Unusual Things to Do in the Algarve, Portugal, 2025

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Quirky, fun and slightly weird.....

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Looking for quirky activities in the Algarve? There are plenty of unusual things to do and see here, ranging from cross-border zip lines to skull-lined chapels of bones, touring olive factories and underground wine cellars. Here are some of the fun, different and awesome things to do when in the Algarve.

One of the top beach destinations in the world, with miles of the most beautiful coastline, there are plenty of things to do in the area that don't involve getting sand between your toes. Check out our suggestions that range from cultural to energetic.
  • Visit a chapel lined with skulls
  • Dine on a Desert Island
  • Go underground to see Portugal's largest private wine collection
  • Time travel across international borders
  • Step in dinosaur footprints
  • Learn the secrets of cork 
  • Explore an underwater art gallery

Time travel and cross borders by zip line
In the East Algarve, where the Guadiana river runs between Spain and Portugal, you can ride one of the longest zip lines around. At 720m long, the Limite Zero zip line is not only quite a ride, it’s also the only time-zone and cross-border zip-line in the world. You begin in Spain, in the village of Sanlucar and end up in Portugal, in Alcoutim an hour earlier, crossing the Guadiana river at at a pretty fair speed!



Underground wine
What's unusual about visiting a wine cellar? Well, the Vila Vita Parc wine cellar, or Cave dos Vinhos, is 8 metres underground. Built from specially imported bricks, designed to maintain a level temperature all year round, the cellar is atmospheric, beautifully laid out and home to about 11.000 bottles of some of the most amazing wines in the world, the largest private wine collection in Portugal. An amazing spot for wine tasting and to enjoy food and wine pairing. You can visit the cellar to sample its unique atmosphere as well as fabulous wines, or even enjoy private dining experience.



Train with elite athletes and international coaches
How about upping your game, kicking a ball around on a football escape with Rio Ferdinand and other legends? The Campus at Quinta do Lago not only has great facilities (tennis, padel, biking) it also hosts regular camps where top exponents of various sports coach juniors. Held throughout the year, the camps have limited places so advance booking is essential.

Jump out of a plane
For an adrenaline rush like no other, and the bonus of the best views in town, try a Tandem Skydive with Skydive Algarve. After a briefing and instructions on the ground at Portimão aerodrome, it's time to take to the skies. As the plane climbs higher the views of Alvor beach and bay, the river estuary and Monchique hills are simply stunning. Then, strapped to the instructor, leap into the blue, freefalling and then, whoosh, float back to earth. Tandem jumps with beach landings on Alvor beach are now available!



Visit an olive factory for a tour and tasting
The tour you didn't know you needed. Step into the world of traditional Algarve flavours with a guided Olive Factory Tour & Tasting at Helder Martins, a family-run olive factory near Tavira. Learn how olives are cured, taste different types, along with local cheese, honey and bread. A fascinating experience and delicious insight into local flavours, led by an engaging guide who shares generations of accumulated knowledge.
Find out more about the Olive Factory Tours & Tasting



Dinosaur footprints
Walk where dinosaurs roamed. You can actually place your feet in the ancient footprints of dinosaurs by the beach at Salema. A small fishing village, Salema is loved for its laid back and relaxed vibe, unpretentious charm and fabulous beach. The footprints are at the Western tip of the beach on rock outcrops and are best viewed from the staircase above the beach and at low tide.


Photo Credit: Eoin O'Hagen

Chapel of Bones
For a somewhat creepy reminder of our mortality, how about a visit to a chapel whose walls are lined with meticulously arranged skulls and bones? There is a very small Capela do Ossos (Chapel of Bones) by the main church in the village of Alcantarilha and a larger one in Faro at the Igreja do Carmo, in the old town centre.



Play miniature replicas of iconic golf holes
Famous as a top golf destination with superb golf courses, just for fun you can play miniature versions of iconic golf holes from around the world at Quinta do Lago’s mini golf course. There are replicas, in a mini scale, of holes from Augusta, Belfry and Sawgrass. Bragging rights are included!

If you can't stop thinking about the Roman Empire, you'll love the mini golf courses at Family Golf Park in Vilamoura - not one, but two Roman-themed courses of high standard. Tip: buy your tickets online to get 15% off.

Albufeira Mini Golf Adventure Park offers a 20 hole course and it's a greate venue for some fun comeptition. 

Foot Golf
If you prefer feet to clubs, try a round of Foot Golf at Desert Pines foot golf course at the ATF centre (Algarve Tennis and Fitness Club).

Go sailing on a traditional fishing boat
The Falcão Veloz is part of the Bom Dia Boattrips fleet and it dates from 1922 - over 100 years old! Originally a fishing boat, built in Setubal, near Lisbon, it still sails the seas as a colourful, graceful and historic sailing boat, bringing visitors to explore the wonderous coast around Lagos and Ponta da Piedade. The boat has been beautifully restored and is always freshly painted, a jaunty and historic figure in Portuguese waters.



Celebrate Oktoberfest
You don't have to be in Germany to enjoy authentic Oktoberfest fun. The VILA VITA Biergarten hosts an amazing Bavarian Oktoberfest each year at the end of September and beginning of October. It's several days of hearty food, loud oompah music and lots of beer. Great fun and hugely popular, it's a little bizarre to be eating sauerkraut and strudel, served by lederhosen-clad waiters on mellow Autumn evenings in southern Portugal...but hey, Prost!


 
Dine on a Desert Island
Part of the magnificient Ria Formosa Natural Park, the Ilha Deserta is, as the name suggests, is an uninhabited and traffic-free island. The only building is the iconic Estaminé Restaurant, where you’ll be welcomed with refined simplicity, exceptional views, and the freshest local flavours - fish straight from the sea, oysters shucked to order. Join a Desert Island Dining boat trip to enjoy fabulous cruising along the coast before a sumptuous in this most unique location.
 


Join a Swim Tour
Ditch the boats and kayaks, join a swim tour instead! A seriously immersive experience. Led by guide Ricardo, who knows the waters and coast like no other, explore the magnificience of translucent waters, sea-arches, caves and coves. There are swim tours from Lagos, Albufeira, Carvoeiro and Sagres.



Dive visit an Underwater Art Gallery
About 1km off the coast of Albufeira, beneath the waves, you will find the Art Reef. Made up of 13 pieces by Portuguese artist Vhils. The submerged art is the foundation of a thriving marine ecosystem and a unique destination for divers, the only one of its kind in Portugal. Initially created by man, it is nature that will continue to create the beauty of the reef as the natural world entwines with the man-made installations.
Divers can visit the Art Reef, which is about 12m below the surface. Local dive centre EasyDivers, located at Albufeira marina offers guided tours to the reef.



Salt Spa
Float in an open-air artisanal salt pond, slather your body with argila and enjoy the soundtrack provided by the breeze and birdsong at the Castro Marim Salt Spa. Century-old methods are used to produce Flor do Sal here and you can learn about this as well as enjoy a session at the spa. 


 
Learn the secrets of the cork tree
One of the things you may not know about Portugal is that Portuguese cork is famous for its excellent quality, used by leading brands such as Moet Chandon, Rolls Royce and NASA. Graceful cork oaks dot the Algarve countryside, the ochre colour of the trunk an indication of recent harvesting. Join a fun jeep safari or buggy tour for some off-road adventures to see these beautiful trees. Portitours runs regular Jeep Safaris and walking tours giving you fascinating insights into the traditional and authentic Algarve.


 
Jump off a Cliff
Cliff-jumping into the ocean, swimming in the caves, discovering beaches that are inaccessible by land…This is coasteering. A fun and energetic way to explore the fabulous Algarve coastline with versions for adults and kids, coasteering is a real hands-on way to explore the coast. Popular spots include Sagres and Albufeira, as well as the amazing coastline around Lagos. Check out this coasteering and snorkel adventure in Lagos.


  

Keep an eye on our Events Calendar to find out what weird and wonderful things are happening in the Algarve.

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