Algarve is an area in the very south of Portugal. This is an example of what expects you if you decide to visit.
A great view from Cabo de São Vicente
Things to do in the Algarve
History: See Roman and Moorish remains.
Beaches: Enjoy a day at one of the many beautiful Algarve beaches.
Food: Eat delicious seafood, enjoy a big chunk of beef at one of the many steakhouses (churrascaria) or just relax in one of the many small local cafeterias.
Fun at an Algarve beach
Silves castle
That impressive castle was built by the moors in the 10th and 11th century, hence it’s almost 1000 years old. Inside the castle there is a cistern (Cisterna da Moura Encantada) obviously used to have enough drinking water inside the castle. There is a legend that you can hear the ghost of a Moorish princess sing inside at midnight once a year.
Silves village
The entrance to the cistern
Cabo de São Vicente in West Algarve
I’m a geography freak, so I had to visit the most south-western corner of Europe. I went for an extended walk and made photos of many of the cliffs. If you’re fan of beaches there are plenty up north or toward the east to be discovered. Just pick your favourite one. I discovered a beautiful natural one, but unfortunately don’t remember anymore, where it was exactly.
Lunchtime for crabs near the cape
Things to do in Lagos, Portugal
The biggest city of Nigeria has its name from this one. This Lagos is much smaller than it’s sibling in Africa and has an enjoyable and charming structure. So it is already really enjoyable to just walk around, have a look at the buildings. In-between you can have a coffee, eat something or try to find a good souvenir. A lot of nice Algarve beaches can also be found near Lagos. In the night it is the party destination of the Algarve.
Monchique, a gem of Portugal
25 km north of Portimão you find Monchique. Besides having a really nice old town inhabited by totally relaxed people it is a very good place to go for a hike to the Monchique mountains. The landscape is a beautiful mix of trees, plantations and natural spots. Walk up to the top to be rewarded with a good view. The signposting of the hikes is quite good and in the tourism centre you can get maps.
Castro Marim
Is a city that existed already in the Roman times. So some Roman artefacts can be seen here. The nearby nature habitat is home to many birds, so if bird watching is your big hobby this is the place to go.
How to get to the Algarve beaches, landscapes and cities
The Algave airport of Faro, the biggest city in the Algarve, can be reached with some budget airlines. The best connections are from the UK. Apart from that regular airlines offer the best options to reach an airport in Algarve.
How to get around to see the Algarve attractions
Since public transport is not so well, the best option is to rent a car. (If book the rental about one month before and pay the price beforehand online with your credit card you will get a good price.) If you’re also equipped with a good navigation device there is no more obstacle for some good time and fun.
Best time to visit the Algarve
Take your Algarve vacation from March to April. That’s the time before high season, where the prices are still reasonable and you always find a parking space for your rental car even in the city centres. Plus the Algarve temperatures are not too high.
Accommodation: I booked a good hotel in Loulé with booking.com.
Comments
2 responses to “Explore the gem of Southern Portugal, the Algarve”
The Algarve is one of my favourite holiday destinations. Wonderful in May and September. Alvor boardwalk is not to be missed in my opinion, a wonderful way to see the wildlife on the Alvor estuary and the pristine beaches.
Yep, the Algarve is a wonderful place. Thank you for your comment.