Who’s behind this Blog?

Hey, I'm Malina - the face behind Algarve with Kids! Here you can find some more information about me and the idea behind this project.

We traveled to the Algarve for the first time in 2021, when we were still traveling the world as digital nomads without a permanent residence and immediately fell in love with the area around Lagos.

What I love most about the Algarve is the breathtaking nature, the huge selection of different activities, the community, the child-friendly locals and the vibe. And of course the beautiful restaurants and cafés and all the delicious food.

The following years we kept coming back to the Algarve and I feel so lucky to now call this beautiful place our home.

Smiling woman sitting on a sandy beach near a child, with colorful slides in the background under a blue sky.
Person in a brown fuzzy jacket and hat sitting on a car roof, overlooking a coastal beach and ocean under a blue sky.
Illustration of an oval with the text "sandy toes ALWAYS" and a small shell graphic.
Family playing on a beach with rocky cliffs, blue sky, and ocean in the background. A man is tossing a child into the air while a woman holding a baby watches.

In 2018, my husband and I quit our jobs and apartment and went on a trip around the world and since then, I have been an absolute ‘travel girl’ and love to discover new places together with my family. I like to research special events and hidden places to create the most beautiful memories with my loved ones, as time on this planet is limited for all of us. And for me, the most precious thing is spending time together and creating memories that I can cherish for a very long time. ✨

We have two children: an adorable, nature-loving, running-through-his-life little boy who seems to have a never-ending energy (born in December 2020) and a little girl with the sweetest smile who, according to her big brother, is ‘so small and cute and smells like sugar kisses’. In February 2024 we welcomed her into this world and since then we have been in the middle of the wonderful chaos of a family of four!

When I arrive in the Algarve, my heart does somersaults and I'm just the happiest version of myself with a huge grin on my face (at least most of the time) 😋

It took us a while to find the best places and activities for families with (small) children, so with this blog I want to a) minimize your time for this process and share all the information I have gathered over the last years to make your stay in the Algarve memorable and easy to organize and b) show you which events and activities you can meet like-minded people at if you are travelling or living in the Algarve for a longer period of time.

If you know of a child-friendly place, activity or event that is not yet featured here, please send me a message so I can share it on the blog. And if you have any questions, feel free to write to me anytime, I love it when I can help!

Illustration of a cloud with text "never stop exploring" below it, enclosed in an oval border.

1 Minute with Malina:

What is your vision for the future?

The vision of my husband and I is to buy a piece of land in the middle of nature and turn it into a family paradise.

We would like to organize:

  • a weekly food market

  • a large playground with lots of shade

  • Activities for the whole family such as movie nights or campfire evenings with live music and bread on a stick

  • retreats

  • a tipi that can be booked for overnight stays

  • maybe even a small café

  • perhaps a kindergarten project

  • and maybe even an outdoor coworking space

#dreambig 🤭✨

It will be a place where families can make wonderful memories and meet like-minded people.

Would you like to move to the Algarve permanently?

WE FINALLY DID IT! The idea of my children growing up by the sea makes me soo happy. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!!!

Questions that I get asked again and again::

  • Definitely! The Algarve offers so much variety. From the most beautiful beaches to the cutest little towns and very special activities such as a dolphin tour, blueberry picking, etc.

  • Definitely! There is so much to discover that you can explore something different every day for months.

  • The crime rate is low overall. I've never heard of anyone being robbed or anything like that. However, I still wouldn't leave any valuables in the car in parking lots and in cities I would put my cell phone and wallet in a bag that I carry on the front of my body.

  • As I simply love the city, I recommend Lagos or anything nearby such as Luz, Burgau, Budens, Salema. From here it's just over half an hour to the west coast and it's not far to the east either, so Alvor, Albufeira etc. are easy to reach. If you need an accommodation recommendation, please send me a message.

  • June and September! It's not too hot then and there aren't too many tourists around. July and August are just really hot and hotspots can be packed. However, the summer months are the best time to go into the sea. In April, May and October you can still be lucky with the weather, but it can also rain or be a bit cooler. From November to March, it is fresher, but definitely worth a trip.