Algarve Holidays
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More than 150 named beaches ring the Algarve coast, ranging from the sheltered golden coves of the Barlavento west to the long tidal flats of the Ria Formosa nature reserve in the east. Finding the right beach for your group is genuinely part of the experience.
The Algarve averages more than 300 days of sunshine annually — more than almost anywhere else in continental Europe. Even in April, daytime temperatures reach the low 20s.
Cataplana — a slow-cooked seafood stew named after its copper cooking vessel — is the dish that defines the region, and eating it at a proper restaurant in Olhão or Tavira bears no resemblance to the tourist strip version.
Over 40 championship golf courses sit within the region — several designed by names including Nick Faldo and Sir Henry Cotton — making it Europe's most concentrated golf destination outside Scotland.
Most of the central and western resorts have calm, sheltered beaches, waterparks within easy reach, and a wide range of all-inclusive properties with dedicated children's pools and evening entertainment.
The shoulder months — May, June, and September — offer noticeably lower prices than July and August, with the same reliable weather and significantly shorter queues at the most popular sites.
The region splits into three distinct zones, and where you base yourself on Algarve Portugal holidays shapes the entire trip.
The Algarve's western tip around Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente is where the Atlantic comes into full view — the cliffs here reach 75 metres and the light is unlike anywhere else on the coast. Worth a day trip from any western base on holidays in Algarve.
Lagos is the most complete town on the west coast — a proper working Portuguese city with a medieval old quarter, the Ponta da Piedade sea cave formations a short boat trip offshore, and a genuine fish market open most mornings.
Albufeira is the region's main resort hub, split between the Old Town cliff quarter and the Strip to the north. The beach below the Old Town — Praia dos Pescadores — is the one to aim for. It consistently delivers what customers want from a holiday in Algarve Portugal — beach, food, and activity all within walking distance.
Vilamoura is the Algarve's marina resort — purpose-built, well-maintained, and centred on a 1,000-berth harbour. Quieter than Albufeira; ideal for golfers and anyone who prefers a calmer evening atmosphere.
Tavira in the eastern Algarve is the region's most architecturally intact town — Roman bridge, Moorish castle walls, and a riverside square with some of the best seafood restaurants in the south of Portugal. Reached via the Ria Formosa lagoon ferry from the town pier.
Between sea caves, world-class golf, and a protected lagoon stretching 60 km along the eastern coast, there is more than enough beyond the sun lounger.
Ponta da Piedade sea caves: The limestone sea cave network just south of Lagos is the most photographed stretch of Algarve coastline — accessed by kayak, small boat, or on foot down the cliff steps. Morning light between 9 am and 11 am produces the best colour in the caves. Book a guided kayak tour rather than the motorised boat trip if conditions allow.
Ria Formosa Natural Park: A 60 km lagoon system running from Faro to Cacela Velha, home to flamingos, chameleons, and the most important purple gallinule colony in Europe. Boat tours from Faro or Olhão run year-round; the barrier island beaches reachable only by ferry are among the quietest on the entire coast.
Golf: Vilamoura's Victoria Course — venue for the Portuguese Open — and Vale do Lobo's Royal Course are the two most requested by our customers. Both require booking well ahead in peak season. The western courses around Lagos and Luz tend to offer better value with equally good conditions.
Sagres & Cabo de São Vicente: The southwestern tip of continental Europe — a working lighthouse, a 16th-century fortress, and cliffs that drop 75 metres straight into the Atlantic. The drive along the N268 coastal road from Lagos takes around 40 minutes and is worth doing in both directions at different times of day.
Waterparks & family activities: Slide & Splash near Lagoa and Aqualand near Alcantarilha are the two main waterparks, both easily reached from the central Algarve. Jeep safaris into the Serra de Monchique hills — the forested range behind the coast — run from most central resorts and make for a genuinely different half-day from the beach.
May, June, and September are the months our customers rate most consistently — temperatures between 24°C and 28°C, warm enough for swimming from the first week, and noticeably quieter than peak summer. July and August are the right choice for school holiday travel and anyone who wants the full resort atmosphere, but they come at a price premium and the beaches are at their busiest.
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