Central Algarve

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Central Algarve

Those who take pleasure in the finer things in life will find the central Algarve to be the ultimate playground. This is a place where all five senses can be well and truly invigorated, whether sampling the area’s local dishes, world-class cuisine, or indulging in some relaxation on the links or in the spa.

Taking in its award-winning beaches and incredible vistas or simply enjoying an open-air performance surrounded by the scent of the region’s distinctive stone pine trees make it a region people return to every year.

Sagres Aljezur

Lagos Monchique

CENTRAL ALGARVE

Silves Loulé

Portimão

Carvoeiro Albufeira Vilamoura Quinta do Lago

Vale do Lobo Faro Olhão Tavira

No more than 30 minutes out of Faro, the famed Golden Triangle – comprising the exclusive resorts of Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura – offers luxury living in some of the Algarve’s most prestigious postcodes. Here you’ll find impressive homes built around the immaculate golf courses that make these resorts so desirable. And that’s not the only draw: between them, the resorts are also home to tennis clubs, nature trails, resident-only beaches, Portugal’s largest marina in Vilamoura, that can moor over 1,000 vessels, riding schools, private medical centres and even a casino, meaning every possible desire is more than catered for. Wherever you find yourself on the central Algarve, one thing’s for sure: you’re guaranteed to enjoy the best that life - and this beautiful area - has to offer.

This is a place where all five senses can be well and truly invigorated.

21 Central Algarve

ALBUFEIRA

If making the most of precious family time is top of your Algarve checklist, then you’ll be well served by towns such as vibrant Albufeira.

Located further west from the Golden Triangle, the city’s old town is a particularly family-friendly area, with a picturesque central square featuring a variety of welcoming bars, cafés and restaurants, serving everything from Italian and Chinese to good old English fish and chips, as well as traditional Portuguese dishes such as Piri Piri chicken and fresh fish. and beaches, there is something for everyone in this fun and sophisticated town, which is a popular haunt for celebrities.

CARVOEIRO

Located in the Lagoa district – the old-world charm of this resort combines with the buzz of bars, cafés and restaurants centred around a sandy cove. Located in the centre of some of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve and some say Europe, linking the dramatic coastline, this popular resort has become a mecca for visitors.

Two beautiful and lifeguard-manned beaches serve the city, whilst the marina - lined with fun candycoloured buildings that delight old and young alike - is the starting point for boat trips and diving excursions.

SILVES

Inland, the historic town of Silves sits in the shadow of its impressively maintained castle, where an annual medieval festival transports the town back to its Moorish origins as the Algarve’s former capital. Enjoy a walk through the steep medieval streets to the castle and then along the attractive park next to the river.

LOULÉ

The authentic Portuguese town with a rabbit warren of streets has barely altered since medieval times. It draws many tourists for a day trip. Its authentic Portuguese atmosphere and lively market make you feel like you have travelled back in time. Do not miss the Arabian inspired covered market where you can buy fresh produce or local handiwork.

VILAMOURA

With its world-class marina, variety of golf courses

23 Things to do Central Algarve

BEACHES

Sun worshippers will find themselves spoiled for choice, too. The central region boasts the Algarve’s highest concentration of beaches bestowed with a Blue Flag Award (43 in total), an international mark of quality recognising the finest beaches in the world. The only difficulty is choosing which stretch of sand to spend the day on, from long, clifflined beaches that bustle with activity during the summer months to more secluded coves.

HOT WHEELS RACEWAY

This indoor karting centre can be found in the underground car park of Albufeira’s marina. An indoor raceway with 400m of race track.

FIESA SAND CITY

A sand sculpture festival in Lagoa hosts the largest sand sculpture festival in the world.

A unique attraction, it occupies an area of six hectares and is built by more than 60 sand artists from various continents who carve about 50,000 tons of sand each year. It is floodlit at night, meaning in the summer months you can visit in cooler temperatures and enjoy a memorable light show.

WATERPARKS

Slide & Splash in Estômbar is a 10-hectare site with aquatic thrills for all ages. Aqualand in Alcantarilha is a sprawling outdoor waterpark with high slides, a rapid river run, plus a surf beach with a wave pool.

Aquashow in Quarteira offers an adrenaline-filled day with the largest water rollercoaster in Europe.

ZOOMARINE

This theme park offers a fun-filled family day out in one of the Algarve’s leading tourist attractions. The highlight is the dolphin presentation, with an emphasis on conservation, which will be a spectacle you will not forget.

In addition, sea lions, an acrobatic pirate display, exotic birds, birds of prey, along with water slides, rides, a kids fun pool and a wave pool and an artificial beach make this an unforgettable day out.

25 Things to do Central Algarve

PRAIA DA FALÉSIA

One of the most spectacular beaches in this area is Praia da Falésia. This beach is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in the entire world! With 6km of golden sands, the western end is framed with spectacular red cliffs offering a breathtaking vista at sunrise or sunset.

RETAIL THERAPY

If retail therapy is more your thing, there’s plenty to satisfy your inner shopaholic. The Quinta Shopping Mall located between Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago houses luxury fashion, home and sporting labels.

MAR shopping in Loulé brings together a Designer Outlet with hundreds of fashion’s biggest names, a shopping centre, IKEA store and leisure facilities.

FINE DINING

In the Golden Triangle and beyond, foodies can feast to their heart’s (or, rather, their stomach’s) content at the central region’s haute cuisine restaurants. The Algarve boasts six Michelin-starred restaurants, all of which are found in the central Algarve. Of these six, two have gone one better and achieved two-star status: Ocean in Armação de Pêra, led by Austrian Executive Chef Hans Neuner, and boutique resort Vila Joya’s restaurant in Albufeira, where Chef Dieter Koschina combines local produce with northern European cooking techniques. Elsewhere you’ll find all manner of international flavours in the area’s other exclusive restaurants, from brunch spots and steakhouses to sushi and champagne bars.

THE CAMPUS

Quinta do Lago’s premier elite sports hub is a new facility welcoming internationally renowned athletes from all over the world as well as offering you the opportunity to train or relax in its top-notch facilities.

The Campus has a gym, tennis and paddle courts, swimming pool, group classes, cycling, personal training, recovery suites and sports rehabilitation. It is also a great place to keep the kids active with several training camps, along with one led by Brian O’Driscoll.

GOLF

The Algarve is blessed with some fantastic golf courses and it has hosted the Portuguese Open on several occasions. Here is a list of places that can offer you iconic golfing experiences:

Vila Sol – Quarteira: Laid out over 27 holes, split into three nine-hole courses is a good challenge.

The Dom Pedro – Vilamoura: golf collection includes five courses: the classic Old Course, Portuguese Masters fixture Victoria (designed by Arnold Palmer), Pinhal, Millenium and Laguna make up the selection.

Quinta do Lago: north and south courses are usually in fantastic condition throughout the year.

Vale do Lobo: Royal course’s 16th hole is one of the most famous in the region.

Those who take pleasure in the finer things in life will find the central Algarve to be the ultimate playground