Your collection of holiday photos from Algarve will be full of gorgeous beach scenes, quaint fishing villages, and exciting vacation experiences.
If you can find a luxury villa or resort near the beach, you will have a fantastic base for exploring the Algarve region lined with limestone cliffs and amazing Atlantic sea views. There is over 200 km of coastline to discover, so you could stay at a few resorts to reduce travel time. You might like to stay in a lively tourist area like Lagos with big resorts, fantastic beaches, nightlife, entertainment, and many historical sites, then move to a small coastal town to experience authentic local life.
Marinha Beach, Praia da Rocha, and Armação de Pêra are some of the prettiest beaches with great snorkeling and swimming. However, the massive cliffs and jagged rock formations that hug the coves make many of the Algarve beaches such stunners.
The town of Faro and the region's capital has a charming old town that you enter as you walk through the 19th-century archway Arco da Vila. This begins your journey into the past as you explore the cobblestone streets with gorgeous whitewashed traditional buildings. Take a break in a cafe between roam interesting shops, art galleries, and museums. Don't miss Faro Cathedral and Ria Formosa Natural Park if you have time.
A famous spa town is Caldas de Monchique in the Monchique Mountains. There is no place more blissfully relaxing in Algarve than this paradise of thermal hot springs that has existed since Roman times.
The village of Sagres is easy to fall in love with. With dramatic waves, it is a hot spot for surfers, and the sunsets are epic.
There are many opportunities to catch boats or ferries to visit gorgeous islands. For example, you can head to Olhão and board a boat destined for Culatra Island. In addition, you can spend a few hours walking around the village and the local food there is excellent, especially the fresh fish.
Excellent local wine and Mediterranean food await travelers to Algarve. You can expect to be dining on the freshest seafood, fresh local produce, and rich port wine or sangria that Portugal is famous for.
If golfing is your sport, you have dozens of world-class courses to tee off on around the Algarve. Many consider it one of the best golfing spots in the world.
More highlights of Algarve
Stop at Alvor Beach and explore the boardwalks and walking trails
Visit Tavira and see the castle, Roman bridge, and museum
Admire the lighthouse at Cape St Vincent at sunset
Stop in Almancil for a Michelin star dining experience
Also, in Almancil the São Lourenço Church can't be missed
There is so much to see and do in the beautiful Algarve. The Algarve, Portugal's southernmost region, has excellent weather for most of the year. We recommend you spend at least a week exploring the area and add in a few lazy beach days to soak up the sun.
Portuguese locals are very friendly and welcome tourists with open hearts. Contact us today for more info about Algarve in Portugal and our other exotic European destinations. We are looking forward to helping you plan a memorable vacation so start packing your bags for sunny Portugal.
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