Fall in love with Burgau

18 July, 2024 | Reading Time – 5 min

Between the cliffs of Lagos and Sagres, right on the edge of the Southwest Alentejo Natural Park, fall in love with Burgau.

This picturesque seaside village was voted the most picturesque in Europe, so some describe it as the ‘Santorini of Portugal’.

As you venture through its narrow, cobbled streets, you’ll quickly realise why this place has received such a reputation. Let yourself be enveloped and fall in love with Burgau and its intense colours and smells.

As a seaside village, this magical place derives most of its resources from fishing, but over the years and with the discovery of this oasis, tourism has become one of its main sources. Despite being an idyllic tourist destination with a certain affluence, countless efforts have been made to maintain its traditional appearance.

Come with us to discover this true Portuguese treasure and follow our advice: Fall in love with Burgau!

Fun and gastronomy

If you’re looking for entertainment and good food, Burgau is the perfect option. You’ll find numerous cafés, bars and excellent restaurants.

We advise that in the summer, as the number of visitors increases, the village centre can become crowded, so make sure you get to the restaurant or bar you want early or make a reservation in advance.

In Burgau’s various restaurants you’ll find menus with fresh, healthy ingredients in vibrant, relaxed surroundings, such as grilled fish, marvellous shellfish or even a delicious Dom Rodrigo, a traditional Algarve sweet.

However, if you’re looking for dinner or lunch with a sea view, we advise you to head to the beach area, where you’ll find a variety of restaurants, very popular for their delicacies and magical scenery.

After dinner, the fun continues, with bars and terraces dotted around the village of Burgau where you can listen to live music and dance until the morning!

Everyday life in Burgau

So take the opportunity to stroll through the pretty streets and contemplate the landscape from the numerous viewpoints.

Even though it’s a relatively small town, it’s very well served by shops. You’ll easily find bakeries, mini-markets and souvenir shops. If you want to shop in larger stores, you can travel to nearby towns such as Luz or Lagos.

This will take about 9 to 15 minutes by car. And now you’re thinking: But I don’t have a car! Well, that’s a good thing, because SEE Countries has the best transfer options anywhere in the country.

Check it out:

https://seecountries.com/transfers

Burgau Beach

Burgau Beach marks the beginning of the Costa Vicentina and is still one of the village’s main attractions.

As you approach the beach area, you’ll spot several colourful fishing boats leaning against the surrounding streets.

So here’s a tip: if you like to get up early, you can watch the fishermen return from the sea with fresh fish, literally freshly caught!

Burgau beach has a huge stretch of sand bathed by clear, calm waters. As it’s surrounded by large cliffs, it’s not affected by the wind, so it’s the perfect place for sunny days at the beach!

However, we do have one caveat regarding the tides: if you decide to walk along the beach, check the tide table, because at high tide the beach almost disappears.

Surfing in Burgar

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a surfing spot, head to the west side of Burgau beach. Here the waves are mostly calmer, making it a great spot for beginners.

If you already have some experience and like to feel strong emotions, visit the beach in autumn, when the waves get bigger and more intense.

The further west you go along the coast towards Sagres, the better spots for surfing and other water sports you’ll find.

The village of Burgau

When you arrive at this pearl of the Algarve, the first thing you’ll notice are the white houses with their blue doors and baskets of colourful flowers. A scene that will make you think you’re in a dream. But don’t be fooled, you’re in Burgau!

As mentioned above, the restrictions imposed have meant that the village has escaped the giant tourist developments seen in some Algarve towns, thus keeping its beauty and traditional buildings intact.

Beaches near Burgau

If you decide to visit the beaches around Burgau, there are a few options. Cabanas Velhas Beach is about five minutes away by car and is usually frequented by local families.

Also, about 15 minutes to the east is Luz Beach.

This beach is popular with holidaymakers for sunny days of relaxation

Hiking trails

One of the best ways to explore the village and all the surrounding areas is on foot.

So, you should set off from Burgau and follow the numerous walking trails along the coast.

The most popular trails are those heading west towards Salema and those heading east towards Luz and Lagos.

The trails have various levels of difficulty, so everyone can enjoy the marvellous views across the Algarve coastline.

Local services

Being a village, you might think that it has few services or resources. However, that’s not the truth about Burgau.

The village has a sports centre where you can play tennis, squash and football, as well as take part in various fitness activities.

This centre also has a swimming pool and a terrace where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the true essence of the Algarve. In addition Burgau does have one thing in its favour for families who visit and perhaps decide to move there with their suitcases and luggage!

There is an international school for children aged five to eighteen. This bilingual school follows the British curriculum.

So if you fall madly in love with this place, which we know the likelihood is high, know that you have everything you need for a wonderful life here!