The Algarve

Portugal’s Southern coastline is one of Europe’s loveliest. Towering cliffs and secluded beaches face out towards the lonely Atlantic sea and delightful villages of all shapes and sizes are dotted along the coast. The charming laid-back character of Portugal guarantees a relaxing vacation offering endless sun, good value sumptuous seafood, plenty of golf and idyllic drives through the rural hinterland.

Under Moorish control until 1292, traces of their North African influence are still seen today in the Algarve’s unique architecture - terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses. However, it is tourism that now dominates the region and packages to suit all budgets have made it a popular spot for locals and foreigners alike.

Faro, with its international airport, is the hub of the region. Both modern and ancient, it is dotted with monuments and cathedrals, most notably the Renaissance inspired Nossa Senhora da Assuncão Convent and São Francisco Church. (16-18th centuries) located on the town square. The old city is delightful, still surrounded by the Roman walls. Also worth visiting is the city’s archeological museum, housed in a 16th Century former Convent. Next to the small boat basin, bordering the Praade Dom Francisco Gomes is a small Naval Museum composed of scale model boats and galleons showing the maritime history of the coast.

More details on Faro.

Lagos is a busy tourist centre, blessed with historic attractions and a magnificent coastline. Enclosed within 5th-century walls are the magnificent churches of São Sebastião (Renaissance and 17th-18th century tiles), Santa Maria of Misericórida (16th-19th centuries), Santo António (Baroque) and the very old São João Hermitage (8th-9th centuries). Other points of interest include: a regional museum, Governors' palace, Forte do Pau da Bandeira, the old slave market and a charming marina. Most visitors are drawn to the superb beaches, which include Meia Praia, a vast strip of sand to the East, and the more secluded Praia do Pinhão to the South.

Portimão has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It boasts fine, golden sands framed by cliffs and rocks, a rich heritage of historical monuments and the eternal natural beauty of the Rio de Alvor. Above the town the charming cultivated fields covered with pine trees and wild flowers offers a fine view for walkers. The allure of walking up into the hills and looking down on the Algarve from a new perspective is rewarding.

Sagres is dramatically situated on the cliff-edges of mainland Europe’s western-most point. It was here that five centuries ago Prince Henry set up a school of navigation, which played a crucial role in the Portuguese Discoveries. Apart from the Nossa Senhora da Graça Hermitage, you can visit the magnificent Fortress (originally built in the 14th century, and later altered) and the 15th-century Rosados-Ventos (a 43 m-diameter compass rose). Nearby, on the extreme southwesterly tip of the European continent, is Cabo de São Vicente (Romans' promontorium sacrum), opening on to a vast horizon of sea and sky.

Situated inland, Silves has magnificent ancient architecture of overlapping eras and cultures . The castle, with its famous water cistern and walls, is of Arab origin; the Gothic Cathedral (having undergone several restoration works) was built on the site of an ancient mosque and the 12th-century bridge was built where formerly a Roman bridge stood. The Cross of Portugal also deserves special mention (16th-century religious sculpture), as well as the examples of Manueline motifs such as the Nossa Senhora dos Mártires Hermitage and the Misericórdia Church.

To the east, the flat landscape of Tavira has inviting long beaches, though lacking the dramatic scenery of the Western Algarve. Its village is a charming collection of white-washed villas dotted about the small mariner on the Gilão river and its Roman bridge. Notable churches to visit include : Santa Maria do Castelo (13th-18th centuries), Misericórdia (Renaissance), Nossa Senhora das Ondas (17th century), São José (with Gothic and Manueline elements) and São Paulo and Carmo (17th-18th centuries). Access to the beaches is by ferry, down the mouth of the river.



Other, quieter towns which are ideal for escaping the crowd and relaxing are Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Almansil, Alte, Cacela, Carvoeiro, Castro Marim, Lagoa, Loul, Moncarapacho, Monte Gordo (casino), Ponta da Piedade, Porches, Vila do Bispo, Vilamoura (casino and marina) and Vila Real de Santo Antonio (marina).

Inland are many small rural farming villages, as well as golf courses and lovely scenery, perfect for a day-trip to escape the beachside tourist crush.



This wilderness park in the far north of Portugal, near the Spanish border, has spectacular scenery and a wide variety of flora and fauna. It's extremely popular with Portuguese day-trippers and holiday makers, but they tend to stick to the main camping areas, leaving the rest of the park to hikers. There are plenty of good short-distance trails with places to swim along the way, as well as facilities for horse riding, mountain biking and canoe rental.

The quiet highland town of Monchique, dozing on the wooded slopes of the Serra de Monchique, offers a good alternative to the hurly-burly chaos of beach life on the coast. Apart from its beautiful and restive setting it's worth driving or hiking through thick forest to Fóia, the 'rooftop' of the Algarve. The panoramic views from the top are terrific.

Perfect for a weekend sunshine escape, the Algarve is a value-for-money destination, abundant in dramatic coastal scenery, perfect day drives, leisure activities and idyllic relaxation.

Back

Add to your Save For Later