There’s more to the Algarve than beaches and sunshine
By Louise Taylor, Travel Writer
There are plenty of reasons to visit Portugal’s Algarve. Many people immediately think of beaches when Portugal’s southernmost region is mentioned – and for good reason. With over 200 km of coastline, the Algarve is home to more than a hundred beaches. These range from huge expanses of sand, where doughnut sellers deliver to your lounger and hireable pedalos with slides bob about in the waves, to windswept island beaches with barely a soul to be seen.
But beaches are just one part of the Algarve’s story. The region is home to a variety of landscapes, a rich culinary history, world-class golf facilities and charming towns that invite you to meander around their narrow, twisting streets.
Did you know, for example, that the Algarve is home to 336 named mountains? Certainly, they won’t be winning any “world’s tallest” awards. You can climb the highest, Fóia, in a few hours with little more needed than sturdy walking boots and a bottle of water. Yet they provide a dramatically different experience of the Algarve than you get from just laying on a beach – along with some spectacular views across the lush greenery of the landscape.
That lush greenery, along with the Algarve’s abundant sunshine (the region enjoys 300+ sunny days per year) lends itself beautifully to the provision of world-class golf courses. The fairways of resorts such as Vale De Lobo and Palmares Ocean Living & Golf are familiar to many of the world’s top players, as well as those who make Portugal their destination of choice for golfing breaks.
The Algarve also has a growing (and very well-deserved) reputation for its gastronomy. Its coastal setting provides a wealth of seafood, while the land is dotted with orange, olive and fig groves, as well as swathes of almond, carob and bay trees, among others. The local honey, jams and bread are also not to be missed. Chef Louis Anjos, who heads up the team at the Michelin-starred Al Sud restaurant, which overlooks the sparkling waters of the Algarve’s Alvor Estuary, comments:
“I feel privileged to be able to look at the Alvor side and to have the best oysters, the best razor clams and clams. The fish that comes to us from the Lota de Sagres is magnificent and our Algarve prawns are of unparalleled quality, as is our crab from Carrapateira. Other regional specialities include pork and corn from the Monchique mountains, as well as local raspberries and carbs for some stunning, locally focused desserts.”
Price is also part of the appeal for many of those who visit the Algarve. The cost of living in Portugal is 28.1% lower than it is in the UK, according to the latest data from Numbeo. That means that everything from a meal out to the price of a hotel room can feel like excellent value to those who are used to paying UK prices. Indeed, the Post Office Holiday Money Report 2023 has just identified the Algarve as the cheapest holiday destination in the Eurozone, as well as the fifth cheapest globally.
That said, the Algarve is far from only being an option for cheap breaks. The region has a wealth of luxurious amenities, from high-end restaurants and beach clubs to exclusive spas and boutiques that will delight those looking for a spot of retail therapy while on holiday.
Accommodation options also suit all budgets, ranging from glamping campervans and quaint wooden cabins, through hotels of every calibre to a range of superior second homes for sale. The Signature Apartments at Palmares Ocean Living & Golf is a prime example of the latter. Designed by Pritzker Prize winners RCR Arquitectes, the homes are ideally located not just for the on-site 27-hole golf course and award-winning clubhouse but also for access to the long expanse of beach at Meia Praia, just 700 metres away. They have been designed in harmony with nature, with a low build density and an approach that blends the apartments beautifully with the greenery of the setting and the backdrop of the ocean. Prices start from €600,000, while a select number of Signature Apartments are also available to rent. There is a shared pool and landscaped garden for those renting the apartments to enjoy during their stay.
For many, another key point in the Algarve’s favour is its easy accessibility from the UK. Flights from airports up and down the UK connect with Faro airport year-round, with many offering additional flights and routes during the summer months. This makes it easy to access the Algarve’s extensive charms – as well as it’s beautiful beaches – no matter where you may be based.
