Author: Chris

A Short Guide to The Algarve

The Algarve is a popular holiday destination, attracting some 4.2 million visitors a year. Nearly a quarter of these are from the UK but it is also a popular destination for visitors from Germany, Spain, Netherlands and France. It is easy to see why with over 300 sunshine days a year. While it can be very hot and dry in the summer its winers are relatively mild compared with those of Northern Europe. This makes The Algarve an all year round destination.

Getting There

Faro airport is the main gateway to the Algarve, handling well over 4 million passengers a year, many of which are in the busy summer months.It handles flights from many low cost airlines such as EasyJet, Ryan Air, Jet 2 and Norweigan. The airport is modern and efficient and deals with the large numbers very well.

Trains also run to The Algarve from the capital Lisbon. They depart from Lisbon Oriente and the journey to Faro takes around three and a half hours. Train travel is relatively cheap in Portugal, especially if booked in advance and you are able to do so up to thirty days before departure. Seat reservations are compulsory on inter city trains. Trains also run from Porto to Faro via Lisbon with two such services a day. The current timetable is available here.

There is also a frequent bus service from Lisbon to Faro some of which are non stop. The journey time is very similar to that of the train. The current timetable is available here.

Getting Around.

Car hire is by far the most popular option with plenty of choice and availability at Faro airport with all major hire companies represented in a complex just across from the terminal. For the keenest prices and choice it is always advisable to book in advance of your arrival. The A22 motorway runs across the Algarve from Lagos in the west all the way into Spain in the east. It has tolls which are charged electronically as you pass beneath sensors located above the carriageway. Hire cars are usually fitted with a tag that records the tolls and payment is then made when you return the car. Although there are other methods of paying this is by far the easiest. Hire companies usually charge a small daily fee for the tag of around one euro. Tolls can add up quite quickly, especially if you use the motorway a lot. The trip from Faro to Lagos is just under 7 Euros. For this reason the A22 is very quiet, especially in off season. Locals much prefer to use the regional roads which don’t incur a charge. As a consequence these roads can be very busy and journey times much longer.

There is a bus which runs from Faro airport into the town. The 16 runs from 5am until 23.45 with buses fairly frequently. The journey time is 20 minutes and the fare 2.5 Euros. The 14 takes a slightly different route, visiting the Forum Algarve, and only runs early morning and once in the evening. The journey time is 30 minutes. It is worth noting that both these services actually run from Faro to the beach and stop at the airport part way. It is possible that services in the early evening can be full with people returning from a day out at the beach by the time they reach the airport. This is obviously more likely to be the case in the busy summer months. Both buses terminate at Faro bus station from where you can catch local services to other towns in the Algarve.

There are taxis available outside arrivals at the airport and the journey into town takes about 10 minutes and costs around 13 Euros. It is also possible to prebook transfers from the airport to several popular algarve destinations with several companies offering this type of service.

The Algarve Regional Railway runs from Vila Real De Santo António in the east to Lagos in the western Algarve. It is often necessary to change trains in Faro. The station at Faro can be somewhat confusing when catching a train as there are no departure boards. Journey times are; Vila Real De Santo António to Faro is roughly an hour, from Faro to Lagos it takes 90 minutes. Trains are roughly hourly in each direction but not all trains run at weekends. Tickets are relatively cheap compared to the UK. There are only two types of ticket, single and return. The cost of a return is double that of a single. Tickets are not available in advance and must be purchased on the day. Not all stations on the line have a ticket office, in this case you simply purchase a ticket from the conductor on the train who come round after every stop. It’s worth noting that the conductor only deals in cash, he does not take card payments. A tourist ticket is available. Called the Tourist Travelcard it can be bought as a two day or three day card. This allows you to use the Algarve line as often as you like but the days of use must be consecutive. A two day card costs 20.90 Euros and the tree day 31.90 Euros. It can only be purchased from a station with a ticket office, they are not available on the train. You may well want to check if it is actually a saving for you. Faro to Tavira is 6.40 Euros return and Faro to Lagos is 14.80 Euros for a return. It is worth checking in advance if the station of your chosen destination is actually close to where you want to go. The station at Albufeira is actually 3 miles from the old town.

Algarve Towns

Faro

The largest town on the Algarve and the gateway to the region with its nearby airport. It is a good base if you intend exploring the region by public transport. The Old Town is excellent for wandering and the marina area is lively and an excellent spot to watch the sunset over the Ria Formosa. You can take trips from here to the islands and to explore the nature reserve. Faro has a good selection of restaurants and bars.

Olhão

A nice contrast to Faro as Olhão is much more of a working fishing town. Not surprisingly it has some excellent seafood restaurants. Had some of the best and sweetest prawns I have ever tasted in a small bistro just back from the waterfront.

Tavira

I like Tavira and have stayed there twice recently. The town itself is charming and delightful with a good selection of restaurants and bars. A short ferry ride takes you to the Ilha de Tavira with its superb beach. You can read a detailed post regarding things to do in and around Tavira here.

Portimão

A popular destination for visitors and the Algarve second largest town. The big attraction here is the beach, Praia da Rocha, and it can get very busy in the summer. Just east of Portimão is Praia da Marhina with its most amazing rock formations. If you are feeling energetic you can take the coastal path from Praia Vale Centianes for some superb coastal scenery.

Lagos

There is something very appealing about Lagos, from its bustling marina to the streets of the old town there is something for everyone here and it is well worth a visit even if only for a day trip. You can take a boat trip from the marina to view the rock formations of the Ponta da Piedade or sign up for the many other water based activities on offer including dolphin watching.

Sagres

If surfing is for you then Sagres and the beaches of the western coast is the place to go. There is however much more here including the Fortaleza de Sagres and the São Vicente lighthouse which stands on the most south westerly tip of Europe.

Silves

If you fancy a break from the coast then the town of Silves is a good option. The recently restored castle dominates the town and gives some excellent views of the surrounding countryside from its walls. There is also a cathedral and it makes the town a nice place to wander.

Algarve Coastal Walk

It’s hard to beat a good coastal walk and the walk from Praia Vale Centianes to Praia de Marinha is right up there with one of the best we have ever done. In Portuguese it is known as Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspendos, route of the seven suspended valleys, and it is one of the most popular hiking trails in The Algarve. It is a linear walk of around 5.5Km but as most people do the walk in both directions to return to their vehicles it makes a total of 11Km or just a little under seven miles. It is graded as medium difficulty with most of the trail being on good easily identified paths but with some steep ascents and descents along with some rough terrain in places. The total walk should take around six hours, allowing for plenty of opportunities to taken photographs and admire the stunning scenery and views.

We began the walk at Praia Vale Centianes which is to be found around nine miles (14Km) east of the popular Algarve town of Portimão. There is a small, free car park here which had plenty of availability for our visit in November but which I expect fills up quickly in the busy summer months. There is also a small cafe and toilets if you are in need of a shot of coffee before beginning the long climb up a wooden staircase to the top of the cliff and the beginning of the walk.

This stretch of coastline consists of limestone which has been eroded and weathered over millennia to produce indented bays along with features such as sea stacks, arches, caves and sink holes. The processes are in action still today and it is estimated that between 2mm and 2m of land are lost to the sea each year, most off this occurs in the winter when the action of the sea is at its greatest coupled with the increased rainfall. The effect of this is dramatic and spectacular. The rock formations just get better and better as you get nearer to Praia de Marinha. It is for this reason in my opinion why you should always do the walk in this direction.

Two thirds in to the walk you arrive at Praia de Benagil, there is a cafe here and, if you are prepared to walk a little further away from the trail, a restaurant. Plenty of opportunity to take on refreshment before the final, and in my view the most dramatic, section to Praia de Marinha. As you complete the walk the views are stunning, just west of the beach are the most amazing rock formations that make the whole walk so worthwhile.

There are a couple of refreshment trucks at Praia de Marinha but not much else, other than the stunning views. Some perfectly located picnic tables are most welcome and you can sit for a while and take it all in before beginning the walk back to the start.

Visiting The Algarve in November.

The Weather.

Leaving behind a cold and wet November in the UK and arriving into Faro to blue sky and twenty degrees Celsius was bliss snd while such temperatures are not guaranteed it is noticeably warmer here. The Algarve has about 300 sunny days a year and not a great deal of rain, making it an ideal location for a break during those cold winter months in more northerly regions of Europe. During winter the average temperature here is between ten and fifteen Celsius depending on the month. Don’t expect to be sunbathing by the pool or on the beach but you can be wearing lightweight shirts and shorts.

The evenings however can get chilly and rental apartments can feel cold. Most buildings here are designed to cope with the hot summer days so its worth packing some warmer clothes for the evenings and if renting an apartment choose one that has heating included.

It can rain with about seven rainy days on average in November and December being the wettest month of the year. The rain does tend to be showery and doesn’t usually rain all day like it can in the UK. We had a really heavy rain storm early this morning but by 10am the skies were clearing and the remainder of the day was sunny and warm. That counts as a rainy day here!

It is quieter.

The number of tourists is much reduced from the peak months of July and August. The consequence of this is that the cost of hotels and apartments are much cheaper. Some apartment owners even offer very much discounted rates for longer rentals of a month or more in the winter months. The pace of life is slow as there is no need to rush to get anywhere as all the popular beaches, walks and attractions are quiet. Indeed you can have many of the beaches to yourself at this time of year.

Some businesses do close at the end of October and won’t reopen until the beginning of March but in November there is still plenty open to give excellent choice and availability. This does change in December and January with more restaurant owners taking the opportunity for a break of their own in the quieter winter months.

Driving.

Driving at this time of year is a real pleasure. From the lack of queues at the rental desk at Faro airport to the ease of finding parking places in popular towns and beaches. The roads are much quieter too with less traffic and less frought tourists rushing around. Journey times are faster giving you the opportunity to explore further.

Golf.

Although The Algarve is so much more than its golf courses but golf is big business here, with over 50 courses to choose from, and there is no better time to play than in the quieter late autumn and winter. Peak season here is the early autumn, when the summer heat has passed, and spring. November through to February there are much less players. The mild winter climate makes golf here a much more pleasurable experience compared to the UK.