The Algarve
Given its 300 days of sunshine a year and 200-kilometre-long coastline, home to many of the country’s safest and loveliest beaches, it’s hardly surprising that the Algarve is Portugal’s most popular holiday destination.
Most visitors arrive in Faro and head straight to their resort, but the old town is worth exploring, with its narrow lanes, historic churches and picturesque harbour. East of Faro, the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa stretches towards Spain, a stunning landscape of sandbanks, reefs and islands home to diverse wildlife and traditional fishing communities. From Olhão, a hub for local art, and charming Tavira, boat trips reveal the park’s unspoiled beauty.
Between Faro and Lagos, the Algarve’s central coast boasts luxurious resorts, yacht-filled marinas, world-class golf courses and Michelin-starred dining. West of Vilamoura, dramatic cliffs and hidden coves give way to Praia da Falesia’s vast golden sands. Inland, Silves’ Moorish castle recalls the region’s rich history, its name, al-Gharb, a legacy of the Moors.
Further west, the coast grows wilder, ending at Sagres, where Prince Henry the Navigator trained explorers in the 15th century. Stand on the cliffs at Cape St Vincent and it still feels like the edge of the world.
-
Conrad Algarve
Modelled on an 18th-century Portuguese palace with Moorish undertones, this crisp white contemporary hotel is light-filled and luxurious, with a wonderful appreciation for art. Add a choice of pools for all ages, a lavish spa and [...]
View Hotel -
Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve
With stunning gardens that run down to a private sandy beach, no fewer than five swimming pools and one of the world’s best Thalassotherapy centres, Vilalara Grand Hotel remains one of the finest resorts in Portugal’s Algarve. [...]
View Hotel -
Pine Cliffs, a Luxury Collection Resort
Surrounded by lush pine forests from which it takes its name, Pine Cliffs, a Luxury Collection Resort, is one of Portugal’s leading holiday hotspots. A firm favourite with families and luxury travellers, this sweeping coastal pr [...]
View Hotel
