travel tips | algarve (eng.)

ALGARVE

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Situated in southern Portugal, the Algarve is one of the most beautiful regions in the world. Stretching out for more than 200 km, its coastline takes in beautiful beaches, nature reserves, golf courses, historical cities, picturesque villages and a variety of tourist attractions. It is considered one of Portugal’s best tourist regions. Its climate is tropical with Mediterranean influences, featuring long summers and mild winters.

The Algarve is divided into 16 municipalities and counties: Aljezur, Vila do Bispo, Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, Monchique, Silves, Albufeira, Faro, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Olhão, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Castro Marim and Alcoutim. Each county is an important tourist

destination, richly endowed with the natural beauty of the Algarve distributed across the coast, the mountain ranges and the limestone “Barrocal” zone.

The architecture of Algarve houses with their colourful parapets and chimneys, the bell-towers of churches and museums, all illustrate the originality of Algarve culture.

The capital city of the region, Faro, is home to some fascinating Medieval Portuguese architecture in addition to an international airport which is located close the main resorts.

Due to its geographical location, the Algarve climate is influenced by southern European

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and North African weather conditions and by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The climate and temperatures remain pleasant all year round in the Algarve – they range between 15° C and 35° C. Its climate is one of the best in Europe and it is considered. Hence, Algarve the ideal place to take a holiday.

Though tourists can visit the Algarve at any time of the year, summer is the best time to discover its beaches because of the great number of special attractions to be found in July and September, including the International Sand Sculpture Festival which features a different theme each year, the Olhos de Água Sardine Festival and the Festival Verão Azul, or Blue Summer Festival, among many others.

Explore the Algarve and discover its charms. It is a tourist destination that offers a wealth of natural beauty, in addition to history, cultural traditions, sports, a pleasant climate and unforgettable experiences.

TRANSPORT

Various means of transport are on hand to explore the Algarve’s most beautiful areas. The best option is to rent a car, but many trips can be undertaken by bus and cities can be reached by train.

BY CARThe best option for getting around in the Algarve is to rent a vehicle from a reputable car hire firm. Most companies offer new cars and current models for hire. Motorists must


be at least 21 years of age to rent a car in the Algarve. Insurance to cover theft and accidents is optional.

BY BUSBuses are a practical, inexpensive and comfortable way to travel around the Algarve region. All buses display their destination at the front. You can find timetables on the EVA bus service’s website.

BY TRAINThe railway network is called “Comboios de Portugal”. Trains are a fast, comfortable and inexpensive way to explore the Algarve region. Train journeys feature some magnificent landscapes, such as the mountains and valleys of Baixo Alejo. It is the best transport option for travelling from Lisbon to the Algarve.

ATTRACTIONS

Get ready to discover the wonderful beaches and attractions that the Algarve has to offer its visitors.

Enjoy the pleasant climate of its beaches and take the opportunity to try some sports, take walks, visit historical sites, go shopping, dine in seafront restaurants or dance in fashionable nightclubs.

PRAIA DA FALÉSIASituated in the Vilamoura region, the beach at Praia da Falésia is well known for its beautiful stretch of golden sands and for the red cliffs that form part of its delightful landscape. It is


a beach that offers great conditions for water sports such as kite surfing and jet skiing. In addition to enjoying days of sun and sand, the various historical villages that feature traditional Arabic architecture are also worth a visit.

OLHÃOThe city of Olhão is known for its fishing tradition and is home to the Algarve’s main fishing ports. It has many cultural attractions and festivals and features various islands in addition to shopping and leisure facilities in its commercial area, all of which attracts many tourists in all seasons.

ZOOMARINE THEME PARKLocated in Albufeira, the Zoomarine park is accessed from national highway 125 heading towards Guia and its “swim-with-dolphins” experience and aquatic shows are a delight for tourists of all ages. Visitors can come into close contact with sea lions, seals and birds of prey in addition to enjoying the 4D cinema, tropical island and swimming pool in the leisure area.

SERRA DE MONCHIQUEThe Monchique mountain range or “Serra de Monchique” is located in the western part of the Algarve and has the highest peak in the region, Pico da Foia, which is 902 m high. It is a nature resort full of oak and pine trees. It has an unrivalled view of the entire region. Definitely worth a visit!

PRAIA DA ROCHALocated in Portimão, Praia da Rocha is one of the most famous and longest beaches of the Algarve and attracts thousands of tourists all year round. Its name is derived from the many rocks that lie between the sandy beach

and the sea. It has a wide variety of seafront bars and restaurants.

PRAIA DONA ANALocated in Lagos, Praia Dona Ana is quite simply wonderful. It is a beach of singular beauty with crystal clear waters surrounded by golden rocks forming part of its amazing landscape.

RIA FORMOSA NATURE RESERVEThe Ria Formosa nature reserve is a natural paradise, lying between land and sea, and covering 18,000 hectares. It is an internationally reputed wetland area that offers a rich habitat for flora and fauna. The most commonly found bird species are the flamingo, the buzzard, the woodcock and the kingfisher. The rarest species found in this region is the purple swamp hen, which has a purple-blue plumage with a red beak and red feet. A local variety of chameleons can also be found in this area. The Ria Formosa nature reserve can be explored along its many trails or on a slow boat ride.

CASTELO DE SILVESCastelo de Silves, or the Silves Castle, is one of the region’s most significant tourist attractions. It is considered the best preserved national monument in the Algarve. The castle’s architecture features thick walls with 11 towers spanning a total of 12,000 square meters. It was built by Arabs in the 11th century and showcases the splendour attained by the Islamic civilization in its conquest of the Algarve. The Castle’s massive main gate is accessed from the Medina and is protected by a guardhouse. Inside there is a huge rectangular-shaped cistern called the “Aljibe”, which supplied water to the city. It has a relaxing garden and underground food stores


accessed through small openings at ground level. The Moorish Cistern with its four vaulted ceilings supported on columns is reminiscent of Moorish legends and the Cistern of the Dogs, a well 60 meters deep, brings to mind the history and culture of the Moorish era.

VALE DO LOBO, QUINTA DO LAGO AND VILAMOURAVale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura are together known as the “Golden Triangle” and comprise the most luxurious areas of the Algarve with magnificent landscapes. Due to its splendid golfing facilities, it is the most sought after region for golfers. The Royal Golf Course in Vale do Lobo, one of the most sophisticated golf courses in the world, features the world-famous sixteenth hole, Europe’s most photographed golfing hole.

MARINA DE VILAMOURAMarina de Vilamoura is one of the most fashionable and sophisticated areas of the Algarve. It has a wide variety of restaurants, shops and bars. A boat trip is strongly recommended, followed by walking trails, cycling and golf, among other activities. It is the ideal place for those who want to experience the region’s famous nightlife, with great music and beautiful people.

WHERE TO STAY

The Algarve offers a wide variety of hotels, resorts, hostels and holidays apartments to rent. The best places to stay are in the areas that are considered liveliest by day and by

night, Albufeira and Vilamoura. Luxury resorts can be found in Quarteira and in Armação de Pêra, traditionally a fishing village and now a tourist area. Lagos and Monte Gordo are great places for visitors of all ages with many hotels located close to the beaches and offering many tourist attractions.

The best option, in any of these areas, is to rent an apartment for three or more people. It is best to book accommodation a few months before your trip, depending on the region you choose.

Hotel options include the Hotel Algarve Casino (Praia da Rocha, Faro), Tivoli Marina (Vilamoura), Pestana Alvor Praia (Praia dos Três Irmãos), Hotel Santa Eulália Albufeira (Albufeira), Sollagos Apartamentos (Lagos) and Monte Gordo Hotel (Monte Gordo).

DINING OUT

The cuisine of the Algarve is rich with a variety of fish, seafood and shellfish.

Typical regional dishes include roasted sardines served with potato and vegetables, omelettes, salads and steak with a mushroom sauce or piri-piri chicken. Some of the most traditional dishes of the Algarve include cod, fish stew and “cataplana”, an aromatic dish of clams. Figs, almonds, carob beans and “Medronho”, an arbutus-berry brandy distilled in old alembic stills in mountain-top distilleries, are also good examples of regional delicacies. Be sure to try the typical sweet-cake called, Dom Rodrigo, which is sold wrapped in coloured paper by all confectioners in the region.

Visitors can also find various restaurants serving Japanese, Mexican, Indian and Italian food in the Algarve outskirts.

Located in the Vilamoura marina, the Mayflower restaurant is considered one of the best restaurants in the Algarve. It serves a variety of delicious seafood dishes. The Cabana Fresca restaurant has an exceptional view, serves typical dishes and is located on Praia dos Pescadores in Albufeira. The traditional 2 Irmãos restaurant in Faro is also worth a visit.

SHOPPING

A wide array of establishments can be found for shopping and leisure in the Algarve. A huge variety of stores are accommodated by the region’s five main shopping centres: O Forum Algarve, Algarve Shopping, Aqua Portimão, Gran-Plaza and Ria Shopping.

FORUM ALGARVELocated in Faro, Forum Algarve was the Algarve’s first open-air shopping centre. It is located close to the most popular areas of the resort triangle formed by Faro, Loulé and Olhão, which facilitates access to shopping. Its original design is based on the historic city centre, with a central square in the open-air. It has 119 stores representing many brands and 23 restaurants. Forum Algarve has received various awards acknowledging the design innovation, quality and differentiation that it offers visitors.

ALGARVE SHOPPINGLocated in Albufeira, Algarve Shopping is a


lovely, inviting place to shop in the open air. Its original architecture represents the style of the Algarve region.

Many stores representing various local and international brands can be found. It has cinemas, restaurants, a variety of stores and a play area for children. It is open from 10am to 11pm in the off-peak holiday season from October to June and from 10am to midnight in the Summer and peak holiday season (July, August, September and December).

AQUA PORTIMÃOLocated in the prestigious Portimão area, the Aqua Portimão shopping centre is the largest shopping centre in the Western Algarve. In particular it houses a Jumbo hypermarket, a Primark store and an H&M store, where many products can be found. Various fitness and kids’ leisure activities are offered.

GRAN-PLAZALocated in Tavira, this is one of the largest shopping centres in the Algarve. Its architectural design, inspired by the Mediterranean, is unusual with a tree-lined walkway. The shopping centre has a supermarket, various restaurants, cinemas, and masses of fashion and home decoration stores.

RIA SHOPPINGLocated in the city of Olhão, the Ria Shopping centre has a modern and innovative architectural design with various stores representing national and international brands in addition to restaurants and cinemas.

STREET MARKETSThe Algarve street markets are the ideal place to buy souvenirs, fruit, typical foodstuffs, drinks and craftwork.

In the summer period, you will find themed street festivals taking place in the Rua do Cais in Tavira, and in Albufeira, Alejzur, Loulé and Faro. The main market is the Loulé street market, next to Largo de Gago Coutinho, which takes place on Saturdays.

CURRENCYThe currency used in the Algarve, in the rest of Portugal and in most of Europe is the Euro (€). There are 7 banknotes: 5,10,20, 100, 200 and 500 euros, and 8 coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 euros.

A variety of cashpoint machines can be found throughout the region, identified by the initials “MB” (Multibanco). Most establishments accept credit and debit cards (Visa, Amex, Mastercard, Diners Club and Euro-Cheque).

Travellers cheques are not recommended as the currency exchange rate charged is rather high.

112 EMERGENCY SERVICES

POLICE/FIRE BRIGADE

289 416 702 04

HOSPITALS:

LAGOS

282 763 034PORTIMÃO

282 450 300FARO

289 803 411

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

LAGOS

282 763 031SAGRES

282 624 873ALJEZUR

282 998 229

FARO AIRPORT

289 800 800

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

travel tips | algarve (eng.)

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