Carry-On for the Algarve: Ryanair, easyJet, and Beach Packing

The Algarve is one of the most straightforward carry-on destinations in Europe. It is a beach holiday: the packing list is short, the gear is light, and there is almost no reason to bring more than a single carry-on bag. The constraint is not what to pack — it's managing Ryanair's and easyJet's split bag policies and navigating a busy Faro Airport at peak summer.

Faro Airport (FAO): Gateway to the Algarve

Faro International Airport is 6 km from the city of Faro and about 30 minutes by road from Albufeira, the main resort hub. The airport was expanded to handle 8 million passengers annually, but July and August push that capacity hard. In peak summer:

• Arrive 2.5 hours before departure for UK or Northern European flights
• Security queues regularly exceed 40 minutes in peak week (late July and August)
• The Ryanair and easyJet bag drop queues are long — online check-in is essential

Outside summer (April–June, September–October), the airport is calm and 90 minutes is comfortable.

Ryanair Carry-On Policy at Faro

Ryanair is the dominant carrier at FAO. Its bag policy is frequently misunderstood:

• Free for all passengers: one small personal item, maximum 40 × 20 × 25 cm
• Requires Priority Boarding or paid bag fee: one larger cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm and 10 kg
• Without Priority, your larger bag goes in the hold at the gate — free, but checked

For carry-on-only travel on Ryanair, buy Priority Boarding or the cabin bag option at booking. Prices are lower at booking than at the airport. Without it, your main bag will be gate-checked at Faro on busy summer routes — which defeats the purpose of carry-on only.

easyJet Carry-On Policy at Faro

easyJet's current policy:

• Free for all passengers: one cabin bag up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm (no weight limit stated, but enforcement happens)
• Flexi and PLUS fares: an additional larger overhead bag

easyJet is generally more straightforward than Ryanair for carry-on-only travellers. One carry-on fits in the overhead bin without Priority purchase on most routes.

TAP Regional from Lisbon

TAP Economy includes one cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 25 cm and 10 kg, plus one personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm and 2 kg. Discount also includes the main bag; checked baggage is separate. Check the operator of each connecting flight and weigh both bags separately.

What to Pack for an Algarve Beach Holiday

The Algarve in summer averages 28–32°C with very low humidity and near-constant sun. The packing list is genuinely minimal:

• 3–4 swimsuits or pairs of boardshorts
• 3–4 lightweight tops (cotton or linen for the heat)
• 1–2 pairs of shorts
• 1 going-out outfit for Albufeira, Lagos, or Vilamoura evenings
• 1 lightweight layer for late evenings (coastal breeze cools quickly after dark)
• Flip flops (wear on travel day)
• 1 pair of walking sandals for town exploration

Total clothing for a 7-day beach holiday fits comfortably in a 30–35 L carry-on.

Renting a Car in the Algarve

Most visitors rent a car to reach the cliff beaches like Praia da Marinha, Praia da Rocha, and Sagres. If you're renting a car, pack everything into one carry-on and one personal item — this fits in a car boot without any repacking.

A beach bag works perfectly as your personal item on the flight. Pack flip flops, a sarong, a book, and your sunscreen in a canvas tote. It's used immediately on arrival as your beach bag and saves needing a separate item.

What to Buy Cheaply in the Algarve

Portuguese supermarkets are well-stocked and competitively priced. On arrival, stock up at Pingo Doce, Continente, or Lidl near your accommodation:

• Sunscreen: Protextrem and Babaria brands offer SPF 50 at roughly half UK pharmacy prices
• After-sun: widely available and cheap
• Mosquito repellent: Autan is the dominant brand, in pharmacies and supermarkets
• Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash all cost less than at UK airports
• Beach towel: a cheap cotton beach towel from a market (3–5 euros) weighs 300 g

Buying sunscreen and toiletries locally saves 400–600 g of bag weight and avoids the security liquids bag entirely if you go solid for your flight toiletries.

Wine and Ceramics on the Way Home

The Algarve produces good local wine, and Lagos and Silves are known for hand-painted ceramics. Neither can go in a carry-on on the flight home. Ceramics break under checked luggage handling and bottles are liquids.

Options for wine: purchase at Faro Airport duty-free after security (duty-free liquids travel in a sealed STEB bag and are permitted in the cabin). Ceramics need proper bubble-wrap packing and a checked bag — or ship home via the shop.

Baggage sources

• Jet2.com