Faro is the Algarve’s capital city. The beach isn’t accessible from the town, you catch a boat or get there by car.
But, there’s also two islands also accessible by boat, both without roads or cars, one of them deserted except for a restaurant. The other has some houses and a few restaurants and bars but also sand streets and a very chill environment. Perfect places to spend a day, find a deserted location and enjoy the clearest ocean water you’ll see in mainland Europe. These two islands are paradise.
My parents used to have a house in Faro, so I’ve only been there on the bike, I loved it, going to the beach and parking right on the sand. It’s the least touristy town in the Algarve, although obviously there’s tourists everywhere during summer.