Looking for a relaxing retreat this winter? Look no further than the Algarve. Situated in the southern coast of Portugal, you can soak up the sun, sea and peaceful ambience felt around the picturesque beaches and cobbled streets. Endless stretches of golden sand adorn the coasts and boast warm temperatures all year round. Exploring the Algarve gives you the best of both worlds with both a beach and city break holiday all in one.
Merited as Portugal’s premier holiday destination you will be spoilt for choice with activities to do. From water sports, boat tours, beach activities, historic walks and exuberant night life. All the major coastal resorts are well connected and easy to reach, so you won’t have to spend too long travelling around.
The Algarve is located just over two hours away and once there transfers from Faro airport to all tourist destinations are extremely quick and efficient. Its excellent location makes it the ideal destination to escape the winter weather and you can get there from flying into Faro from all five of our bases (Manchester, London Gatwick, Birmingham, London Luton, and Leeds Bradford) where we fly all year round.
With over 100 beaches to choose from you are spoilt for choice, whether you are a sun worshipper or an avid surfer there is something for everyone. You can also find many activities involving boat excursions, kite surfing, scuba diving, jet skiing and surfing. Algarve is the perfect year round destination as temperate soar to 32 degrees in summer and stay around 18 degrees in winter, promising 300 days and 3,000 hours of glorious sunshine every year!
Most of the beaches are lined with the iconic limestone rocks that decorate the crystal blue waters. The postcard beaches offer Atlantic waves and family orientated paddling zones for young children. Seafaris are popular here and there are many excursions that offer you chances to scuba dive, dolphin watch, fishing and also the chance to visit some of the best caves- make sure to check out Benagil!
This year Tripadvisor nominated Praia da Marinha as one of the best beaches in the world!
We also recommend visiting:
Dona Ana beach, Lagos
Praia da Falésia, Albufeira.
Meia Praia, Lagos
Once you are finished with the beach you must experience the rest of the idyllic nature that the Algarve has to offer. Some say that it is home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Europe and you can experience some of the most pristine nature through mountain walks, popular flagged trails and cycling routes. Enjoy the sights of the birding hotspots in particular the Castro Marim wetlands, the Ria Formosa and Lagoa dos Salgados. Algarve celebrates Nature Week during spring which boasts 130 outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.
The Algarve is famous for its world-class golf resorts and well known for the quality and design of its golf courses, with many designed by some of golf’s most famous names. Algarve is currently celebrating 50 years of golf which sees keen golfers take part in the Algarve Golden Tees Challenge which ends in December.
For those who want to spend a few days away from the golden beaches; take a stroll around the cobbled streets that offer a treasure trove of history, culture, excellent shopping and beautiful architecture. Offering interesting castles, museums, churches and villages, we recommend Sagres, Monchique, Loulé and the Castle of Silves. One of the most beautiful sights would have to be the church of São Lourenço that depicts Portugal’s renowned blue and white azulejo tiles mixed with opulent gold baroque style architecture.
You will also notice the great cutting edge designs in the Algarve that feature intricate embroidery, tapestry, semi-precious jewellery and pottery that make perfect gifts to take home for friends and family. The Algarve is rich in culture and authentic Portuguese charm. For art and music lovers this is the place for you as art galleries, concerts, theatre productions and dance shows are in most towns. You will notice the Moorish influences throughout the streets and chimneys that showcase various shapes and designs. Churches and castles built in previous centuries reflect a rich culture steeped in history. Local cultural artworks are to be found and preserved in museums in the major coastal centres and in smaller inland towns throughout the region.
In regards to arts; Fiesa is the largest sand exhibition ever built and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Using 40,000 tons of sand, sculptors hand carve magnificent creations replicating famous places, people and scenarios. Fiesa also offers a sand pit for children to be inspired by their surroundings and unleash their creativity. The fun doesn’t stop there, as there is regular music performances, circus acts, dance performances and light projections in the night across the magnificent sculptures- defiantly worth a visit!
When visiting the region you will notice the fresh paradise of gastronomy where locals take advantage of the many delights of the Atlantic Ocean. You will experience plenty of Michelin starred restaurants for fine dining experiences that offer the best quality of food. As you can imagine there are endless seafood dishes, such as sardines, fish stew and octopus remain ever popular while inland vegetables are lovingly celebrated with pulses and broad beans. For those who don’t enjoy fish there are a range of spiced meat dishes and hearty highland stews. To accompany your meals try a glass of wine as vines love Portugal’s southernmost region for the same reason its tourists do – it’s perfect and temperate climate which is perfect for grape harvesting. Major towns that lend their names to the region’s four wine DOCs are Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa and Tavira. For these traditional wines, the main white grapes are Arinto, Malvasia Fina, Manteúdo and Síria, and for the reds Castelão and Negra Mol.
Book your perfect winter escape today with our great offers on Faro flights! (Ends 08/12/16)
The post Don’t miss this winter: the alluring Algarve appeared first on Monarch Blog.