!  Get the Spain Itinerary