Ten Top Algarve Holiday Destinations from West Algarve to East Algarve

Everyone has their own personal favourite Algarve holiday destination. Some like the busy bars and happening nightlife of Carvoeiro and Albufeira. Some prefer the peace and quiet of the Algarve coast’s secluded coves, some like nothing better than lying in the sun, relaxing with a good book and others, particularly those with young children, like the organised excursions and adventure playgrounds. People love Algarve holidays for a host of different reasons. Here are just a few ideas to help you decide on the ideal location for your next family holiday in the Algarve.

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Sagres

Sagres, in western Algarve, is the most southwesterly resort destination in the Algarve. It is relatively untouched by tourism compared to the likes of Luz and Carvoeiro further east along the coast, but it does attract its own particular breed of tourist.

The tourist here is less likely to be concerned about getting a tan and much more likely to worry about when the next big wave is coming in. Here the “tourists” prefer wet suits to linen ones and spend more time applying wax to their boards than their chests. This, if you like, is the business end of the Algarve. Cocktails give way to energy drinks and steaks, to pasta and jacket spuds. They might have fun lying around in the sun further east but here, it’s all about catching the wave and having the energy to do it properly.

Luz

Families with small children may like the safe, clean beaches of Luz. Praia da Luz is the beach at Luz in western Algarve. Not the western Algarve of the surfer and adrenaline junkie, but the western Algarve of the pedalo and banana boat. Add this to the miles and miles of soft sandy beach that are available here and you have the perfect recipe for a fun filled beach family holiday. You can lie around on the beach to your heart’s content, knowing the kids are under the constant supervision of the beach lifeguard and that if/when they get peckish, you are never to far from a restaurant, bar, café or ice cream vendor. Praia da Luz is the ideal resort location for young family holidays. Everything is close at hand including supermarkets, shops and banks.

Lagos

Lagos in western Algarve is full of history. The older part of the town is still encircled by city walls that were built during the 16th century when it was the residence of the governors of the Algarve and there is evidence of more of Lagos’ history all over town. That said, Lagos has very definitely moved with the times and today’s Lagos is as vibrant and lively a place as you could wish for.

Restaurants and cafes abound in the tiny streets off Praça de Gil Eanes, which is the main town square and there are loads of bars that stay open until the early hours. In the summer, the town and its modern marina really come to life and people of all ages mill about, enjoying themselves and enjoying the party atmosphere. Lagos has a large marina which can berth more than 450 vessels. It has been awarded both the Euromarina Anchor Award and the Blue Flag award and with its variety of shops, bars and restaurants, it has an atmosphere all its own, together with great views of the boats.

Alvor

The 1960’s was the time when Alvor, like most of the Algarve began to witness tourism. Since then it has undergone a steady flow of development but this has been carefully monitored by the authorities so as not to lessen the area’s appeal. Alvor can still boast a charming old town with narrow cobbled streets which wend their way down to the harbour.

The riverfront in Alvor has had a face-lift in recent times and is now fully paved and lined with palm trees. Several bars exist offering plenty of outside seating for those endless summer days and balmy evenings. The riverfront is lovely and watching the fishing boats as they offload their daily catch, mostly to the local restaurants, is a delight, especially as you know that one of those barbecued beauties will land on your plate very soon.

Portimao
The largest town in western Algarve, Portimao is a busy town and perfect for the family who just don’t want to run out of anything. There are a myriad of shops here, selling everything from a bucket and spade to a jar of olives. There are gift shops and clothes shops aplenty, some of which you’ll recognise from British shopping malls and there are even hardware and garden furniture stores.

Portimão’s architecture is a mix of late 19th, early 20th century in the older part of town but the ice cream coloured high rise apartment blocks which are dotted about the place are obviously a little more modern. Bars, restaurants and café’s are in no short supply either. You can sit outside at the pavement tables enjoying a bite to eat or a drink as you watch the world go by. A modern marina now joins Praia da Rocha which is the main beach of Portimao and has become a tourist resort in its own right. The marina sees many boats at anchor and its development has given rise to yet more bars and restaurants, many of which are of a very high quality.

Carvoeiro

Originally a traditional fishing village, like many others on the Algarve coast, Carvoeiro has become very popular with tourists and has grown accordingly. The old part of town, the original village has been expanded upon and built around, to accommodate the increasing demand for residential property in the area and the reason for this, quite simply, is the small beach, Praia do Carvoeiro and its surrounding rocky inclines are beautiful.

With plenty of shops, you can source whatever you need in terms of groceries and household items in the town centre or just outside at one of the larger supermarkets and as far as nightlife is concerned; Carvoeiro is well served with bars and restaurants but it is not the place for nightclubs.

Albufeira

One for the young adults this; Albufeira is a party town. Benefiting from more than 3000 hours of sunshine every year, it seems that the summer is never really over here and that the party season lasts all year. The atmosphere that pervades the town is one of fun and excitement and small wonder really, as the town is jam packed with bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets.

Unlike Luz, Albufeira does not have just one beach by which it is known, there are several, all within easy reach of the town centre. There’s the Praia do Peneco with its wide promenade lined with restaurants that look out onto the beach. There are look out posts which are great for sightseeing and row upon row of sunbeds, ideal for catching some rays. Then there is Fisherman’s Beach or Praia dos Pescadores. Here, unlike at the majority of Albufeira beaches, there area no rocks, the water is clear and the place is quiet and relaxing. Then there's Praia do Inatel, a beach that is named after the Inatel tourist complex, which overlooks the sea at the beach’s eastern end. The Praia dos Alamães, Praia das Areias de São João, Praia dos Aveiros and the Praia da Oura all go to round off the list of Albufeira beaches and as many as there are, they are responsible for just five of the Algarve’s 155km coastline.

Vilamoura

There isn’t much about Vilamoura, aside from the weather that is typically Portuguese but if you want to see how the Portuguese do luxury accommodation in the Algarve, this is the place to come. It is arguably the most impressive resort of its kind in Europe and one of the best in all of Portugal. There are luxurious villas and apartments and townhouses with picture perfect views of the coast or of manicured golf courses.

There is a gorgeous marina, which is lined with high-end designer shops, quality restaurants and trendy bars, and as you’d expect of this location, the marina itself is full to bursting with expensive yachts and gin palaces. Vilamoura offers something for everyone, boat trips can be arranged for those that don’t own one of their own and if you’re feeling fit and fancy a trek, you can embark on one of the specially designed walking or biking tours of the area, safe in the knowledge that a cocktail awaits your return.

Olhao

Olhão is the largest fishing port in the Algarve and you can look at the town in two ways; you can see it as a busy, industrial port town or as a very pleasing water front facing village type environ with a delightful promenade which is lined with trees offering cool respite from the heat of the sun. At once, Olhao is both these things, it just depends which way you look.

The town of Olhao is well known for its large fish markets. The produce, which comes fresh off the boat in the port, is lined up alongside colourful locally grown vegetables and fruit, creating an array of sights and smells and all around the markets are little pavement café’s, great to sit out and enjoy the sights and sounds of this bustling arena.

Tavira

Tavira tries hard to avoid the march of progress and tourism, preferring instead to cling to its traditions and live life at a more genteel pace. That said, the market hall on the river has been re-vamped and is now home to several shops, cafes and restaurants, which have been arranged around a central space, regularly used for exhibitions and special events.

This very attractive town boasts some grand old buildings which reflect its
wealthy past and these can be found around the Praça da República. Off of the square you’ll find rows of typical Portuguese 'town' houses along narrow cobbled streets a good number of shops to browse around and some very pretty little squares to sit and relax in.

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