Praia Dona Ana

If you're already there.

The hang

Beautiful, no question — stacked golden rock formations, clear water, the kind of beach that sells postcards. But Dona Ana is the Algarve's most-told lie: it's tiny, it's mobbed, and in summer you'll be towel-to-towel with a man named Sven who's applied his sunscreen like frosting. The photo lies; the reality queues.

The real intel

Best months: May, Sept–Oct. July–Aug: avoid unless you enjoy other people's holidays.
Getting there: Lagos. 10 min drive or 25 min walk from town. Parking is a blood sport in summer.
Where to stay: Lagos. The beach is basically a Lagos suburb.
Cost reality: Sunbeds €20/day. Snack bars reasonable. The parking meters accept your suffering as payment.
The catch nobody tells you: Tiny beach + huge reputation = mobbed. The rock formations are gorgeous but you'll photograph them over 40 shoulders.