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Information

Language: Portuguese. Currency: Euro. Standard GMT +1hr. Portuguese Tourist Office: 11 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PP. Tel: 0845 355 1212. www.visitportugal.com

Travel money

Euro

Things to do

View the Atlantic from Sagres, mainland Europe's most south-westerly village, and stand on Portugal's westernmost point at Cape St Vincent. Visit the site of the first African slave market in Lagos and stroll though the picturesque fishing village of Tavira. The Algarve is also widely renowned for its superb selection of championship golf courses. Dotted all along the coast, you'll find courses on a range of terrains, from the coastal Salgados Golf Club to the championship courses of Quinta do Lago.

Beaches

With 200km of striking coastline, you can choose from long stretches of honey sand backed by cliffs or little sandy coves on your Algarve holiday.

Picture a blanket of golden sand backed by dramatic red sandstone cliffs: this is Praia da Rocha, one of the Algarve’s most famous beaches with plenty of watersports and bars and restaurants just inland from the cliff top.

Praia da Oura is the place to be in Albufeira, with 5kms of soft honeycomb sand and a bustling promenade and, in Lagos, Meia Praia is the Algarve’s longest beach and one of the most peaceful.

Blue Flag Beaches

In summer 2008, 48 beaches in the Algarve were awarded Blue Flags. Visit www.blueflag.org for full details.
www.blueflag.org

Explore your destination

Here's a little taste of what's on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep.

Zoomarine

Stare in amazement at the endless talents of the world's most intelligent mammals. Dolphins will perform breathtaking tricks and you can also have fun and laughter with the cheeky sea lions. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Blue Cruise

Setting sail from Portimao, you will head for Carvoeiro, where you can admire strange-shaped grottoes, natural rock channels and caves. With fun and games on board for the kids, you can relax and enjoy some serious sunshine.

Jeep Safari

Discover the real Algarve on this off-road experience. In a convoy of jeeps, you'll be whisked through orange groves, rivers, streams, mountain villages and eucalyptus forests for an unforgettable day out.

Golf

Famous for their world-class golf courses, the Algarve is a favourite holiday spot for golfers. The Porto Bay Falesia offers golf packages at the Oceanico Golf courses for a reduced rate starting from 57 euros.

Highlights

• Practicing your swing on some of the world’s famous golf courses like Vilamoura’s Old Course and Salgados, with its superb water hazards and fantastic views
• Sampling local wines in Lagoa’s vineyards, whether it’s dry whites or light reds, this is where the Algarve’s best wines are made
• Wandering around Faro’s Old Town, spotting the town hall, cathedral, multicoloured Bishop’s Palace and checking out the old town walls
• Catching a local football match or a concert at Faro’s Estádio Algarve, built for the Euro 2004 football championships is an Algarve holiday highlight
• Taking in great views from Silves’ Moorish sandstone castle and admiring Moorish-influenced architecture on Tavira’s eye-catching old churches
• Walking in the footsteps of the first African slaves at Lagos’s 15th century slave market and enjoying lazy lunches in the resort’s bars and restaurants
• Surfing amazing waves on the Algarve’s western coast and horse riding in scented pine forests
• Sailing up river in a traditional painted boat from Portimão to Silves, looking out for flamingos, herons and other unusual birds
• Going on a high-speed boat water safari in a rigid inflatable boat, or RIB to those in the know, from Lagos’s marina, where you might see dolphins from April to October
• Spending the day in Vilamoura’s marina, dining in waterfront restaurants, browsing fashionable shops and picking out which yacht you’ll buy if you win the lottery

Food and drink

There’s no better place to try freshly grilled sardines than on holiday in the Algarve, served with juicy salads, crusty bread and a crisp glass of white wine, simply heaven. Don’t miss out on Bacalhau, sun-dried salted cod; and Ameijoas na Cataplana, fresh cockles and cured ham stewed slowly in a metal pot.

If you’re not really a fish eater, spicy piri-piri chicken is simply mouth-watering and hearty meat stews like rabbit cooked in red wine. Finish meals with a glass of smooth rich port.

There’s also a good sprinkling of international restaurants if you’re in the mood for pizza, Chinese or Indian.

Evening Flavour

Head for Albufeira's famous ‘strip’ to sample local cocktails and enjoy its lively bars and discos or for a quieter night out, just take a stroll through the old town, maybe browsing the souvenir shops.

If you fancy a flutter on holiday in the Algarve, Vilamoura’s marina has a casino and a superb choice of bars; if you’re still awake after that, you can boogie at Kadoc, a huge nightclub just outside Vilamoura.

You can also tap your feet along to live jazz and blues in downtown Lagos or while away the evening over a few glasses of Vinho Verde.

Shopping

Surprise your family with gifts of brightly coloured pottery and ceramics when you get home from your Algarve holiday, especially if you can find the original potteries to nose around for more authentic pieces.

Leather is a great buy and ‘Azulejos’, hand painted tiles, perfect for a unique feature in your bathroom. Browse Loulé’s Saturday morning market for ceramics, jewellery and colourful fabrics and see artisans showing off their craft.

Head to Faro’s Forum Algarve for department stores, hypermarkets and a family entertainment centre and Guia’s Algarve Shopping Mall where you’ll find over 100 shops.

Dates for the Diary

February: Loulé Carnival is one of the biggest, brightest and boldest street parties in Portugal, with three days of floats, costumes, music and dancing.

For the Family

• Water lovers will love days out at Slide & Splash in Lagoa, and at Aqualand, where there’s a mini park with gentle slides or you can brave the Kamikaze with its 92 metre drop
• With its petting farm, funfair, animal shows and mini-golf, children of all ages will be amazed at what the animals can do at Krazy World in Algoz
• Praia da Falesia in Olhos d’ Agua is the perfect beach for building sandcastles, wide and sandy and backed by stunning orange cliffs, it’s really popular with families