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Regional Tourism: The Algarve

With tourism trends changing and exotic locations more affordable, has the Algarve gone out of fashion?

 

What's the Attraction?

Portugal is one of the world's top 20 destinations, with the Algarve being the country's most popular area to visit.

Located in the southernmost part of Portugal, the Algarve is famous for its year round sunshine, spectacular landscapes, wonderful beaches and excellent golf facilities.

The region is a firm favourite with British holidaymakers, as well as being a big attraction for Spanish, German and French tourists.

For decades the Algarve has been a magnet to many an eagle-eyed golfer. During the 70's, the 80`s and into the first half of the 90's, golf courses shot-up all along Portugal's south-coast. The whole region became increasingly striking to visitors from around northern Europe, who came in search of sun, sand and a stroll around a golf green, while swinging an iron.

There are currently more than twenty golf courses in the space of 100 miles of coastline and more are being constructed. All these courses are within one and a half hours' drive of Faro Airport.

The Algarve has a reputation for lots of fresh seafood and fish dishes. Swordfish is a particular favourite along with squid, gourmet lobster and clams.

The Portuguese have a culture of dining out into the earlier hours and the region offers a wide choice of restaurants, offering a wonderful selection of meat and fish dishes, washed down with a lovely bottle of local wine. 

Best Time to Visit

The Algarve is truly a year round destination. Spring and summer is lovely and long, while the winter is short but mild.

The region has the best climate in Portugal, with temperatures fluctuating between 15 and 31 °C, during the summer months of June, July, August and September.

Winter starts on the 21st of December and ends on the 19th of March, and whilst there is snow and negative temperatures in the northern areas of the country, in the Algarve the temperature never falls below zero during the winter, which is a great time to make use of cheaper accommodation prices.

In the Algarve, the locals boast that the sun rises and sets for the tourist, as the region is extremely geared up for the tourism trade.

In the high season the resorts are very crowded, with holidaymakers strolling along the many splendid beaches, searching for that perfect tan.

Getting There

Air travel is certainly the most comfortable and fastest way to get to the sun drenched Algarve. Faro airport is only three hours from most European destinations, with many low-cost airlines flying to the airport, which has a network of motorways leading to the regions towns and cities.

Travelling by train is also an option, since Portugal is part of the European rail network and can easily be reached from most of the European capitals.

Finally, you can reach the Algarve through the many ports and marinas spread all along the south Portugal coast.

The government have plans in place to improve the Algarve's infrastructure and transport links, in an attempt to make the whole area more accessible. Hotels and similar accommodation will be modernized and staff will be fully trained, so service and comfort will be of a higher standard. These are areas that need addressing, but also the plan will incorporate enhancing the regions already established assets, such as sun, beach and golf facilities.

Top Tourist Destinations

Faro

Faro is the provincial capital of the Algarve and a thriving university town.

The city has both Arab and Roman ruins but most of the present attractive older buildings were constructed after the disastrous earthquake of both 1755 and 1532.

There's more to this place than just the airport, with a long sandy beach and a wonderful marina.

Particularly interesting is the old part of the city surrounded still by the Roman walls, which date back to the 9^th century and the macabre spectacle of a chapel lined with the bones from over a thousand monks.

Albufeira

In recent years Albufeira has grown from a tiny fishing village to become the most popular holiday resort on the Algarve.

A fine selection of  beaches extend east and west from the town and for the sun-seeker that also likes some culture, there is a small museum of 15th and 17th century Ming ceramics and a Municipal art gallery that holds regular exhibitions during the season.

A new Marina has been completed on the west side of the town and offers an alternative to the beach bathing and museum monitoring.

As the sun sets and the beaches empty, the city centre changes its character and a copious collection of bars, restaurants and clubs start to fill-up with people looking to relax after a hard days stint in the sun.

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