The Algarve is a well-known and incredibly popular holiday destination for tourists – especially during the summer. The southernmost region of mainland Portugal, this relatively small area attracts almost 10 million people each year. But while many travellers will have heard of famous beaches and towns like Lagos, some of the best places to explore […]
When heading to the Algarve for your Portugal Holiday, the natural association is with sun, sea and beaches, but as we’re always looking for alternative places to visit, we decided to find out what else the Algarve had to offer. We start visiting an old town which used to be the capital of the Algarve […]
There are plenty of great eating options in the small East Algarve city of Tavira, but there are a fair few tourist traps too. Here are a few tried and tested options, recommended by someone who’s spent many years living in the region. A High-End Tavira Restaurant: Quatro Aguas Quatro Aguas is far from being the […]
The Algarve is the holiday destination of choice for most tourists in Portugal. There are a number of reasons why this area is so popular; the climate of course sunny throughout the year, the miles of glorious clean beaches, the world famous golf courses, the old world charm of its towns and the lively atmosphere […]
I have to say I was amazed when I visited Lagos in terms of the food…its not somewhere I had considered as a foodie destination but I had some of the best food I’ve ever eaten…please don’t get me wrong I’m no food critic or connoisseur but I have enjoyed fine dining at lots of […]
Portimão’s attractive riverside location is more than likely to give you a hankering for some freshly caught fish, but with so many restaurants to choose from it’s hard to know where to head for. One place that’s unlikely to let you down is Dona Barca. This long-established restaurant is located just back from the riverfront […]
Portugal’s Algarve has so many fantastic beaches that it’s near impossible to pick just one favourite. However, Praia do Galé, just to the West of Albuferia, is surely near the top of the list for plenty of those in the know. Praia do Galé broadly separates into two sections. At one side of the beach […]
Unless you’re specifically seeking out rural tourism in Portugal, Moncarapacho may well escape your attention. However, it’s actually a very easy Algarve destination to reach, situated just to the East of Faro airport, a little beyond Olhão. Even if rural life isn’t your thing, a visit to Moncarapacho market, which takes place on the first […]
Tavira, in Portugal’s East Algarve, has a wealth of places to shop, ranging from tiny specialist stores to the big names that populate the shiny and new Gran Plaza shopping centre. But if you want to really experience Algarve shopping at its best, the essential place to visit is Tavira market. Tavira Market: The Basics […]
If you’ve ever been to the glitzy Spanish resort of Marbella, you may well have visited one of the beach clubs. If so, you’ve perhaps baulked at the prices, amazed that you sometimes have to pay to lie down before you’ve even started to shell out for expensive drinks! If you want to experience an […]
The Algarve is known for its sparkling fresh fish, and for good reason. Simply grilled with olive oil and salt, it’s one of the key culinary attractions of the area. If you’re a fish lover and staying in the Tavira area, you’d be well advised to avoid ordering a single portion of bream or sea […]
It comes as a surprise to many that Seville (in Spain) is actually the closest big city to Portugal’s Algarve. It’s nearer than Lisbon, and from the East Algarve can be reached in under two hours. So, what’s the best way to get from The Algarve to Seville? Algarve to Seville by Public Transport Despite […]
The East Algarve city of Tavira is home to plenty of small craft and tourist shops, but if you really want the flex your credit cards, the place to head to is the Gran Plaza shopping centre, just on the outskirts of town. This modern mall is shiny and spacious and also wonderfully quiet and […]
Praia da Rocha, Portimão’s beach resort, is one of the Algarve’s most well established holiday destinations. People have been visiting here since the 19th century, so it’s no surprise that there are plenty of places to stay. The Tivoli Marina hotel, located in the marina zone at the eastern end of the resort, is undoubtedly […]
If you’re ever in the East Algarve, don’t miss the opportunity to turn off the main N125 road in the direction of a small hamlet called Cacela Velha. You’ll find the turning between Tavira and Manta Rota, and you’ll know from the view on approach that you’ve arrived at somewhere very special indeed. Cacela Velha […]
When one thinks of Portuguese food, it’s usually in reference to cuisine that is honest and unfussy – using local ingredients simply and inexpensively. However, Portugal can do gourmet too, and not just in Lisbon and Porto. The Algarve has a burgeoning gourmet food scene, and a good place to get a feel for it […]
Vilamoura is said to be the largest purpose-built tourist complex in Europe, or at least it was when it was first created. The marina area provides an abundance of drinking and dining options, as well as plenty of opportunities for people and boat watching. However, if you have young children, they may tire of soaking […]
The East Algarve resort of Cabanas de Tavira is far less well known than its established equivalents west of Faro, such as Albufeira and Lagos. It’s a far more low-key place, where your fellow travellers are as likely to have travelled from Lisbon or Spain as from Northern Europe. More people are getting to hear […]