Regional Info

From mountains to the sea, cliffs and golden sands, beauty all around

The Algarve, Portugal with its endless beaches, impeccable golf courses and wonderful climate is the perfect holiday destination. Rich in history, the quaint and the luxurious side by side, the natural beauty, great food and warm welcome charm all visitors.

The Algarve has something for everyone. Roman ruins, Moorish castles and traditional villages. An amazing coastline and ideal conditions for water sports. Over 30 top class golf courses. Nature trails and parks. Kids theme parks and an international motor racing circuit. A vast choice of restaurants, bars and clubs. With the naturally courteous Portuguese as hosts, over 300 days of sunshine per year, delicious local gastronomy and great wines, a visit here is a memorable experience.

Everybody knows that the Algarve weather is wonderful! With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the climate is consistently pleasant, with no huge seasonal extremes. While the Summer is the favorite season for many people, Spring, Autumn and Winter all offer their own charms. The Algarve is easy to get to, and easy to get around. Flying time from most of Europe is under 3 hours and private airport transfers from Faro to your accommodation are good value and easy to book online. The road system has been considerably improved in recent years which means hiring a car is a great way to explore. The Algarve has a unique blend of old and new. You can find the ultra-modern cheek to jowl with the traditional and quaint, which is part of it's charm.

For those seeking active holidays, you'll find a great range of sports and leisure activities. This is a golfers paradise with over 25 golf courses to choose from (and more on the way), satisfaction is guaranteed. Water sports enthusiasts are spoiled for choice, as are lovers of good living - restaurants, bars, clubs abound. There are inland Nature trails, dolphin spotting, bird sanctuaries and theme parks for children of all ages.

The 160 kms of the Algarve coastline boast some of Europe's most spectacular beaches, many holders of the prestigious Blue Flags. Choose from broad expanses of white sand, small cove beaches backed by red cliffs, beaches where cosmopolitan beach parties are a summer constant, to the pristine, deserted beaches of the Western coast. Away from the coastline with its modern resorts it's worth exploring the inland Algarve regions - the lush vegetation of the Monchique Mountains, traditional villages like Alte and Cacela Velha, the small villages that dot the course of the River Guadiana. Getting around couldn't be easier - the main roads (the EN 125 and the A22) run east to west with feeder roads to the resorts to the south and inland to the north.

The Algarve region can be divided into three fairly distinct areas - East, West and Central Algarve. The Central Algarve area includes the famous Golden Triangle of Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, synonomous with luxury living, and the ever-popular resort of Albufeira with its lively nightlife and range of hotels. To the West , smaller fishing villages turned resorts set the tone with a more laid-back feel. And the further West you go, the greater the impact of the majestic Atlantic on the landscape, the beaches, the food and the very air that you breathe. To the East, the landscape is one of gentle hills, small villages, and long, long golden beaches, dotted with lagoons and sandbanks. The water temperature tends to be higher here, too. Check out the video below of the amazing coastline around Carvoeiro in the West Algarve, including the beautiful Benagil Cave.

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