You know when you return somewhere and hope it feels just as good as the first time?

That was Salema for us.

We’d visited Salema in February once before and loved this quiet pocket of the Algarve. We’re not fans of built-up, tourist-heavy places, and Salema offered a peaceful escape that felt completely different from the busier parts of the region.

On that first visit, we stayed at NAU Salema Beach Village and honestly felt like the only guests there. It was that quiet.

So coming back again during the UK school Easter holidays in April, how would it compare? Would we love it just as much?

We expected it to be much busier.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t.

It felt almost just as calm and relaxed as before.

Although Salema sits within the Algarve, it still feels like a traditional fishing village. Even now, the resident population is under 300 people.

It’s incredibly picturesque, with whitewashed houses, terracotta roofs, and a long stretch of golden sand with turquoise sea, all within easy reach because the village itself is so small.

It’s also set within a natural park, with beautiful coastal walks in both directions from Salema leading to unspoilt beaches and viewpoints.

One thing we loved on both visits was the wildflowers. In February and April, the cliffs and surrounding landscapes were full of colour, still lush and green before the intense heat of summer dries everything out.

What Salema is like in April

Our April visit didn’t quite deliver on the weather.

We had mostly cloudy days across the three days, with quite a bit of wind too.

It was similar to our Costa Nova experience (which was outr stop in Portugal before Salema as we were on a road trip this time) where the weather wasn’t great while we were there, but the days after we left were forecast to be sunny and around 25 to 26 degrees.

Just bad timing!

That’s the reality of travelling in spring.

Even though it’s much further south than the UK, the weather can still be unpredictable. You might get a full week of sunshine, or you might get cooler, cloudier, windier days.

When the sun came out, it did feel warm, even hot. But without it, it felt quite cool.

It was still warmer than Costa Nova overall which is on the northwest coast of Portugal, but definitely not guaranteed beach weather.

It’s one of those times of year where you could easily get a full week of sunshine, or a few days like we had, where the cloud and wind take over.

When the sun did break through, it felt properly warm, but without it, it definitely didn’t feel like typical “hot Algarve” weather.

The village itself was still pretty quiet, just like our February visit.  I’d say it felt marginally busier

Most restaurants were open, but the overall atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful.

We really thought this would feel different coming back in April, especially during the UK Easter holidays. But if anything, it felt almost exactly the same as our February visit, only with more bad luck this time with the weather.

Where we stayed in Salema

We booked the same accommodation as before, a townhouse at NAU Salema Beach Village, as we were so impressed on our first visit.

Everything was exactly as we remembered.

The townhouses are spacious, clean, and really well set up for a self-catering stay.

We had:

• Ensuite bedrooms for privacy
• A balcony with sea views
• A rooftop terrace
• A full kitchen with oven, fridge freezer, and everything needed to cook
• A washing machine, which was really useful halfway through our road trip
• Good WiFi for working remotely

We ended up cooking almost all of our meals here, aside from one meal out, which worked well as we were sticking to a budget and also remote working most days.

Having a proper kitchen, washing machine, and good WiFi made it feel easy to settle into a routine rather than constantly being on the move.

We booked a sea view again, which is definitely worth the extra cost.

The location is perfect for watching the sunrise, and although it was too cloudy to catch one this time, I still enjoyed getting up early and sitting quietly with a view out to the sea.

The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the whole place feels well looked after.

We also noticed a few differences from our February stay.

The poolside bar and shop were open this time, and there were actually a few people around the pool, which we hadn’t seen at all before.

We did check the pool temperature, but it was freezing, so no swimming for us.

We’d definitely stay here again, and next time for longer. There’s so much more of the south coast we’d like to explore, and Ben is keen to visit one of the Algarve water parks, which had just opened for the season during our stay, but the weather wasn’t warm enough this time.

What we did over 3 days in Salema

Day 1

After around seven hours of travel the day before, we spent our first full day wandering around Salema itself.

It was cloudy and not especially warm.

We also noticed some new benches made from recycled plastic overlooking the sea, which I’m sure weren’t there before.

The kids absolutely loved them. They’re raised and curved so you can properly lie back, and they didn’t want to get off.

We also went to see the dinosaur footprints, one of Salema’s most well-known features.

I’d written about them before, sharing where to find the dinosaur footprints in Salema with lots of photos, and a few things had changed.

There’s now an information sign, which makes them easier to find. However, the wooden steps down to them were closed off, possibly due to erosion at the base.

Some people were climbing over anyway, or accessing via the surrounding cliff paths.

We walked down and peeped over the fencing to see them. However, it was high tide, so we didn’t climb down onto the rock that houses them this time, but it was still nice to see them again.

Our son couldn’t even remember seeing the footprints before, even though it was only a couple of years ago, which shows how quickly those moments can fade for kids.

We also did a supermarket trip, cooked at the house, got some work done, and ended the day with a walk through the natural park, catching the colours of the dusky sky – one of those quiet, simple moments that ends up being a highlight as the sky looked incredible, even with the clouds.

Salema is a nice place to visit on a budget or if you like nature as there’s lots of beautiful natural scenery and walks in the vicinity. Check out my article from my last visit all about things to do in Salema for free to get some inspiration.

Day 2

We drove to Praia das Furnas, somewhere we’d walked to from Salema on our previous visit.

This time, because it was high tide, walking along the beach wasn’t really possible, and we’d done the walk before, so driving made more sense for a quicker visit.

We saw some of the rock formations we loved last time and stopped for a quick photo opportunity, then walked back along the beach and climbed up the cliffs for some great views.

After that, we drove on to Praia do Amado near Raposeira, somewhere new for us.

This was a highlight.

The scenery is incredible, with golden beaches, dramatic red Jurassic cliffs, and wide open coastal views. There are plenty of walking routes, up and down rolling hills, both along the cliffs and inland.

The sun came out more throughout the day, and when it did, it felt really warm.

We spent some time relaxing on the beach, the kids chilled, and I read my book for a while.

On the way back, we spent some time at the kids’ playpark and outdoor adult gym at NAU Salema Beach Village, which is just for guests and accessible with your accommodation key card.

Day 3

On our final morning, we walked from Salema towards a small cove near Praia da Santa.

We challenged the kids to find 20 different wildflowers along the way, and they ended up finding over 30!

The variety was amazing, and everything was still in bloom in April.

It also smelled incredible, walking through the natural park with wild lavender and other coastal plants adding fragrance to the air.

After that, we headed back to Salema beach, planning to stay at the beach and perhaps have a dip in the sea, but the wind picked up again.

It was so strong that sand was blowing into our faces, so we couldn’t stay as planned.

Instead, we walked through the village and up along the cliffs on the other side for more views.

That evening, we went to Pizzeria D’Aldeia, a short drive away.

They had great vegan options, friendly staff, and very reasonable prices.

One warning: the large pizza is huge!

We ordered the large size for me and Ben to share, and a regular-sized one for each of the kids who were starving and ended up with far more food than expected!

Luckily, we were leaving the next day, so we took the leftovers and had cold pizza for the car journey, which worked out perfectly.

It was one of those slightly embarrassing but funny moments when you realise you’ve massively over-ordered, but at least it worked out well for the next day’s long drive as we continued on our European road trip through Spain and Portugal.

What it’s like returning somewhere

Returning to Salema felt exactly how we hoped. 

Aside from the weather, it was just how we remembered.

The accommodation was just as clean and well maintained.

The village felt the same, quiet, peaceful, and unspoilt.

It confirmed everything we liked about it the first time.

And it’s somewhere we’d happily return to again.

There’s always that slight worry that somewhere won’t feel the same the second time, but Salema really did.

Is Salema worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you’re looking for a quieter side of the Algarve.

It’s ideal for families who enjoy nature, walking, and a slower pace of travel.

It’s not the place for nightlife or busy entertainment, but that’s exactly why we like it.

For us, it’s far better than the larger, more built-up resorts.

We’d go back again, but next time we’d stay longer.

Even out of season, but with more time to explore and a better chance of catching some good weather.

Final thoughts

Sometimes going back somewhere confirms exactly why you loved it the first time.

Salema did that for us.

It’s peaceful, scenic, and feels untouched compared to much of the Algarve.

Even with mixed weather, it was still a great place to return to.

And next time, we’ll stay longer and hopefully have a better chance of warmer weather and swimming in the sea!

Salema in Portugal is a quiet Algarve village perfect for a relaxed beach stay, especially in spring, offering great scenery, fewer crowds and a slower pace of travel.