The Algarve is the perfect region for a beach holiday in Portugal.
Traditional fishing villages and bizarre rock formations, grottos and caves, hidden bays and turquoise water. The southernmost region of Portugal is known for its coastline with multicoloured sandstone cliffs and golden dream beaches.
- Travel period: 7 days
- Best time to travel: May to September
- Main dish: 10 €
Arrival
The airport Aeroporto de Faro can be reached from many international airports with a direct flight. From here you need 15 km to Olhão 15 km, Albufeira 40 km, Portimão 70 km, Lagos 90 km and to Cape São Vicente 120 km.
Hotel
Albufeira has many luxury hotels. A night in a double room at the award-winning Hotel Vila Joya* is available from 1,000 euros. We recommend the reasonably priced private rooms at Maria Guest House* in the old town of Albufeira. The accommodation is only a two-minute walk from Praia do Peneco beach and there is a public car park nearby.
Places of interest
The former fishing village of Olhão has the largest fishing port at the Algarve. You can walk for miles along the waterfront and see countless small colourful boats. Water taxis and ferries will take you to the breathtaking Ria Formosa nature reserve and the paradise beaches of the dune islands of Culatra, Farol and Armona. At the end of the promenade you will come across the red brick buildings of the two market halls, one of which offers fish and seafood and the other fresh local produce.
In the pedestrian zone, Spanish, Arab and Portuguese architecture mix together. Cubist houses with colourful tiled walls line the narrow tiled alleys and squares. Here you will find authentic boutiques, craft shops, cafes and restaurants. At lunchtime, the family restaurant Vai e Volta serves freshly caught grilled fish as much as you can eat.
The city Albufeira is known for its extensive golden sandy beaches, bizarre cliffs and hidden caves. The promenade offers fantastic views over the coast and leads straight into the charming old town with small shops, bars and restaurants. In July and August the tourist town is really crowded, especially because of the famous party mile The Strip, where you can party until sunrise in a variety of clubs and bars.
Picturesque bays surrounded by spectacular surrounded by spectacular await you in Portimão. From the old bridge Ponte Velha you can walk almost four kilometres along the riverbank to the fortress Santa Catarina on the beautiful Praia da Rocha. For another eight kilometres you can walk along the beach or take the higher hiking trail from bay to bay along the red and yellow cliffs to Alvor. In the numerous beach restaurants you can try the traditional Portimão sardines with freshly baked bread.
Lagos is one of the most beautiful cities in the Algarve. From the palm-lined promenade with a view of the marina you can reach the pedestrian zone of the picturesque old town. Idyllic squares with cafes and street artists, authentic craft shops, colourful houses in charming alleys and restaurants with traditional cuisine convey a typical Portuguese flair. Via the drawbridge to the marina you reach the Meia Praia, a huge beach bay that stretches six kilometres to the beach of Alvor. A highlight in Lagos is Ponta da Piedade. This is the name of the land tongue that juts far into the Atlantic Ocean, offering breathtaking views of a unique rocky landscape. Here, you can take a tour through the grottos in small private boats at a reasonable price. You can get a first impression in this video.
Far away from civilisation is Cape São Vicente, the most south-western point of Europe. The lighthouse on the up to 70-metre high cliff has a range of around 60 kilometres and is said to be the most luminous in Europe. At the legendary snack bar we treat ourselves to the "last bratwurst before America".
