Quarteira is a seaside town on the central Algarve coast, right next to the more famous Vilamoura but with a very different personality. Where Vilamoura is a purpose-built resort with a marina and golf courses, Quarteira is a real Portuguese town with a fish market, a Wednesday street market, and a seafront promenade where local families walk in the evenings. The beach is good (wide, sandy, and clean), and the prices are noticeably lower than at its manicured neighbour. We rate it for visitors who want a working Algarve town rather than a resort bubble.
Why Stay in Quarteira
- Genuine Portuguese town — the fish market, the street market, and the local restaurants give Quarteira an everyday authenticity that resort towns lack.
- Long sandy beach — the beach is good and gets less crowded than Albufeira's beaches despite being just as good.
- Vilamoura next door, the marina, golf courses, and upmarket restaurants of Vilamoura are a short walk or drive away. You get the best of both worlds.
- Honest caveat. Quarteira's beachfront has a wall of apartment blocks that isn't attractive. The town was over-developed in the 1970s-80s and it shows. It lacks the charm of the smaller Algarve villages.
Things to Do in Quarteira
The fish market (Mercado de Peixe) operates every morning except Mondays and is one of the best in the Algarve. Watch the auction if you arrive early enough, or buy directly from the stalls. Several adjacent restaurants will cook your purchase for a small fee.
Walk the seafront promenade from Quarteira east to Vilamoura marina, about 3 km along the beach and boardwalk. The marina has restaurants, bars, and expensive boats to admire. The Roman ruins at Cerro da Vila, between the two towns, include mosaics and fish-salting tanks from a 1st-century villa.
The Wednesday market (Feira de Quarteira) is one of the biggest in the Algarve: hundreds of stalls selling everything from local produce to clothes, leather goods, and household items. Arrive before 10am for the best experience.
Aquashow Park (10 minutes by car) is one of the Algarve's largest water parks, with slides, wave pools, and a dinosaur-themed zone. It's a reliable full-day option for families with children.