The Algarve
is the southernmost region of Portugal and one of Europe's favourite holiday destinations well known for glorious all year round sunshine and excellent sandy beaches.

These vary from secluded coves with amazing cliffs to vast stretches of golden sand all sea washed by the fresh and clear Atlantic ocean.
Inland you will find quaint villages barely touched by tourism.

Algarve castle

Orange groves and blossoming almond trees add colour to this fertile region in contrast to the traditional whitewashed houses.

Due to the mild nature of the weather, the Algarve is ideal for many outdoor sporting activities such as water sports, golf in the numerous world-class golf courses, tennis, horse riding, and much more.

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The Algarve is known not only for its cosmopolitan nightlife with a wide variety of bars and clubs, but also for the many waterside restaurants serving fresh fish and local shellfish specialities.

 
The capital of the Algarve is the city of Faro. Other cities are Albufeira, Lagoa, Lagos, Loulé, Olhão, Silves, Tavira, and Villa Real de Santo António.

Quarteira, a town and a parish in the Loulé municipality, is another town with city status, but its population varies greatly from season to season.

Algarve beach

Situated in the extreme south of Portugal, the Algarve was the last territory to be conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese in 1292.

Traces of Moorish presence are still to be seen in its unique architecture - terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses.

The Algarve region coincides with the district of Faro, and has the town of Faro as its administrative centre, where both the region's international airport (Faro/Algarve Airport) and the University of the Algarve are situated.

Fish, seafood and fruit production, which include oranges, carob beans, figs and almonds, are important economic activities in the region.