Algarve Holiday
The Algarve has tempted holiday-makers, to its sun kissed beaches for many years - its temperate air currents and gentle sloping beaches make for an alluring combination of ingredients. The shoreline is clearly stunning - lengthy beaches of yellow sand are lapped by energizing seas and red sandstone cliffs hide away charming bays.
"Renowned for its bright and breezy atmosphere, world class golf courses and long swathes of golden sands, the Algarve is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Continent".
Algarve Holiday - Beaches
The Algarve is home to one of the world's most excellent shorelines - 103 miles of gold sandy beaches kept spotless by the Atlantic Ocean - thought of by most as the greatest in Europe. Sheltered bays lined by red sand stone rock face give way to almost infinite golden beaches while the tepid seas of the Mediterranean are just right for snorkeling and swimming. The shoreline west of Faro is stony, with orange-yellow colored cliffs, delightful bays and secluded coves. To the east of Faro there are islands just offshore, straighter and longer beaches, blue lagoons and warmer seas.
Shopping
The main shopping centers are in Faro's Rua de Santo Antonio and in Portimao where you'll discover sophisticated boutiques, elegant stores and designer goods. Local markets are held in towns and villages, such as the delightful craft market of Monchique, a quaint town sitting at the foot of a wooded hillside. Wander through its cobbled streets and peruse the stalls laden with handmade curios and mementos. Basket weaving is very popular and you can find beautiful bread and fruit baskets, shopping bags, laundry baskets, table mats and the like.
Nightlife
The night life in the Algarve can range from a night of dancing beneath multi-colored disco lights to unrushed evenings with long dinners under the stars, so it depends if you are after parties or romance but you will find a resort that's perfectly suited to you. Praia da Rocha's major boulevard is busy with other holiday-makers enjoying the exceptional variety of restaurants, clubs and bars. There is also a casino so if you feel lucky, you could try a hand. Alvor is slightly low-key, nothing like Albufeira and Sao Joao where you will find the renowned 'Strip' with a wealth of restaurants, discos and lively open-air bars.
Away from the shore, quiet towns and villages interpose on flourishing hillsides and offer a charming look into Portuguese culture while the well developed sea-front resorts overflow with restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and nightclubs. The Algarve lies in a wonderful summer climate, often adjusted by uplifting Atlantic breezes. Head for the high cliffs in the west and watch the breakers crashing on the rocky headlands. Look out too for majestic cliff top forts that once guarded the coast, and isolated lighthouses that still guide ships safely on their way.
Local Specialities
Food in the Algarve is cheerful, pastoral and bold, with fresh fish featured on many menus. Sample the local adaptation of paella - "arroz de marisco" - with clams, prawns, onions, rice, peppers and tomatoes, or try the highly spiced North African motivated chicken - "frango piri piri". "Cataplana" is a delicious dish of pork, tomatoes, onions, and garlic, steamed in an exclusive copper pot, which also make personalized gifts. 'Armaguinaha' - a regional liqueur made with almond can be enjoyed with ice and a slice of lemon or neat. 'Medronho', the local firewater of the Algarve, made from a fruit which is a relative of the wild strawberry, is high in alcohol and not for the faint hearted!