Areas and Town Information for Portugal
Algarve
The Algarve is the most southern region of Portugal and it's one of Europe's favourite holiday destinations well known for glorious year round sunshine and excellent sandy beaches.
If you are looking for sunshine and beach, the Algarve with beautiful long beaches, magnificent cliffs and the crystal clear water will be the right place for you. There are numerous small villages throughout the unspoilt countryside together with many old castles and fortresses. Its climate is one of the most pleasant and healthy in the world, in the summer the average temperature is around 25ºC but can reach as high as 30ºC.
The autumn weather is pleasant ( average temperature in winter of 14ºC ) and in November and December it can still be warm enough to go to the beach. The southern coast has endless beaches and coves with gentle seas, while the west coast enjoys wild Atlantic rollers. There are endless opportunities for sports and it is a paradise for golfers, with many world class courses to choose from.
Albufeira
Since the 1970s Albufeira has grown into one of the top package holiday destinations in Portugal. Its golden beaches and pulsating night life attract holidaymakers from all over Europe. The town is spread out rather than high rise and has old and new sections, the old being a pretty village with narrow twisting lanes, with whitewashed houses that cover the high cliffs above miles of beautiful beaches.
The " strip " to the east of the town is the main tourist attraction with dozens of cafes, restaurants and bars. The main attraction of Albufeira is its 23 beaches with fine sand and turquoise water sheltered by cliffs. The surrounding countryside is lush green and dotted with almond, fig, orange and pine trees.
Alvor
The ancient coastal village of Alvor, 8km west of Portimão is now a very popular holiday location. Many of the town's narrow streets now boast bars with live music and different types of restaurants but leading off from these there are still memories of the older fishing village.
The village is well located facing a natural lagoon opening onto the sea. There is a choice of long open sandy beaches or a number of small coves tucked under the cliffs. There are an abundance of golf courses within the vicinity as well as many other sea and land based sporting activities.
Lagos
Steeped in history, with a vibrant centre of stylish shops, promenades, cobbled back streets and a relaxed atmosphere make it one of the most sought after locations in the Algarve.
Lagos property can be some of the more affordable in the Algarve, which is itself generally less expensive than similar destinations elsewhere in Southern Europe. There is a huge choice of new and old property in Lagos and the surrounding villages.
The Silver Coast
Central Portugal and its Silver Coast stretches from Castelo de Paiva in the north to Arruda dos Vinhos in the south. With the country's largest motorway, the A1 connecting it from north to south.
The region boasts a quite extraordinary concentration of history, fascinating towns and beautiful scenery. It has largely remained undiscovered and therefore retains much of the flavour of traditional Portugal . Along the Silver Coast are many fine and unspoiled beaches, Travelling north along the rugged coastal road you will find the resort of São Martinho do Porto nestling in a narrow, sheltered bay.
Twelve kilometres further north is the picturesque fishing town of Nazaré. To the south of Foz do Arelho is the busy peninsula fishing town of Peniche dominated by a 16th century castle. From here it is possible to visit the Berlengas islands which are ten kilometres off shore and have been declared a National Bird Sanctuary. Lisbon is approximately one hours drive south as is the International Airport.
Peniche
The fishing port of Peniche is located between Lisbon and Porto, along central Portugal's Silver Coast.
It lies in the shelter of a great headland on Portugal´s rugged Atlantic coast and offers year round mild temperatures and white sandy beaches. The town is most famous for its lace-making and numerous fish restaurants, which during the summer serve up some of the tastiest sardines in Portugal.
The town's attractions include monasteries, castles, churches, and museums. A little further out you will find unspoilt nature in the form of lush forests and natural springs. As well as the rich culture and excellent gastronomy, Peniche offers a wide range of sporting activities along its coastline, and for golfers there are numerous courses.
Peniche's tourism has remained low key and with only a handful of resort hotels in the town itself, none of its traditional charm has been lost. |
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