Tourist Attractions of the Algarve

The Algarve region makes up the coastal pocket of Portugal and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe due to the 200km of mostly super-clean beaches many of which are designated as Blue Flag areas. The area is also known for being safe, cheap, and English speaking which also helps draw in many tourists year round.

The Algarve offers something for everyone, from those seeking a calm setting to those who want the fast paced party life the region is known for to those who simply want to relax with family and tour the nearby towns.

The Algarve is home to dozens of attractions and places of interest which will consume the time during your holiday if you decide to stray from the glorious beaches. The following is a brief guide to several of the most popular attractions worth checking out while on holiday in the Algarve.

Markets

The markets that are spread throughout the Algarve are unique due to their wide offerings of local produce, handicrafts, and other goods. Markets are a great place to see the local ways of life and a great place to find souvenirs and other trinkets to take home with you. Some of the largest and most well known markets are located in Silves, Loule, and Portimao, however, if you want some true village treasures and Moorish treasures as well as fresh produce you will have better luck at the smaller markets. For this reason the smaller villages are worth a visit as many fishing villages have a local market.

Shopping

All of the major Algarve resorts cater for shoppers, and there are also purpose built shopping complexes such as the one at Guia just outside Albufeira. Some of the best shops in the Algarve are in Loule, Portimao, or to the Quarteria gypsy market. Portimao in particular is home to a handful of retail parks so if you are looking for some high end shopping there is no better place to stop. When shopping at the local markets and boutiques be sure to keep your eye out for the local goods which include decorated tiles, copperware, crystal, and pottery many of which are made by hand by professional local artisans.

Cruises/Boat Trips

Due to the fact that the Algarve region is made up of over 200km of coastline, cruises and chartered boat trips can be one of the best ways to explore the region. Whether you want to visit a wide variety of its coastal villages or you want to explore the wide coastal expanses of the region that include coves, inlets, hidden beaches, tropical scenery, small shallow pockets, or the cave coves that are neatly tucked into a great deal of the coastline you can see a great deal more from sea. Of course, what you target seeing will determine if you should book an evening cruise, a day cruise, or a simple boating charter.

For those who want to explore the caves and coves that around the main beaches a boat charter should do the trick, while those that want to see some hidden gems will also want to take advantage of a boat charter as a larger cruise vessel will not grant you access. However, if you want to take a more leisurely tour of the coastal line then a dinner or lunch buffet cruise may be a better option given you can eat in the open air and enjoy the scenic sights from the comfort of a luxury liner.

Recommendation Dolphin Watching Boat Algarve Portugal - see dolphins in their natural habitat Visit Website

Fishing

Most of the Algarve resort cities started out as fishing villages, thus fishing is still one of the most popular pastimes of the area. Although almost all of the cities will offer boat docks and chartered boat companies where you can hire a fishing boat, it is best to stay away from the resort areas however because there are still smaller fishing villages that offer much better opportunities. Despite the massive modernization and tourist focus of the region, some of the smaller port villages still maintain the charm of small village life and it is in these locations that you will find the best fishing opportunities. For example, found on the eastern shores of the Algarve, is Olhao which is one of the largest fishing ports in the region. Outside of simply getting out in the sea to fish, you can also visit its large market for fresh seafood and many other items making it a great base for your adventures.

Also on the eastern border to the south of Olhao is Tavira, which is a much smaller village where the main focus is fishing and the locals will be glad to offer you their own tips. Another great harbour and port for fishing is Portimao, which is on the southern edge of the region near the River Arcade Estuary that is conveniently near some of the main resorts if you want to schedule in some time for partying as well.

Recommendation Algarve Fishing Charters & Cruises. Visit Website

Horse Riding

Horse riding is one of the most popular sporting activities after golfing and fishing in the Algarve region due to the fact that the back of a horse is a wonderful way to explore the coastal line of the area as well as its many inland sights and countryside. There are many different opportunities to horse ride throughout the general region although you are most likely to find the most options near the western borders of the area as well as near the southern borders due to the fact that this is the areas are the most developed and welcoming to tourists.

Vilarmoura, which sits along the southern coast of the Algarve and is known best for its golf courses, is a great place for scenic horse rides down the handful of Blue Flag beaches and provides an opportunity to literally ride off into the sunset. In general you can also find horse riding centres anywhere that you find a major resort so if this is an activity that you want to partake in during your visit just be sure to check with your resort before booking accommodation for your holiday.

Recommendation Top Hipico Center - large outdoor arena and pony riding centre for kids also (located in Paderne 15 minutes from Vilamoura). Visit Website

Golf

Golf is easily the most popular sport in the Algarve region with dozens of golf courses located everywhere throughout the Algarve. Home to some of the most beautiful landscapes, sunshine most of the year, and many world class courses in all of its separate corners finding a golf course is not a problem. Most of the golf courses offer reasonable fees although a few of the more exclusive and challenging resorts will require that you have reservations ahead, but once you get there you will find any amenities you need at the club houses.

In the Western Region of the Algarve region there are a great number of great courses to try out including Vale do Milho Golf, Alto Golf, Parque da Floresta, and the Gramacho Course to name just a few. Within its Central Region you may want to investigate playing at the Royal Course, Laguna Golf Course, San Lorenzo, Vila Sol Golf, and the Ocean Course.

Finally in the east are where some of the most challenging courses are located including Colina Verde Golf, Benamor Golf, and the Quinta de Cima Golf. However, even if you do not have the funds to play at the major courses you will find that the breathtaking views and challenges of the local courses are well worth it.

Recommendation Laguna Golf Course located in Vilmoura. Visit Website

Monuments and Castles

Despite experiencing a few earthquakes and suffering through several wars, the Algarve region still contains a great deal of monuments and historical sites that are well worth the time to go visit. Many of the historical monuments are testaments to the cultural diversity of the towns they are located in as well as the region in general. Some of the best monuments are located within the city of Ribeira. Another great city to visit is Guimaraes which is one of the oldest cities in the region and home to some historical ruins and testaments to old Roman way of life.

Also worth a visit while in the Algarve is the city of Faro, which has a beautiful old town area with Faro Cathedral at the summit.

Recommendation Great site for information about Portuguese castles Visit Website

The most well known historical city however is Silves which is found in the western region of the holiday region close to the Rio Arade. It contains a great deal of Moorish architect some of which is represented in the Moorish designs of the city, but the most dramatic example is the Silves Castle which was erected during the 4th century and treats visitors to a dramatic view of the countryside and town from its walls. Finally, a visit to the Algrave is not complete without a visit to the Cruz de Portugal where a cross monument was erected during the 15th century and is conveniently close to the Silves Castle.

Museums

If you want to see an example of just how culturally diverse the region of Algarve is then you need to look no farther than the many museums that are sprinkled throughout the coastal shoreline. With dozens of museums spotted along the coastline and throughout many of its cities you can see everything at the museums from the agricultural demonstrations of the old style of life, modern style of life, local arts, local crafts, and its religious history. There are also many museums that contain ancient treasures from Roman times, ceramics, archaeology, and sculptures.

Small museums such as the Museu de Pesca do Atum in Tavira are a great testament to the small village way of life that is still found in the Algarve as the small tuna fishing museum shows how the trade is performed and plenty of paintings and photographs. Other museum such as the larger Museu da Cortica in Silves is a testament to the industrialization of the region and is in fact known as one of the best European Industrial museum in 2001. For arts, a visit to the Casa Museu Jose Cercas is a true art museum that will allow you to see the best from the local painters as well as plenty of ceramics and religious pieces.

Water Parks

Some of the largest waterparks throughout Europe are found in the Algarve making it a wonderful place to stay for those with children or adventurous adults. There are many water parks that offer underwater zoos as well allowing for some cross over in activities during your stay in a resort. The most well known water park is easily Aqualand which is located near Albuferia and offers a semi-Olympic swimming pool, dozens of water slides, rapids, a mini water adventure park for small children, a lazy river, and even dolphins that you can swim with making memories that easily can last a lifetime.

Another one of the large water parks that is full of spills and thrills is the Slide and Splash. which can be found near Lagoa. Close by is also the Loule Atlantic Park where you can find plenty of other wild waterslides, a lazy river, and plenty of other activities complete with fair food to keep you moving while you explore the thrills of the day that are on offer. Finally, make sure you stop in to see the Aquashow that is located close to the Quarteria and offers plenty of its own perks and fun thrills for children and adults alike.

Amusement/Theme parks

A great number of the amusement and theme parks that are spread throughout the Algarve region can be considered waterparks and zoos as well since the themes and activities often merge together at the most popular resort destinations. However, outside of these attractions which are detailed in more depth, there are plenty of other theme parks that are worth a visit while in the Algarve, especially if you have young children. For example, Almancil Karting is a very popular attraction and allows racers to try out their luck on a 760m race track with plenty of other activities including trampolines, a mechanical bull, and electric boats.

Another great attraction is found in Algoz and is titled KrazyWorld. Here you will find just about everything you can think of from a crocodile park to krazy mini golf to a petting zoo to a fairground complete with rides to pony rides to the prerequisite swimming pool. If this is not enough to perk your interests, there are also adventure playgrounds, sun beds that are laid out in gardens for the adults, a reptile range, and an elephant that just kinds hangs out at various locations around the theme park because when you are in KrazyWorld pretty much everything goes.

Caves

Caves are plentiful throughout the Algarve region: both the kind that you typically enter by heading under the ground and thus that you enter from the water. Seaside caves are very popular attractions with many cruises and charter tours that take explorers into the depths of the caves. They also serve as great challenges for adventurous divers who want to see the true aquatic beauty that houses itself in the many underwater caves that are spread out across the coastline in little coves and inlets.

The Sagres caves are favourites among divers with three different locations that allow divers to go down depths of 24m into their labyrinths to see the beauty that is housed inside. Closer to Lagos are caves that were formed from volcanic rock and offer different types of beauty along with plenty of underwater rock walls, fan corals, and bass.

Finally, the Rondao de Alvor caves are another great dive location with caves that allow for deeper dives and the opportunity to see some spider crabs. Even snorkelers can get into some of the shallower caves at the Ponta da Piedade coast allowing every skill level to see the beauty that the aquatic caves hold. Above ground there are also many other coastal caves that you can explore on foot if you are an avid hiker or just a simple explorer with a wide range of caves that will meet every level of physical fitness. The caves in Silves are an excellent place to start for some true inland caves.

Zoos

One of the most well known zoos located within the Algarve region is the Zoomarine, which is a mix of a regular zoo and a marine zoo, which as you may guess, a large focus on many aquatic mammals and animals including dolphins, sharks, turtles, seals, birds, tropical fish, and crocodiles. Outside of the many different animal exhibits, ZooMarine also features plenty of shops, rides, swimming pools, and restaurants along with daily seal, dolphin, and sea lion shows making it more of an entertainment multiplex than a regular zoo.

Another major zoo in the Algarve region is the Lagos Zoo which sits on a large space of landscaped gardens close to the city of Bensafrim. The Zoo features more than 250 animals that represent over 50 different species ensuring that there is something for everyone at every turn. While exploring the zoo many people get a thrill out the 60m flight tunnel that allows you to see exotic bids up close while they complete their daily activities. The Zoo also features a petting zoo that is filled with many different farm animals as well as few domestic animals.

Safaris (sea/land)

Those who enjoy a thrill while on holiday will not want to miss the chance to check out some of the safari adventures that are available throughout the Algarve region. One of the most thrilling adventures is jeep safaris, which are located throughout the region and are a great way to see the real beauty of the land from high speeds with the ability to travel just about anywhere and experience just about anything.

Those with a taste for even higher speeds may want to try out some of the Land Rover safaris as well. You can find these options near most of the major resort towns of the region, however, if you travel a bit more into the countryside you will also find that there are a few scattered traditional safaris that allow you to see wild animals up close and personal.

Also popular in the Algarve region are seafaris, which are boat charters and cruises that take you out into hidden bays or specific areas of the sea where dolphins are known to live. From the seafari you get the experience of watching dolphins in their natural home and depending on who you book with, maybe even the chance to feed the large mammals, stroke their heads, or even swim with them at sea. The best seafaris are located in the southern and western regions of the Algarve although you can usually find a boat charter willing to take you out just about anywhere that you stay.

Faro offers boat trips around the Rio Formosa Nature Reserve, a great place for bird watching.