During July and August more flights will be offered to Faro.
Wrap up warm and take a bracing walk on the wild western side of the Algarve. Explore the bays between Lagos and Sagres and witness the tremendous power of the Atlantic. There are plenty of tiny bars and cafes to warm up in along the way.
Be sure to stop in Aljezur, a mecca for surfers. Caldas de Monchique is a tiny village midway up the mountain of Foia, the highest point in the Algarve. It's the source of Monchique mineral water and you can see the production centre in action. If you're peckish, be sure to sample the bread - the village bar staff bake it in a communal outdoor oven.
Continue up Foia to enjoy lunch in one of the famous piri-piri restaurants - the views are spectacular. Tavira in the eastern Algarve is an appealing combination of attractive 18th century houses and bustling shopping streets. Bargain hunters should look out for painted tiles, lace tablecloths, snug sheepskin slippers and shell art. There is also a handicraft market on the waterfront.
This video is presented to you by Turismo Algarve
Faro and the central algarve
Introduction
From classy beach bars to rustic
restaurants serving great fresh fish,
seafood and other local specialities,
the Algarve’s busiest and most
cosmopolitan region is an area
of sharp contrasts.
Hotels
If your kids are pre-schoolers,
September could be the best time for
a family holiday at the Sheraton Algarve
(Praia da Falesia, Albufeira, tel. 289
500100, sheratonalgarve.com, rooms
from €150). With an extensive range
of activities and facilities, including
beach, golf, tennis, spa treatments and
supervised kids’ clubs, it gives everybody
the chance to relax. Its quieter sister
property, Pine Cliffs Residence (suites
from €250), boasts luxury apartment
suites offering flexibility and freedom.
Cultural
Uncover the secrets of the
classic Portuguese copper cooking pot
cataplana at The Cataplana Experience
(Vilamoura Marina, 1-5 September),
a gastronomy festival featuring
demonstrations, food tasting and market
stalls. September is also international
jazz month in the Algarve, with concerts
by Jean-Luc Ponty in Silves (4) and Archie
Shepp in Albufeira (12) among others.
Restaurants
The Norwegian chef at Albatroz
(Dunas Douradas Beach Club, Vale
do Lobo, tel. 289 351300) brings a Scandinavian slant to the menu at
this family-friendly beach restaurant,
including gravlax, toast skagen with
prawns, and steamed salmon in butter
sauce. For authentic Portuguese cuisine,
Flor de Sal (Rua do Vale Formoso,
Almancil, tel. 289 355182) is noted for
its fresh produce and quirky service
– you won’t find many places where the
chef brings in clams straight from the
sea, still wearing a snorkel and mask.
Pubs
There’s a new look for the
‘barefoot luxury’ of Vila Joya’s beach
bar (Praia do Xiringuito, Galé), the
perfect place to relax, meet friends
and watch the sun go down.
Night Clubs
The smart and refined Dolce Bar
(Estrada da Falesia, Vilamoura) is a new
club that’s fast gaining a reputation for
its stylish themed parties.
Shops
For unique gifts or classy home
furnishings, browse the vast collection
at interiors and antiques specialist
Casa Sonho (28 Rua do Comerçio,
Almancil), which offers international
shipping. Or eat your way around the
Algarve with gourmet food from local
producers at Good Mood Food (43-44
Municipal Market, Loulé).
Further afield – eastern algarve
Introduction
Unspoiled Olhão is a reminder of
the way life used to be around
Portugal’s southern shores. Full
of charm and character, discover
an area that’s bound to be the
next must-visit destination.
Hotels
The new Real Marina Hotel
& Spa (Avenida 5 de Outubro, Olhão, tel.
289 091300, realhotelsgroup.com,
rooms from €130) brings five-star style
to the region, with a prime waterfront
position, thalassotherapy spa and
panoramic outdoor pool. The adjacent
Real Marina Residence is also part of
the new complex, offering 80 luxury
apartments with fully-equipped kitchens.
Cultural
Explore th e wildlife, lagoons,
salt marshes and outlying islands of the
Ria Formosa Nature Park with a boat
trip out of Olhão. For high-speed thrills
there’s the motor cruisers of Natura
(natura-algarve.com) or the gentler
option of the solar-powered boat
operated by Sunquays (sunquays.com).
Restaurants
There’s great fish and seafood at
O Bote (122 Avenida 5 de Outubro,
Olhão, tel. 289 721183), as you’d expect
from its busy waterfront location. Surf
and turf comes Portuguese-style at
Horta (146-148 Avenida 5 de Outubro,
Olhão, tel. 289 714215), where the pork
and clams combination is hard to beat.
Pubs
The pick of the town’s seafront
bars, Cantaloupe (Mercado de Verdura,
Olhão) attracts thirsty shoppers by day
and hosts sunset concerts on Sundays.
Population
Currency
Telephone
Faro International Airport
Bus: Eva Bus
connects the airport
with the city centre.
Services run every
30 minutes from
7.05am to 9.15pm.
The journey takes
20 minutes and a
return ticket costs
€4 while a single
ticket costs €1,55.
Train: A single journey
from the airport to
Faro for up to four
passengers costs
around €15 and
takes 15 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist
office is at 8-11 Rua
da Misericordia
(tel. 289 803604,
visitportugal.com).