Algarve Travel Guide

The southern Portuguese province of Algarve is separated from the rest of the country by low-lying mountains and rolling hills. For over 150kms, its matchless sandy beaches slope gently to the sea. From the wild and desolate Cape St. Vincent - known as 'the end of the world' in the days of the great explorers - to Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Spanish border, it is one of Europe's favorite coastal holiday destinations. Modern purpose-built resorts such as the ambitious and hugely impressive tourist haven of Vilamoura - the Village of the Moors - rub shoulders with traditional fishing ports and tranquil hillside villages. Inland you can discover highlights such as the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the famous wine centre of Lagoa, Silves with its striking red sandstone castle and the unspoilt mountain hideaway of Caldas de Monchique which - as the highest point in the Algarve - is the best place to enjoy panoramic views across the region. Faro, built around a charming harbour beside a wide lagoon, is the provincial capital of the Algarve and Albufeira is its most popular seaside resort.