The golden sandy beaches of the Algarve stretch across the southern shores of Portugal, and the rugged landscapes and year-round sun provide a warm welcome for a family holiday.
British holidaymakers have been visiting the Algarve for many years, not only to play on one of the many golf courses but also to enjoy the serene waters and the beautiful beaches. The resorts of the Algarve are stretched out for many miles across the coastline, although this can make some transfer times uncomfortably long.
The traditional village setting of Porches is a charming backdrop for a wonderful family holiday and is only around 45 minutes transfer time from Faro. Packed with wonderful ceramic workshops, the resort is close to the busier resort of Carvoeiro.
Purpose-built but upmarket, Vilamoura leaves its visitors wanting for nothing and can offer everything a family holiday could possibly desire – from six golf courses to over 50 tennis courts and from sailing to a casino. This is also one of the closest resorts to the airport.
Albufeira is one of the most popular Algarve resorts and is home to all of the diverse entertainment that naturally goes with a bustling summer hotspot. The old town offers a range of tempting bars and restaurants and very close by sits the stunning beach at Praia d’Oura. With something for everyone, Albufeira is a fantastic family holiday destination, around 1 hour from the airport.
Close to Albufeira, but small, cosy and relaxed, lies Santa Eulalia with its golden sandy beaches and sandstone outcrops. This is a haven for those looking for a relaxed family holiday that focuses on peace and quiet and heavenly seafood.
A little further from the airport, approximately 2 hours transfer time, are the resorts of Praia do Vau, Alvor and Praia da Rocha. The first two of these are relaxed and the nightlife fairly low-key but are close enough to Praia da Rocha, the second largest resort in the Algarve, to have good access to a wide range of activities from sporting to water to entertainment.
Lagos and Praia du Luz, typically over 2.5 hours from the airport, are pretty with cliff-backed beaches that are ususally uncrowded.
Nightlife in the Algarve depends upon the resort – whilst everywhere has plenty of bars to choose from it is the larger resorts of Praia da Rocha and Albufeira that offers the greatest diversity. Local attractions in the Algarve are generally focused on watersports and golf.