6 Great Things to Do For Families in The Algarve

Great Things to do for families in the Algarve

If you are thinking of moving to the Algarve with a young family you will be wanting to know the best places to take the kids to keep them entertained.

While Algarve is mostly famed for its breathtaking beaches, great weather for the most part of the year, and a coastline adorned with beautiful scenery, it’s also packed with lots of things to see and explore with the family. 

Whether, they are animal lovers, nature enthusiasts, or even thrill-seekers, here is a list of fun activities you can do with kids in the Algarve. 

Go Dolphin watching 

Dolphin watching is one of the most fun activities to do with kids in the Algarve and a great escapade that everyone will enjoy. 

Seeing these playful marine animals in their natural habitat will create indelible memories for the kids. 

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a dolphin-watching boat tour including fancy options like having a professional guide that will fascinate kids with marine life facts.  

Also, most tours combine a ‘dolphin safari’ with a boat trip along the shoreline and this gives you a beautiful view of the beaches and cliffs lining the Algarve coastline. 

So, your boat ride could involve exploring secluded beaches and hidden sea caves, and this means the boat trip alone will be an adventure in itself. 

Visit FIESTA Sand City in Pera

If you’re looking for unusual things to do in Algarve, you might want to consider visiting the largest sand sculptures festival in the world. 

Sandy City is set in the small quaint village of Pera, and the event is open to the public from the beginning of March to mid-October each year.  

Tonnes and tonnes of sand are artistically transformed into impressive creations. Expect to spot everything – from Ancient Egypt gods and the temples of the Mayans to giant Octopus and characters from films. 

New creations are added each year and the old sculptures are restored, making this a great and interesting spot to visit year after year. 

Go to Zoomarine Algarve 

Going to Zoomarine is another great fun thing to do with kids of all ages. Located in Guia, a small town in the central Algarve, this marine park has so much to offer. 

The whole family can enjoy spectacular dolphin and sea lion shows. 

There is also plenty of wildlife to see, including shows of birds of prey and parrots which are both very entertaining. 

With a mini water park the kids can have fun on the water slides, and even take a dip from the man-made beach built around the huge swimming pool. 

A great experience for the kids is to swim with the dolphins. You need to book this in advance and arrive earlier. It also costs extra at around 120 euros per child but it’s a one-off experience they will never forget. 

Visit Algarve Aquashow Park 

This is the biggest and the most popular water park in Portugal where the whole family can skid down slides, splash some water and enjoy thrill rides. 

The older kids will enjoy the waterslides, roller coasters, hydra slides, and wave pool. As for the younger kids, there are two water grounds, shallow pools, and mini waterslides where they’ll have a lot of room to splash the water confidently. 

There are also shows throughout the day at the top end of the park where you can see the parrots and birds of prey do their thing which is quite entertaining.

Be aware that during the summer months of July and August the park does get very busy. If you are planning on going outside school holiday times its best to go on school days.

Indoor Aquashow Winter Wonderland

As of October 2022, the new Indoor Aquashow Park has finally opened its gates. It has been ready for service for 2 years but the grand opening was cancelled due to covid. Now it looks like it will be one of the most popular places to take the kids in winter.

I guess the park may only be open during the winter so please check before setting out. At the moment it is open from 10.30 am until 7 pm.

The park itself is very clean and new, with several floors offering different activities. There are 4 very good waterslides that can be used by most aged kids. With relaxing hot pools with powerful water jets.

There is also a climbing wall above one of the pools and a swing track which proves popular with all ages. 

There are 2 cafes with a wide range of snacks and drinks and then, of course, a shop selling water-related souvenirs. It certainly is not the cheapest day out, four hours will cost a family of four around 200 euros, 136 euros for entry then maybe another 60 euros for snacks!

There is also a soft indoor play area and skywalk hanging from a harness and walking around above the pools. However, this is an extra but at around 10 euros for 1 hour its not too expensive. You can just visit the indoor play area without using the waterpark.

Go beach hopping 

Algarve is a renowned beach destination and you’ll find a lot of wonderful places to explore. So this would be the cheapest option for a day out with the kids, just wrap up a picnic and pick up the buckets and spades!

If you have younger children choose one of the beaches with calmer waters, family-friendly amenities, eateries, and multigenerational activities that can cater to all ages. 

Some of the best beaches for families include Praia do Anção in between Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, Ingrina in Zavial, and Praia de Odeceixe in Odeceixe.