I love Portugal and have been on holiday there many times over the past number of years. The south coast, which makes up the Algarve, has beautiful beaches, great hotels and apartments and small villages to explore. It is very family friendly and has activities for all ages from riding, biking and water sports to just lying in the sun by the pool. It has top class golf courses and for people who like more privacy there are lots of Villas with private pools to rent. For a small country Portugal offers a diversity of holiday choices with immensely varied regions. Beyond the popular resorts there are many interesting day trips. It is my favourite short haul destination in Europe.
Even in the busiest resorts in the Algarve, it only takes a short journey by car to reveal rarely visited places that still offer the feeling of discovery. Here are a few of my favourite places to visit.
Tavira, on the Eastern Algarve, is ideal for strolling: it’s warren of cobblestone streets hide shady plazas and patisseries, and despite the growing number of tourists, there’s still a small, active fishing port. The town lies 3km from the coast, near the beautiful and unspoilt beaches of Ilha de Tavira. A great fun way to pass an afternoon is to take the tourist train around the town or do boat trip to visit the famous lagoon. The kids will love it.
Lagos is a fantastic town in the western Algarve that can be enjoyed by all age groups. The older part of Lagos is still circled by the city walls that were constructed during the 16th century when it was the residence of the governors of the Algarve. Lagos is certainly full of history, but it is also a vibrant town with lots going on - in the middle of town, is a square called Praça de Gil Eanes and this is often the setting for evening entertainment throughout the year - a comical unicyclist, live music or a medieval fair are just some of the events we have enjoyed. Nightlife here is among the best in the Algarve, with a variety of lounges, bars and restaurants catering to families, surfers, and those on the search of some romance. Lagos’ setting is undeniably beautiful: breathtaking cliffs, wide golden sands and natural bays and 4 km beaches.
Monchique is a market town up in the Serra de Monchique, which is a thickly wooded mountain range separating the Algarve from Alentejo. The journey up to Monchique offers spectacular views and is totally different from coastal Algarve. The houses in Monchique are typically Algarvean with their white walls and bands of colour around the windows and doors. It is a great day trip if the weather is too hot as it is much cooler than the coast. This is a great region for biking, walking or horse riding. If you're not feeling energetic, there's a spa hidden in woodland and a wonderful private zoo for endangered species.
When on holiday in the Algarve try and get to visit Lisbon and Porto, both are in the north of Portugal. It is possible to visit these cities on a day trip and they are magical places to wander around in, with riverside views, cobblestone streets and rattling trams. Catching a fado performance is a 'must-do' for visitors to Lisbon. These operatic folk songs about love, death and longing can be enthralling. One of my favourite places to wander is down through Alfama's steep, narrow, cobblestoned streets and catch a glimpse of the more traditional side of Lisbon before it disappears.
Portugal has a warm and sunny climate, with mild winters. Summer temperatures in the Algarve can top 30°C, Portugal’s high season runs from mid-June to mid-September, when temperatures across the country average around 27°C. The year-round warm temperatures in the Algarve make it an ideal destination for spring and autumn breaks, when it’s still warm but the summer crowds have dispersed.
If you haven't been to Portugal, consider it sometime. It is beautiful and somewhat affordable in comparison to other European trips. Portugal offers great food, great people and great beaches for a great holiday.
