Local Area Attractions

There are plenty of places to go in the Algarve and Vale da Pinto’s central location serves as a perfect base for exploring:

  • Tavira – Castro Marim, Vila Real, Praia Verde and Cabanas
  • Faro – Olhão, Ria Formosa and Estoi
  • The Golden Triangle – including Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Almancil and Loulé
  • Albufeira – Galé, Guia, Salgados, Paderne, Armacao de Pera and Porches
  • Carvoeiro – Lagoa, Silves and Ferragudo
  • Portimao – Praia da Rocha and Alvor
  • Lagos –  including Luz, Burgau and Dona Ana
  • The West Coast – Sagres, Vila do Bispo, Aljezur and Odeceixe


Visit spas and bars, restaurants and nightclubs, wine cellars and vineyards, casinos and marinas, traditional shops and modern retail complexes, churches and cathedrals, Moorish castles, baroque palaces, art galleries cultural centres, and much more.

Try golf, tennis, sailing, scuba diving, water sports, horse riding, rock climbing, carting, quad biking, hot air ballooning, aquatic shows and jeep safaris for sports fans and thrill-seekers. If you prefer more gentle pleasures, there are mountains, coastal pathways, nature reserves and national parks offering protected habitats and unspoiled, peaceful environments for ramblers, walkers, bird watchers and botanists to enjoy.

There are dining options to suit every taste and budget, serving a variety of Portuguese and international cuisine, from small local restaurants and cafes to trendy beach bars, stylish ocean-view restaurants, sumptuous golf clubhouses and Michelin starred establishments.

The Algarve is famous for its tiles, pottery, leather goods and shoes. An array of shops in towns and villages offer local arts, crafts, gifts and souvenirs, and modern retail complexes can be found in various locations.

When you have been to all of the places look out for a host of annual events that epitomize the lifestyle in this amazing region:

Events

  • Loulé Carnival - Feb Loulé
    A lively event with plenty of parties, elaborately decorated floats and people in fancy dress parading along the Avenida José da Costa Mealha.
  • Portugal’s Car Rally - May
    The world's top drivers race across approximately 1000km of the Algarve, combining fast open stretches with technically challenging tracks. Portugal's Rally ends with a closing party at Estádio Algarve.
  • Festival Med - June Loulé
    Festival Med is a music, dance and arts extravaganza with music stars from Morocco, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as well as handicraft exhibitions, dance performances and street theatre, while the restaurants in Loulé's historic centre serve up traditional cuisine from each of the countries taking part.
  • Feira Presunto - July Monchique
    People take their ham very seriously in Monchique. The local ham is made from 'porco preto' (black pig), and when cured becomes the star of Feira Presunto, which also boasts live music and other entertainment.
  • Moorish Nights Festival - Jul Cacela Velha
    Held in the Algarve village of Cacela Velha this festival recreates the ambience of the Arab presence in the region from the 10th-13th centuries. Enjoy the souk market, folk music, dance, discussions and traditional gastronomy.
  • Algarve Jazz Concert - Jun to Aug 2010
    A world-class programme of jazz concerts takes place throughout the Algarve every summer. Featuring renowned international and national jazz musicians, Algarve Jazz attracts visitors to the region's beautiful beaches, open-air theatres and other venues.
  • Grand Champions Tournament - Aug 2010 Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy
    Part of the Delta ATP Senior Tour Championships, held at Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy with big-name tennis veterans playing each other in an exciting four-day tournament. Past winners have included John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Jeremy Bates.
  • Festival do Marisco - Aug 2010 Jardim do Pescador Olhanense
    One of the Algarve's most important gastronomic events, the Festival do Marisco (seafood festival) at the Jardim do Pescador Olhanense has rows of stalls selling fresh fish dishes. Concerts, folk dancing and singing keep visitors entertained as they eat.
  • Algarve International Film Festival - Nov 2010 Portimão
    This annual Algarve International Film Festival in the town of Portimão is Portugal's oldest cinema event.

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