Is The Algarve Worth Going To? Yes! Here's How & When

Ever wondered ‘Is the Algarve Worth Going To?’ – well read on.

I’ve been to the Algarve a number of times, with groups as a Tour Manager and on my own holidays.

Check out why you should put this destination on your to-do list and when to go.

Getting There

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Staying There

Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

The Algarve is located along the Southern edge of Portugal.

It has a fabulous coastline, huge sandy beaches, great places to visit and it’s very easy to travel to from the UK.

The Algarve is suitable for family holidays, solo trips, golfing holidays, beach, activity and spa holidays. There really is something for everyone.

Read on for how to get there, plus an overview of some of the areas of the Algarve to help you get some trip ideas.

Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

Getting to the Algarve

Faro Airport is the main airport that serves the Algarve. The airport is located on the Eastern side of the Algarve region.

There are direct flights from the following UK airports to Faro;

Aberdeen
Edinburgh
Manchester
Leeds
Durham
Liverpool
Birmingham
Nottingham
Bristol
Cardiff
Newquay
Bournemouth
London Gatwick
London Luton
London Stansted
London Heathrow
Belfast

Faro Airport is located just on the Western side of Faro itself.

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Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

Algarve Weather

One of the reasons the Algarve is so popular is the weather. It enjoys a nice climate.

Here’s the average daily and nightly temperatures for Albufeira

Here’s the average hours of sunshine in Albufeira

Here is the average number of days of rain in Albufeira

Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

When to Visit the Algarve

Summer months can be extremely hot in the Algarve – from 28 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees.

Drought can be a concern in the summer months too.

Summers can also be busy, as people flock to the sun.

If you like warm temperatures, without the oppressive heat then the Algarve can be a great out-of-season/winter resort.

I’ve been to the Algarve in November and found it pleasant during the daytime – enough to not require a coat when exploring.

(Disclaimer: I live in the Scottish Highlands so anything over 13 degrees Celsius is toasty)

Travelling out of season also means better value, with hotels keen to make use of their spare capacity.

Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

Getting Around

Exploring By Car

It is very easy to drive around the Algarve if you want to get out and explore all this region has to offer. The main A22 motorway runs along the Algarve. To travel on this motorway you need to pay a toll. If you are hiring a car you can pay extra for an electronic tag which collects the charges automatically and these are then added onto your bill when you return your car.

There are several car hire companies in and around Faro airport.

I wouldn’t recommend Goldcars at Faro Airport, having had a poor experience hiring a car with them previously. I would recommend OK Mobility. They are located just outside the airport so run a shuttle bus to their depot. The bus leaves from the left-hand side of the Travellers restaurant which is outside the front of Faro airport (that’s the left-hand side with the airport behind you).

Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

Exploring By Train

There is a coastal railway line that runs from Lagos to Vila Real San Antonio, connecting all the resorts along the coast including Albufeira, Tavira, and Monte Gordo.

Another line runs from Faro to Lisbon. The quickest trains get to Lisbon in 3 hours and 15 minutes from Faro.

Is The Algarve Worth Going To?

Destinations in the Algarve

Albufeira

Located 45km to the West of Faro this is one of the most popular destinations in the Algarve. There is a wide selection of hotels in Albufeira, along with a pretty old town. There is also a lovely wide sandy beach. This is probably one of the busiest resorts in the Algarve and it is quite geared towards the British market. There are plenty of full English breakfasts available, along British style food.

Albufeira probably has the largest selection of bars and nightlife in the Algarve.

Check out my review of the Hotel Sol E Mar Albufeira. It’s right on the beach!

Use this map search to quickly find the best accommodation deals in Albufeira.

Vilamoura

Located 27km West of Faro this is a popular resort, especially given the number of golf courses in the area. Vilamoura is set around a pretty marina. It is more spread out and greener than Albufeira and a little less busy. There is a great selection of hotels and it also has a lovely sandy beach.

(Check out my detailed Vilamoura Holiday review with places to stay and things to do)

Find the best accommodation deals in Vilamoura using the map below.

Lagos

This pretty town is located on the coast 90km West of Faro.

It has a nice old town with cute cafes, shops and a couple of interesting museums. Being located in Lagos gives easy access to the most Western points of the Algarve such as Sagres.

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Tavira

Located 38km East of Faro Tavira is a pretty white town with a lovely town centre set around a central square and river.

There are lovely cafes and shops to enjoy as well as a fabulous daily market located to the outside of the town.

Tavira is located inland a little bit but there are some beautiful beaches within easy reach of the town, including the main nudist beach for the Algarve too. Rio Formosa is a stretch of land that runs between Tavira and the coast. It’s a nature reserve and also a popular spot for activities such as paddleboarding.

Find the best accommodation deals in Tavira using the map search below

Monte Gordo

Located 58km to the West of Faro Monte Gordo is a resort that is mainly aimed at Portuguese holidaymakers. There are lots of holiday apartments in the town. Set alongside a beautiful wide sandy beach and with a lovely promenade there is a range of hotels to enjoy in Monte Gordo. It is also close to the Spanish border and the pretty town of Vila Real San Antonio.

(Check out my review of a holiday in Monte Gordo including things to do)

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algarve holiday tavira — Looking across to Tavira from the beach outside the town

Sagres

At the Western point of the Algarve Sagres has huge cliffs and often some impressive waves too. It is a popular windsurfing spot.

Sagres was also the base for Henry the Navigator’s school of navigation and you can visit some of the remains on the headland and learn about the history of early Portuguese exploration.

There are lots of private day tours available from Sagres exploring the Southern and Western coast of Portugal.

Loule

Set inland from the Algarve coast Loule has a large market hall with a much bigger market in the streets around the town on a Saturday also. It’s a lovely town to stroll through with pleasant cafes and streets as well.

There are some lovely churches to explore in Loule, and of course tours that include the market and tasting tours as well as boat trips and private tours.

Faro

The outskirts of Faro are quite busy but the town centre itself is a nice collection of cobbled streets with a pleasant promenade area. There is a little tourist train that runs around the town centre, some museums and art galleries, along with some nice cafes and spots to people watch. Storks also nest on several of the buildings in Faro. There are also boat trips that leave from Faro to explore the Rio Formosa.

Faro has plenty of attractions including museums, a brewery, the lovely Estoi palace, boat trips, and wildlife trips.

Vila Real De Santo Antonio

This long narrow town stretches alongside the Guardiana river which forms the border between Spain and Portugal. It has cafes and gardens overlooking the river. Set back from the river is a town with cobbled streets, pretty shops, squares, and cafes. It is definitely worth a stroll. You can also drive down the sea wall to get a great view across the ocean and across to Spain. However, there are so many potholes it might be safer to walk if you have a hire car!

Vila Real has some nice churches to explore, and lots of tour options including cruises along the Guadiana River.

Is The Algarve Worthing Going To – Conclusion

The Algarve is a great value destination that is very easy to reach from the UK
There are a wide range of destinations to choose from, lots with amazing beaches
Weather in the Algarve means it’s a great option for off-season breaks which are even better value

If you have found this ‘Is The Algarve Worth Going To?’ article useful you might also like;

Vidamar Resort Review – a great resort hotel with amazing beach

Hotel Sol E Mar Review – lovely hotel right on the beach

Monte Gordo Holiday Review – handy for enjoying Portugal and Spain

Vilamoura Holiday Review – a beautiful resort town on the coast

Check out my Travel Inspiration page with more ideas for your next trip.