• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT

Praia dos Tres Irmaos (Algarve): tips + beach photos

Last updated on July 23, 2022 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

Praia dos Tres Irmaos is one of the most famous beaches in Algarve, Portugal.
At the East end of the long sandy Praia do Alvor, it is home to pinnacles, coves and rock formations such as the double arch before Prainha Beach.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to Tres Irmaos beach with map, tips and photos.

Praia dos Tres Irmaos Beach Algarve Portugal Travel

Table Of Contents
Why visit the beach Praia dos Tres Irmaos in the Algarve?
Planning tips and Map - Praia dos Tres Irmaos, Algarve, Portugal
Arriving at Tres Irmaos Beach
Praia dos Tres Irmaos Alvor 
Reaching the coves
Prainha Beach at Tres Irmaos
The famous Double Arch and caves

This article contains affiliate links (Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.


Why visit the beach Praia dos Tres Irmaos in the Algarve?

Tres Irmaos beach has all you could want:

  • A long and large sandy part with waves crashing on pinnacles
  • A series of coves to explore
  • A "secret" beach called Prainha (meaning Little Beach) with an amazing double arch rock feature!

This is why it was #2 on my list of the Best Beaches in ๏ปฟ๏ปฟPortuga๏ปฟl.

Arch at Tres Irmaos Algarve

Praia dos Tres Irmaos, Algarve

Video - virtual tour

Below is a short video to give you an idea of what your visit could look like:

About the name

The name means "Tres Irmaos" of the "Three Brothers". It is because of the 3 sea stacks you can see below.

Tres Irmaos beach

Tres Irmaos beach

More photos after the planning tips.


Planning tips and Map - Praia dos Tres Irmaos, Algarve, Portugal

Where is Praia dos Tres Irmaos located? - Map

  • In the Algarve region
  • Near the fishing village of Alvor
  • At the East end of Praia do Alvor, near Prainha
  • West of Portimao and Praia da Rocha
  • Below is a map to help you get oriented:
Location Praia dos Tres Irmaos Algarve Portugal Map

Location of Praia dos Tres Irmaos in the Algarve, Portugal - Map

All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map and tips) in my travel guide eBooks that help you easily plan your Portugal road trip:

Plan your dream road trip around Portugal!

ssmall Road trip Iceland Travel Guide cover
  • 13 easy-to-plan maps
  • 120+ pre-selected locations
  • Useful planning tips
  • 200+ large photos 
  • GPS coordinates direct to carparks

LEARN MORE

Cover Ring Road travel guide Iceland
  • 8 easy-to-plan maps
  • 65+ pre-selected locations
  • Useful planning tips 
  • 110+ large photos 
  • GPS coordinates direct to carparks

LEARN MORE

How to get to Praia dos Tres Irmaos 

  • Better to have a car to reach Tres Irmaos beach
  • Several carparks along Praia do Alvor, including one at the East end where Tres Irmaos is
  • Portimao to Praia dos Tres Irmaos = 15min drive
  • Lagos to Praia dos Tres Irmaos = 30min drive
  • Albufeira to Praia dos Tres Irmaos = 40min drive

Need to rent a car in Portugal?

Renting a car Portugal tips

See my 36 practical tips
to choose the best car to rent
from Lisbon, Porto or Faro
for the roads in Portugal
and find the best deals

+ read more

or directly see the best deals on my favorite platform

Best time and tide

  • Be really careful with timing
  • To explore the the caves and cove, you need to be there between low and mid-tide and plan enough time to come back!
  • However to see the waves crashing on the sea stacks, better mid to high tide

Visit tips

  • Easy access to the beach
  • Facilities
  • Many restaurants
  • Good swimming area
  • Large sandy area or protected cove
  • Facing South

Where to stay?

The main town close to Praia dos Tres Irmaos is Portimao. It is a good location to visit the Algarve.

See the best rated accommodations in Portimao.

Looking for the best place to stay in the Algarve?

Where to stay in Algarve best places

See my selection of the 15 best areas to enjoy beach, easy access, attractions...
+ fantastic accommodation options

+ read more

Arriving at Tres Irmaos Beach

As you arrive at Praia dos 3 Irmaos you discover a long stretch of sand. There is actually no clear break with the neighboring beach: Praia do Alvor.
So, you can walk on the sand on Praia dos Tres Irmaos and Praia do Alvor for 7 km!

Arriving at Praia dos Tres Irmaos Alvor Algarve Portugal

Head east. One part has boards, but then you have to walk on the sand.

Praia dos Tres Irmaos Alvor Algarve Portugal

Praia dos Tres Irmaos Alvor 

The East end of this stretch of sand, compared to the rest, has beautiful yellow cliffs and pinnacles.
You can see the 3 small sea stacks which are the 3 brothers.

Praia dos Tres Irmaos Algarve Portugal 1

Even though they are not big, if you are visiting at the right time, you can see waves crashing on thel.

Praia dos Tres Irmaos Algarve Portugal 3

Reaching the coves

Now the best part of Tres Irmaos is to actually go explore the coves and Prainha Beach.
So, you walk towards the cliffs...

Access Praia dos Tres irmaos Beach

... and you access a small first cove with a restaurant...

Access Praia dos Tres irmaos Beach 1
Access Praia dos Tres irmaos Beach 2

...And then there is a narrow canyon to reach the little beach.

Don't wear shoes past mid tide! The water gets high!

Access Praia dos Tres irmaos Beach 2
Access Praia dos Tres irmaos Beach 3

Prainha Beach at Tres Irmaos

After a few minutes you reach Prainha Beach. It really feels like another place. It is sheltered with high cliffs all around. Past mid Tide, the water gets quite high, so be careful!

Prainha Beach Tres Irmaos Algarve 1
Prainha Beach Tres Irmaos Algarve 2
Prainha Beach Tres Irmaos Algarve 3

Note: even though access is limited, Prainha has its own restaurant!


The famous Double Arch and caves

And if you walk all the way to the end of Prainha beach, you finally reach what you came for (if you are a photographer and not a swimmer...): The stunning double arch of Tres Irmaos Beach.

On the picture below, with the people going through to the next cove, you can see the size of the arches.
But erosion is continuing its work...

Double Arch Tres Irmaos Algarve 1
Double Arch Tres Irmaos Algarve 2
Double Arch Tres Irmaos Algarve 3
Double Arch Tres Irmaos Algarve 4

Need to rent a car in the Algarve?

Renting a car Faro Algarve tips reviews

See my 36 practical tips
to choose the best car to rent
from Faro Airport
for the roads in Algarve
and find the best deals

+ read more

or directly see the best deals on my favorite platform


Want to see more of the Algarve and Portugal?

  • 30 Most beautiful landscapes in Portugal - read article
  • Best things to do in Portugal - read article
  • The best beaches in Portugal  - read article
  • The best things to do in the Algarve region - read article
  • Benagil cave and Algarve boat tours - read article
  • The magnificent Ponta da Piedade - read article
  • The famous Marinha beach - read article
  • The magnificent orange cliffs of Praia da Falesia - read article

Planning a trip to Portugal?

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Plan your ideal road trip around Portugal

Portugal road trip guide ebook cover
  • 13 easy-to-plan Maps
  • 120+ pre-selected scenic locations
  • Planning tips to make the most of your time
  • 200+ large photos to decide where to go
  • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

LEARN MORE

And keep track of your own trip!

Portugal Travel journal

PREVIOUS: 

PRAIA DA GALE BEACH

NEXT: 

PRAIA DONA ANA ALGARVE BEACH

Portugal Travel Guide - Portugal destinations

Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!

Pin Praia dos Tres Irmaos Beach Algarve Portugal Travel

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr

LoireLovers.fr

CorsicaLovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2023 ZigZag On Earth ยท Log in