Praia Sao Rafael
Praia Sao Rafael
4.5
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Top ways to experience Praia Sao Rafael

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,411 reviews
Excellent
928
Very good
394
Average
70
Poor
12
Terrible
7

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Patrick B
Killarney, Ireland340 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
Generally, the beach is good. It's picturesque and clean. We visited for 8 days straight and rented 2 beds/umbrella each time. On hindsight that's 18x8 [€144] but sure it had to be done.

My one gripe is the cafe/restaurant. The staff are pleasant but if seems to me the owner is the real winner in this enterprise - for example, €3.50 for a large water (€0.75 in the shop up the road) or €5.50 - 7.50 for juice/ milkshake/ smoothies which are quite mediocre. The list goes on. It seems to me that where the staff are being paid c.€5 an hour, it isn't hard to see the opportunism. Some call it capitalism. Others call it greed. I don't suppose the latter.

Aside from that, nice spot.
Written 6 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bl0ndie72
Ko Samui, Thailand3,474 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
There is no denying that the beach at Sao Rafael is stunning, however judging by the number of people shoe horned onto the sand, you’d be forgiven to think the pandemic was well & truly over. No social distancing. Lots of big groups of people.
It is a lovely sandy beach & the sea in crystal clear but it’s probably worth visiting either early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds, particularly in the current climate. We didn’t stay long, it was just too busy.
Written 18 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jack
Higham Ferrers, UK13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Couples
Went on the dolphin and cave excursion and saw all of these hidden beaches that looked fantastic. Came across the Praia Sao Rafael beach so thought we would give it ago.

The first part of the beach was quite busy but as the tide went out the other half of the beach became accessible. It was atheistically lush, with green waters and caves around. Beach was nice and quiet and had a lovely sun trap.

Both my partner and I said it was the nicest looking beach we had been to.
Written 15 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

giuditta999
Nuremberg, Germany16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Picturesque bay surrounded by rocks. Fine, clean sand. In one area, seaweed has washed up, but then you just walk a few meters further into the water. Part of the beach is separated off with umbrellas and loungers for which you have to pay. We lay in the sand...
There is a small restaurant, prices are slightly higher, but still OK.
Free toilets are available. In high season, it is definitely advisable to come early, as the bay is not big and fills up quickly.
Google
Written 8 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Liah W
Mondsee, Austria98 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
The beach is beautiful and not too big, and there is free parking available.

Unfortunately, there is seaweed all over the beach, washed up on the beach but also floating in the sea. It makes swimming a bit of a nightmare.

There were still enough loungers at 9:30 a.m. We paid €18 for 2 loungers and an umbrella, but by midday the part of the beach where you were allowed to bring umbrellas was already full.

The beach bar is nice and the prices are OK. Unfortunately, there is no shower, and there is a toilet but it is not really clean.
Google
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Danielle Diniz
Belo Horizonte, MG36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
Wonderful.
The entire coast of the Algarve is wonderful. We went in the spring because we don't like crowded places. Extremely cold water. Brazilians accustomed to warm beaches can't stand it. It was very windy at the end of April, we went to the beach in winter clothes. Hehehe! It was worth it for the beauty.
Google
Written 8 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andie Garvin
New Jersey81 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
It was so-so. The best part is being able to look down from the cliffs above, very picturesque, that alone is worth it. My husband, infant daughter & I went in the afternoon. A great amount of seaweed covered the shoreline & first several feet into the water. I know seaweed is natural but many of the other beaches nearby have very little/none. Also on Apple Maps it says good for kids, and there were some there, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend for toddlers bc of the amount of seen/unseen large rocks in the sand. A little dangerous to swim for the same reason. It’s a beautiful beach worthy of exploration, but I just feel there’s plenty of other beaches nearby that offer a nicer experience for young children and those who enjoy swimming.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

massimo23456
Milan, Italy20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve. It may happen that you find algae or find it crowded in July and August. In any case, the context is breathtaking. It is also possible to take the path to the right of the beach which will take you in a few minutes to a shell cave from which you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view.
Google
Written 18 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DebD
Castle Rock, CO8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
Beautiful beach! Get there early because it gets crowded. There is a large free parking lot. Restaurant doesn't open until 12 noon for food but does open earlier for coffee. You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas, first come first served. Very scenic cliffs and rock formations. See if you can spot Godzilla Rock!
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary B
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
This beach is great for families! It has a fantastic restaurant, very nice rock formations with a small hidden waterfall. The parking is hard to find however, it is better to walk if you can. There is algae in the water, however most of the beaches had algae on the shoreline. It has beautiful sand, the water was cold and refreshing, you can walk around the top of the cliffs and see other rock formations, secluded beaches, follow the path and you can find hidden stairs and pathways to them!
Written 19 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PRAIA SAO RAFAEL (2024): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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