Officially called Ilha da Barreta, the 'Deserted Island' lives up to the name. A seven-kilometre strip of sand and dune with no houses, no cars and a single solar-powered restaurant (Estaminé) at its eastern end, it is the southernmost point of mainland Portugal — the Cabo de Santa Maria lighthouse stands at the tip.
Ferries from Faro's harbour run hourly in summer (around 45 minutes) and the boat journey through the Ria Formosa channels is half the pleasure. Bring water, sunblock and shoes for the wooden boardwalk: the island has no shade beyond a few clumps of dune grass. Empty beaches even in August.