Algarve Attractions

Boat trips of various kinds can be taken from fishing villages and resort towns along the coast, ranging from exploring rock formations in small boats to deep-sea fishing. The larger towns such as Vilamoura, Portimao and Lagos offer further opportunities to see the magnificent Algarve coastline from the sea and visit some of the more isolated bays, coves and beaches.
       

For keen shoppers, the Algarve offers 2 large retail malls, Algarve Forum in Faro and Algarve Shopping in Guia. There are also a lot of little shops and boutiques selling a variety of items. There are plenty of supermarkets catering both to foreigners and locals and also fish and vegetable markets in many of the towns. There are weekly markets in Quarteira and Loule selling a range of local goods and souvenirs.

For wine-lovers, the Wine Makers Cooperative in Lagoa is well worth a visit and it is possible to book tours of the cellars and ‘try before you buy’. Tours are also available of Sir Cliff Richard’s wine estate outside Guia.
 

There is plenty worth seeing inland, such as the magnificent ‘red castle’ of Silves, the old Moorish capital of the Algarve, and the elegant spa town of Caldas de Monchique. There are traditional mountain villages and towns such as Alte and Monchique that have retained much of their unspoilt charm. Panoramic views towards the coast reward those who travel up to the highest point in the Algarve at Foia. The fertile river valleys and the hilly inland areas of the Algarve are beautiful in their own right and offer a different pace and perspective to the visitor.
  

Evidence of the Roman and Moorish occupations can be found in Vilamoura and Silves and the ruins at Milreu. To the west of the Algarve are the sites associated with the Voyages of Discovery, primarily Lagos and Sagres, from where Portuguese explorers discovered parts of Africa, India and the Americas. Off Cape St Vincent, the south-western tip of Europe, is the site of the 1797 naval battle in which Nelson made his name.

However, the crowning glory of the Algarve remains its coastline, from the towering cliffs and small coves and beaches of the West to the glorious miles of dunes and golden sand as you head further East. The nature reserve of the Ria Formosa is a haven for flora, fauna and birds. While some of the coastal resorts are unashamedly brash, many still retain evidence of their history and character.
 

There truly is something for everyone in the Algarve.
 

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