Skyfireghost: I can endorse Alvor. I’ve been about 5 times and although you’ll not see many other men in thongs (I think I’ve seen 3 others) you’ll certainly find it friendly. I’ve personally worn them every time at both beach and hotel pool. I’ve swum and walked the length of the beach, and have yet to have any of the wrong kind of attention. Women in thongs and cheeky suits are ubiquitous. I’ve never felt out of place.

Just back from a break in Portugal - spent time around Lagos area and then Ihla Tavira.  Haven't been for several years and it was good to be back. Lagos area beaches win it for the number of girls in thong and cheeky bikinis - very much the majority.  Great vibe and very relaxed.  

On one beach, Praia do Camilo, there was a single girl wearing a g string bikini that she would rearrange to minimise the tops to just covering the nipples and rolled down the already very small front to make a micro bottom to get the maximum tan.  No one batted an eyelid.  OK some of us may have looked for a little too long...   

 On another nearby beach we did end up next to a German couple - he looked like something out of an 1980s German comedy film - big shorts and vest, the lady in a one-piece.  I made a note not to let my OH choose a spot in future...  Mostly though a nice crowd of people with plenty of thong / cheeky / string bottoms of the girls.  Quite a few topless, especially when laying down - though more often it was the 40-50 age range females. As ever, most guys in shorts with a few in speedo style swimwear.  I wore a modus vivendi low cut camo bikini for most of the time - the smallest of anything on the beaches.  My OH has taken to wearing a striped thong/string bikini again and she looks great.  I did see a guy in a squarecut pull it into a thong, but that was about it. 

 On a boat trip, we were informed that "that beach is called free-willy beach for obvious reasons"  and told that "nudity is against the law on Algarve beaches, except the designated ones".  That beach was, I think, Praia dos Pinheiros - quite stunning and worth a visit, regardless.   As I understand it, nudity is not illegal in Portugal, but if you offend someone they can make a report to the GNR (national police).  Most people in Portugal seem quite tolerant and relaxed, so I cannot imagine such a report being made, unless perhaps being naked in a busy part of a beach in front of families. 

 At the complex pool, I spent a late afternoon in a white Desmiit speedo/bikini style suit (front lining removed for comfort).  Got some looks from one or two German girls, but nothing to be concerned about.  Having appeared, showered and swimmed in the white bikini (probably by now semi see through), I thought it would be a bit obvious to then change into a Hom string I had brought with me.  Also a bit concerned my OH would get annoyed by the thong wearing if she had seen me.  I shouldn't have worried as I found her much later on the apartment balcony, naked. 

Ihla Tavira has more older people than Lagos area, but with plenty of space it is easy to go nude once you are away from the sunbed and life-guarded area.  There is an official FKK part of the beach, but there seems to be no need to go there.  At one point there was a couple, fully clothed with shorts and tops, who we wondered if they were looking disapproving of me being naked in the sea - a little while later, they had sat on the beach, stripped off naked and gone for a swim.  Goes to show how easily you can misread people. 

 On another day there were several nude couples etc around and then one lady, around 50 yo, came walking along the shoreline totally naked and carrying nothing.  She walked past guys fishing and right on past the sunbed area, before returning along the shore some time later.  It gave my OH food for thought as she has often commented how it is the men that mostly wander around naked. 

My OH went nude for a couple of days and wore a string/thong bikini the rest of the time.  She even wandered into the sea naked - me, I was happy to wander up and down the beach naked and take a swim etc. 

Very relaxed, no stress, great places to be.

Thanks tiggerix for a great report. We go to Lagos often and I've been going since the mid 90s and it's always been good. Over the years there's been less toplessness, but thonging has increased. Rarely men though. I am usually the only man in a thong. Last year I wore one on the town beaches. Being with my young daughter and just doing what dads do with kids on the beach just meant I was pretty much accepted as far as I could tell. I've learned not to worry what strangers think of me. I've worn mine at hotel pools too. It's a bit harder there because you're very visible, but if you're swimming people accept it. Why should you worry then? You're not doing anything illegal. The girl reducing her bikini reminds me of a girl I saw a couple of years ago in Estoril who was walking through the underpass in the smallest bikini I've ever seen on anyone. She was probably only about 13 or 14 which was surprising in itself. It wasn't modified either, but it only just covered her nipples and was so low cut on the bottoms that she was dangerously close to exposing her bits. I don't know if it was a thong but it would have been strange if it hadn't been. Very brave I thought. Portugal is just fantastic.