One of the most interesting towns on Portugal’s Algarve coast, Lagos is steeped in history, has wonderful beaches nearby, excellent shopping opportunities, a busy port, ancient fort and numerous historical statues and buildings. Winding, cobbled streets meander through the town, lined with little shops, boutiques and a market, selling everything from locally grown produce to jewellery and clothes. There is a small museum attached to the well known 17th century “gold” church of Santo Antonio, which displays some rather odd artefacts!
A golf course is never far from your holiday resort in the Algarve, and in Lagos it is no different. Boat trips are very popular along the coast taking you to discover some of the many hidden beaches.
A bustling holiday resort like no other in the Algarve, there is something for everyone in Albufeira. Beautiful sandy beaches, some hidden by dramatic ochre coloured cliffs line the coast with seven main resort beaches, plus many others. The nightlife in Albufeira is lively, and with an endless choice of nightclubs, bars, cafes and restaurants, there is not chance to get bored! “The Strip” and nearby streets are the centre hive of activity day and night, so after a fabulous day on the beach, head to Praia da Oura and start your tour of the continuous chain of eateries and drinking emporiums.
A holiday to Vilamoura in the Algarve is to enjoy one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe. Covering over 2000 hectares of land, Vilamoura has been developed by a very environmentally conscious company, and due to the size of the town, every form of sport and entertainment has been thought of. There are six golf courses around Vilamoura, a lawn bowling club, tennis centre, sports club, and shooting club. There is a cinema, riding school and even a preserved Roman site and museum in Vilamoura, as well as the ruins of the baths used by the ancient mariners. Vilamoura Marina covers an enormous area, and is a wonderful location to spot some of the most stunning yachts and boats.
Located at the mouth of the Arade estuary, the Algarve resort of Praia da Rocha is the region’s best known. Yellow sands and crystal waters have attracted visitors to Praia da Rocha for around 80 years, and as the town’s 2 km long beach is one of the most photographed in Europe, complemented by its amazing rock formations, who would be surprised? Praia da Roche is a vibrant resort with many bars, clubs and restaurants, together with a good choice of souvenir shops and even a casino on the beach.
An ancient coastal village, Alvor is one of the quieter resorts in the Algarve. Whilst there is a number of restaurants and bars to enjoy in the evening which lead down to the huge expanse of beach, take a turn off the main street and old Alvor is once more displayed by the lovely white washed house, small cobbled streets and occasional craft shop or boutique. The history of Alvor takes you through times of the Moors and Romans then the Christians, and although a lot of the ancient town was destroyed in the 15th and 17th century earthquakes, the remains of a 13th century castle and a 16th century church, still stand.
Dazzling white washed buildings look over the coved sandy beach of Carvoeiro in the Algarve. Carvoeiro has developed from a tiny fishing village to an area spread around the centre offering a huge choice of self catering accommodation and various star rated hotels. There are a number of bars, restaurants and beach side tourist shops in Carvoeiro, and on the outskirts an amazing 36-hole golf and holiday complex, as well as a good tennis centre and further 9-hole golf course.
Particularly attractive is the old part of the city surrounded still by the Roman walls. Inside a spacious open square that once was the site of the Roman Forum is a 13th Century Cathedral that faces the 18th Century Episcopal palace. An interesting building is the neighbouring 16th Century Convent that is now turned into the home of the city’s archaeological museum. Within it is a section devoted to the Arab occupation.
Lying just over 3 km from the Spanish border, Monte Gordo which once was a sleepy fishing village, has now been developed into a bustling sea side resort attracting and catering for both Portuguese and international holiday makers. Because of its Mediterranean climate and location near to the River Guardiana, Monte Gordo boasts the warmest waters and largest beach in the Algarve. To the east of Monte Gordo, the River Guadiana has been a natural frontier for many centuries, forming the boundary between Roman Portugal and southern Spain.
Located at the mouth of the River Arade, Portimao in the Algarve has been known to be the home of smugglers and pirates! Until the early 1980s, Portimao was the most important centre on the Algarve for the fishing and canning industry. Today, Portimao is not only a flourishing fishing port and harbor, but also a superb base at which explore one of the beautiful beaches and coves along the coast, particularly the famous resort of Praia da Rocha. Portimao holidays include eating in a wealth of restaurants, particularly good if you enjoy sardines and seafood, shopping, playing golf or just sitting in a river side café, watching the world go by.
Located on the eastern side of the Algarve’s coast, Tavira is one of the most architecturally attractive towns in the Algarve, and it is here that a huge area has been excavated to show evidence of a large Roman settlement. Located 25 km from Faro and 20 km from the Spanish border, Tavira remains a favourite for discerning visitors. There are nearly 40 churches in Tavira, many dating back to the 18th century, some further, and a Roman bridge linking the town’s two sides over the River Gilao. Dazzling white washed houses, glorious fig and almond trees and decorative chimneys are great features of Tavira and its province.
You don’t have to be a golf fanatic to enjoy the stunning scenery around Vale do Lobo, one of Europe’s largest resorts and home to two challenging and beautiful golf courses. There is a great choice of restaurants in Vale do Lobo offering both international and local cuisine, as well as a wide range of sporting facilities including the largest tennis centre in Portugal, and many gyms associated with the larger hotels and the local health spa.
