Algarve

Algarve holidays and short breaks

Holidays to the Algarve have been popular with British holidaymakers for many years. Located in southern Portugal, Algarve holidays offer beautiful sandy beaches, excellent golf courses and a friendly ambience.

On holiday in the Algarve, you'll discover dramatic ochre cliffs which give way to deep green pine forests leading down to secluded coves and small fishing villages of white-washed houses. The area is awash with vibrant colours from tropical flowers to mosaic streets reflecting the Moorish and Roman influences, all waiting to be explored on your Algarve holiday. The region is covered with fig trees, orange groves and almond trees.

If you choose to stay in the main resorts’ modern Algarve hotels and apartment blocks there are lots of activities and some excellent sports facilities; and those in the Algarve are generally considered of a higher standard than most other European resorts. With hot summers and mild winters, enjoy a holiday to the Algarve at any time of the year. Holidays to the Algarve are ideal for couples and families. Car hire in the Algarve is a really good idea if you want to explore the region. The eastern coast of the Algarve offers idyllic deserted beaches and ancient towns with narrow cobbled streets and craft markets. Inland the green forested mountains and the old spa village at Monchique make for a relaxing day out, ideal for a change of scenery on your Algarve beach holiday.

Rather than booking a traditional package holiday to the Algarve, you may prefer to select one of the many Algarve hotels available, and combine it with a low cost flight to the Algarve to create your ideal Algarve holiday. If you are visiting friends or family, you may prefer to book a flight to the Algarve, without any accommodation at all.

If you would like more information about group holidays to the Algarve, active holidays to the Algarve or villa holidays to the Algarve, please call us today to speak to one of our travel advisors.

Exploring

Whilst on holiday in the Algarve, you might like to visit the home of Flamenco and Carmen on a daytrip to Seville or visit the lovely city of Lisbon. No Algarve holiday would be complete withouta visit to the former Moorish capital of the Algarve. Silves is worth visiting for its red stone castle with exceptional views; and there are Roman ruins near Vilamoura. Loule has a large country market where you can watch the lace makers and craftsmen at work.

For car hire in the Algarve, check out the latest deals on our homepage.

Beaches

An Algarve beach holiday is perfect for travellers of all ages. There are over 100 miles of gorgeous beaches to enjoy and explore, an Algarve beach holiday is ideal for a relaxing holiday.

Relaxing

You'll discover a holiday to the Algarve can be as laid back or active as you choose. Often described as a golfers’ paradise there is also tennis, horse-riding, cycling, big-game fishing, hiking and jeep safaris. (Several operators offer golfing holidays to the Algarve. Please call us for more information.) For lively nightlife Albuferia’s bars and clubs are the top choice, although there are also plenty of bars and restaurants at Praia de Rocha and Vilamoura which also has a casino.

Eating Out

The seafood in the Algarve is quite simply wonderful. Often marinated in wine, olive oil and herbs, there are succulent sardines, swordfish, sea bream and lobster. Traditional Algarvean dishes include caldeirada  - a spicy fish stew and chicken piri-piri plus lots of pork and cod dishes.

Shopping

When you are browsing in the shops and markets on your Algarve holiday, look out for woven baskets, copper, brassware, exquisite handmade lace and embroidery, glazed terracotta pottery, filigree jewellery, leather bags and locally made lead crystal. All of which make wonderful souvenirs of your holiday to the Algarve.