Your property in the Algarve
Peerless Moorish-style villas close to the beach and stunning apartments in luxury resorts comprise just some of the amazing property in the Algarve.
From areas such as Praia da Luz, west of Portimão, to Vale do Lobo near Faro, the Algarve provides opportunities for spectacular coastal living and sedate village life away from the bustling resorts.
Inside the Algarve
The southern portion of Portugal, known as the Algarve, encompasses busy seaside resorts, medieval villages, captivating cities and expansive countryside, meaning it offers something for everyone.
The central Algarve, south of the A22 highway, tends to accommodate its larger conurbations, with resorts such as Praia da Rocha, Lagos and Albufeira offering a lively lifestyle along with superb golf courses, although north of this highway, small, tucked-away villages delightfully preserve a traditional way of life.
The Algarve’s less well-trodden western corner is becoming increasingly popular with international property buyers due to its sedate pace of life and compelling property prices in places like Monchique.
Landscape
The Algarve boasts expansive beaches, including the stunning Praia da Barreta and Praia da Culatra, south of Faro, and Praia da Rocha, south of Portimão.
On the southernmost tip of its coastline, near Olhão, the Ria Formosa barrier islands offer varying landscapes, while on the western coast, the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina natural park is characterised by cliffs and beaches.
Inland, the region offers rolling countryside in rural villages such as São Marcos da Serra and Três Figos and higher elevations in areas like Monchique.
Education
The Algarve boasts more than 10 international schools, such as Eupheus International School and Vilamoura International School, making it perfect for families considering relocating to the area.
In terms of further education, the University of Algarve has four campuses, of which three are in Faro and one in Portimão.
The majority of the country’s universities are in or around Lisbon and Porto.
Activities and Entertainment
The Algarve suits those who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, with boundless opportunities to engage in various water sports at its large number of beaches, and exceptional hiking and cycling in places such as the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina natural park, which contains rugged coastal scenery and high cliffs, as well as the Ria Formosa natural park.
The area is famous for its golf too, with several top courses including Espiche Golf, Pine Cliffs Golf Course and Amendoeira Golf Resort.
Across the region’s towns and villages are some exceptional historical monuments and captivating sites, including the Benagil Caves at Carvoeiro, the Sé cathedral in Faro, and the castle in Silves, which has remarkable views over the town and surrounding countryside.
Art and Culture
The Algarve might appear to be all about the beaches, but the region has an outstanding and vast array of museums and galleries, including the award-winning Museu de Portimão, as well as excellent museums in Faro, Silves and Loulé.
The country has a lively market culture, with most towns and cities including Loulé, Lagos, Faro, Silves and Aljezur all holding weekly markets showcasing the region’s delicious fresh produce.
The Algarve likes to celebrate, with various events during the year including the three-day Carnaval de Loulé just before Lent, and FolkFaro among the many music festivals held throughout the region.
Food and Drink
Simple and fresh local produce cooked to perfection defines the cuisine of the Algarve, which boasts abundant seafood, vegetables, cheeses and cured meats.
Typical dishes include conquilhas à Algarvia (clams with fried onion, garlic and sliced Portuguese sausage), feijoada (a bean stew including pork, cured meat, vegetables and herbs) and leitão (24-hour roasted suckling pig). The region has a wide range of exceptional restaurants and bistros which offer their take on these and other delightful local dishes, including Michelin-starred restaurants in Albufeira, Porches and Portimão.
The region’s wine is predominantly red, and made from classic Portuguese grape varieties including Castelão and Touriga Nacional. The wine produced here tends to have a high alcohol content thanks to the warm microclimate created by its proximity to North Africa and the Monchique mountains protecting it from cold weather from the north.
Accessibility
Faro Airport connects the region to domestic and international destinations.
Faro’s train station offers high-speed services to the country’s main cities, including Lisbon which can be reached in as little as 3.5 hours.
The A22 road connects Faro with the rest of the Algarve, and connects with the E1, which extends north through the country to the Spanish border.