TOURIST AND TRAVEL INFO
Why the Algarve and Portugal – Europe’s best kept secret
Europe’s best golf destination with;
- 44 fantastic golf courses on a coast that is 15 miles long
- Fantastic scenery with Europe’s finest sandy beaches
- Over 300 days of sunshine a year
- Good food and good wine
- Very low cost of living
- Very low crime rate
- The Portuguese are very friendly and speak good English
- Cultured, genuine and no mass construction.
Flights & Communications
With Portugal and especially the Algarve as a more interesting destination, it is expected that the number of direct flights to / from Faro and Lisbon will increase in the coming years.
There are good train connections within Portugal and many bus lines if you wish to get around in Portugal on your own. The highway network is very well developed and there is a good range of rental cars. If you want help with booking different means of communication, we are always at your disposal.
Activities & Inspiration
About Portugal and the Algarve
Geography
Portugal is located on the southwestern tip of Europe and also includes the islands of Madeira and the Azores in the Atlantic. The mainland covers an area of 88,889 km2. The land is 218 km wide and 561 km long. Portugal has 832 km of coastline along the Atlantic coast and includes the coast north and south towards Spain, the coast totaling 1215 km long.
Climate
Portuguese mainland
The climate in Portugal varies greatly from one region to another and is most influenced by latitude and proximity to the sea.
In Porto, northern parts of the country and the Beiras region, especially in the hinterland, closer to Spain, the winters are colder, but still mild compared to the rest of Europe. There can be snowfall in the Serra da Estrella mountains, where we find the highest point on Portugal’s mainland (1991 m) and where it is possible to ski. This is in contrast to the Algarve coast climate, which is mild even in winter, often with temperatures up to or above 20 degrees.
Algarve
The Algarve coast is furthest south and extends from the Spanish border to the east to Portugal’s most southwestern point, Cape Sao Vicente, to the Atlantic. The entire coast is a well known and established area with long beautiful beaches and beautiful cliffs. The Algarve has for many years been the most important Portuguese holiday destination and many Britons have, among other things, found here over the years. The Algarve has everything from old fishing villages to modern cities. There are also several neighborhoods built around a golf course and you are never far from a beach, a magnificent landscape or several good restaurants. Driving a car down from Lisbon to the Algarve takes just over 2 hours and if you want to go on the train, take the same trip 3 hours. The climate is very comfortable throughout the year and the weather in January is comparable to a nice day in May in Sweden.
For those who are interested in the Algarve and want to stay there for much of the year, it may be a good idea to rent a car, preferably during the winter months and then drive around and explore the various resorts. This is because some tourist areas are considerably quieter during the winter, while other towns and villages live all year round.
Portimão
Portimão is one of the largest cities on the Algarve with 50,000 inhabitants. Portimão center consists mainly of tall buildings located along the long fine beach of Praia da Rocha.
If you want quieter surroundings, there are the fishing villages of Ferragudo and Carvoeiro in the immediate vicinity of Portimão with a wonderful charm and many fine restaurants, cafes and bars open all year round. And when you miss the big city, it only takes a few minutes by taxi or taxi boat back to Portimão.
Lagos
Lagos on the western end of the Algarve is originally an old fishing village from the 14th century. This quaint town may look a bit like Cascais with its beautiful cobbled streets and historic buildings. In Lagos there is also a newly built modern boat harbor with restaurants and several nice, new modern apartment complexes with sea views. From here you get the best of both worlds, that is, old, genuine and new. In Lagos there are restaurants, cafes and shops open all year round and there is always plenty of life on the street.
Carvoeiro / Ferragudo
Carvoeiro is a small village with whitewashed buildings above a beautiful beach surrounded by cliffs and hills. Shops, restaurants and bars rise steeply from the small cozy beach which is the center of the city. The small town 5 km south of Lagoa is beautiful and more relaxed than many of the larger towns, but its size also means that it is filled with a lively folklore during the summer.
Ferragudo between Carvoeiro and Portimao is a small fishing village with a small fishing port and cozy fish restaurants and a fantastic beach “Praia Grande”. From Ferragudo you can take a taxi boat to Portimao if you want to enjoy the larger city with its lively nightlife.
Albufeira
Albufeira is both a popular tourist destination, and a city that lives year round. Albufeira has a nice old part situated next to a beautiful beach with a wide range of restaurants, bars and shopping. On the mountains around the town there are several nice neighborhoods, many with fantastic sea views and fine sandy beaches.
Tavira
Tavira, near the Spanish border in the eastern Algarve, is an ancient picturesque fishing village dating back to Roman times. Here you can sit under a cork oak and eat dinner on small cozy squares.
In Tavira, the landscape and coastline are somewhat different from the rest of the Algarve. Here the beaches on the long sandy beach on the other side lie a narrow stretch of water that contributes to the very varied fishing and bird life in this part of the Algarve. If you want to reach the fantastic islands and sandy beaches, there are daily ferries and taxis from the city center. Tavira is a very popular area for those who want a little quieter accommodation with nature around the house.
Vilamoura
Vilamoura is not a typical genuine Portuguese fishing village, but a popular area, especially if you like to play golf and / or have an interest in boating since many of the finest golf courses and luxury yachts are here. In the marina there are a large number of restaurants and bars and during the summer the “Marinan” is a very popular excursion destination with a lot of life. In the winter, however, it is quieter, but there are still many restaurants and bars that stay open. Many of the neighborhoods of Vilamoura are located on or within the Golf Resorts.
