With Easter school break and bank holidays approaching, many Brits will flock to popular holiday destinations in Europe. However, if the sunshine in England you’ve experienced in recent weeks hasn’t been enough, yet overcrowded beaches are not your cup of tea, a last-minute getaway might still be a solution for you.

In fact, Praia da Falésia in Algarve, Portugal, is one of the hidden gems in Europe that has been identified as one of the least crowded beach destinations in Europe. Praia da Falésia, which translates to "cliff beach" in Portuguese, is a stunning beach known for its golden sand, clear waters, and distinctive red cliffs, stretching for over six kilometers between Vilamoura and Albufeira. According to Wizz Air, Praia da Falésia ranks seventh in least crowded easter getaways for sun-seekers looking for an early beach break.

To reach Praia da Falésia from the UK, the best airport to fly into is Faro Airport (FAO), located in the Algarve region of Portugal. 

The average cost for a direct flight from London to Faro is £117, and is just under three hours long. Several airlines offer direct flights, including Easyjet, Jet2, and Ryanair.

Praia da Falésia is located 38.3 kilometres from Faro airport, which is an approximately 32 minutes long car drive. A taxi ride cost from £40 to £50.

The average cost of a hotel in Praia da Falésia can vary, but you can expect to find options ranging from around £32 per night to more luxurious resorts like the Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort & Hotel Spa, which can cost around £106 per night. 

Praia da Falésia is situated in the most touristy section of the Algarve, but the beach has a surprisingly pristine and natural setting, Algarve Tourist reveals.

The website further notes that due to its fragile clay cliffs combined with the nature park that runs along the cliff tops, the beach has been prevented from the intrusion of ‘any ugly tourist development of mega hotel complexes’.

The Mindful Gingernut blog wrote of their experience at Praia da Falésia in 2021: “As soon as I reached Praia da Falesia, the scenery took my breath away. 

“The bright orange cliffs and the visible layers of rock made the geographer in me do a little backflip of joy.”

They continued: “As far as I was concerned, I had found paradise. I knew I was walking along the beach with a massive grin on my face, as I stared in awe of the scenery. 

“Around every corner I walked, the cliff faces changed and had something different for me to grin at.

“As I continued to walk along the beach, I realised how light and carefree I felt. I felt more relaxed and content than I had done in a long time.

“As I walked along the beach, I found myself doing a lot of thinking, in addition to [staring] with a wide-open mouth at the stunning scenery around me.”