Sao Rafael Holidays

Portugal’s finest beach is within touching distance when you go on holidays to Sao Rafael. And laid-back village streets dishing up old-school Portuguese cuisine will really get you relaxed.

Pretty Algarve

Sao Rafael is a tiny seaside village of villas and apartments built in the traditional Algarve style – think whitewashed walls and terracotta roof tiles. You’ll find it on Portugal’s south coast, just outside Albufeira. There’s a clutch of beachfront bars and restaurants, plus a supermarket. Other than that, it’s tranquility personified, so you’ll quickly forget you have a care in the world.

Magnificent sands

Even by the Algarve’s high standards, Sao Rafael’s beach is something special. Backed by tall limestone cliffs, it’s a Blue Flag-winning stretch of golden sand that wears the crown as Portugal’s number-one beach. Its natural good looks are its main appeal, but its high-class restaurant, handful of watersports, and great snorkelling deserve a special mention, too. Plus, you’ll find several secluded coves immediately west of here, such as Praia da Coelha and Praia do Castelo.

Easy-going pace

Sao Rafael’s laid-back village streets blend into those of its next-door neighbour, Galé. They’re home to a wide range of restaurants serving up old-school Portuguese cuisine, and are all within walking distance of each other. If you want to stretch your legs even more, you’ll find tennis courts and world-class golf courses nearby. Or take a long stroll along the clifftops.

Close to Albufeira

A 10-minute taxi ride from Sao Rafael is the city of Albufeira. Its old town is a myriad of winding Moorish streets dotted with churches and romantic cobbled squares. And on the east side of the city is a tourist strip of back-to-back pubs and nightclubs that stay open until the early hours. At its sparkling new marina, meanwhile, you can cherry-pick from the bars that look out over the white yachts, or pop into the little shops on the main road behind it.