Algarve is a perfect holiday or vacation destination, an year-round sunny weather boasting temperatures between 20ºC and 30ºC on average, makes the Algarve an ideal spot for sports enthusiasts like golf, tennis and swimming. The immense coastline with fantastic sandy beaches offers a perfect scenario for all kinds of water sports. So here is a nice list of enough strong reasons for visiting the Algarve region.

1. Tavira is one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve, also one of the few towns that preserves its architectural origins. Tavira is located around 30 Km East of Faro, the picturesque town is known for its historical culture and unspoilt white sand beaches, typical roofs and chimneys, beautiful views over the Gilão river and its Roman bridge. Tavira is the city with most churches in the Algarve, it has around 28 magnificent churches and chapels, a very high number for such a small town. Check our Tavira Guide for more about this amazing town.
2. Parque Natural de Ria Formosa it’s one of the major tourist attractions of Algarve, located between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo in south of Portugal. The Park is a National protected area of unspoilt marshlands, freshwater lakes and lagoons filled with a unique range of local wildlife. A place where you can admire the fauna & flora characteristic of the Algarve region.
3. Albufeira a peaceful traditional fishing village, is now also a leading tourist resort of Algarve. It is famous for its beaches, golf courses, restaurants, bars, discos, and vibrant nightlife. Notable beaches are – Gale, Coelha, São Rafael and Vigia, Baleeira, Albufeira, Oura, Balaia, Maria Luísa and Olhos de Água, and Falésia. Notable golf courses are – Salgados, Pine Cliffs, and Balaia Golf Village.
4. Carvoeiro is a lovely coastal village and a great tourist center, located in the area of Lagoa, in the Central Algarve. The lively and friendly fishing village has a nice sheltered beach that is good for snorkelling. The coastal village is famous for its wide range of restaurants and bars. It is a popular venue for free live entertainment shows.
5. Castro Marim is a charming town and municipality in the southern region of Algarve. Featuring dusty gold of soft sand, the turquoise blue of warm waters, the town has three main beaches – Alagoa, Verde/Cabeço, and Retur. It also offers vast ranges of hills full of wild flowers, and serene countryside along the banks of the Guardania, lush with orchards and vegetable gardens.
6. Faro is your sunny destination all year round. It is a popular place for sun-seekers. The white-washed town is known for its colonial and Moorish-influenced architectures and museums, such as Cathedral, Nossa Senhora da Assuncão Convent, São Francisco Church, Infante Dom Henrique, and Regional Ethnographic museum.
7. Monchique is an attractive mountain-top village in southern Portugal, in the district of Faro. It is a fantastic health-resort, finely situated among the wooded heights of the Serra de Monchique. The lovely village is famous for hot sulfur springs, with baths; it has a delightful natural thermal spa famed since Roman times.
8. Praia de Odeceixe is a lovely sheltered, crescent-shaped beach in South Portugal. The place is a virtual paradise for surfing. It is a reliable surfing destination where you can enjoy surfing at any time of the year. The beach rarely gets packed, even in the height of the summer.
9. Algarve Cuisine offering an immense range of delicious regional dishes, is also one of major reasons for visiting the region. You can check out the regional specialties, such as seafood soups oregano snails, pork meat and “cataplana” clams, roasted dried octopus on the grill (Lagos style), and grilled squid and cuttlefish. And, don’t forget to taste the fig pastries, marzipan pastries, “D. Rodrigo” and “Morgado” from Tavira, puff pastries from Olhão, and almond paste and caramel pastries from Tavira.
10. Algarve Golf facilities are one of the finest in the world. Algarve really is a perfect destination for golf vacation. You can really find a large number of top class golf courses in the city. Some of the notable golf courses include Parque da Floresta, Boavista, Palmares, Álamos, Alto Golf, Gramacho, Morgado, Penina Academy, Silves Golf, and many more.

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10 reasons for you to visit the Algarve

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Usually people booking holidays in the Algarve are attracted by the region’s famous climate, beautiful beaches and the welcoming and courteous Portuguese hospitality. Many also come to enjoy sports activities including a whole range of exciting water sports, deep sea fishing and golf. The region is home to some of the world’s most physically challenging and visually exciting golf courses.

Photo by ASB@Photo

If you are planning to book holidays in the Algarve it’s recommended that you do it early in the year (e.g. around February/March) and don’t leave it for the last minute, by doing so you will not only be avoiding disappointments, but you will also manage to get the best deals and nice affordable packages. A good place to start checking for low price accommodation is in booking.com.

With over 100 pure white sand beaches spread over the coastline, Algarve holidays offer a varied choice of resorts that suits everyone who visits. Most of the resorts in the Algarve were originally small fishing villages which are now filled with beachfront hotels and apartments, and plenty of restaurants and bars, with some still retaining a charming, traditional feel with their narrow cobbled streets, and white-washed houses.

The main Algarve holiday resorts are centred around the lively town of Albufeira. West of Albufeira, Portimão is a cosmopolitan town with a rich, cultural heritage and is backed by pine covered hills and fields of wild flowers. The white sandy beaches and warm waters of Praia da Rocha lie close by. Vilamoura is a purpose built Algarve town that has its own attractive marina lined with shops, bars and cafes and has excellent sports facilities, particularly for golfers.

Photo by Roo Reynolds

For those in search of a lively holiday with plenty of nightlife, head for the main resort of Albufeira, with its’ vibrant strip full of bars, clubs and English-style restaurants, or if you’re looking for the best beaches in the Algarve, then try Praira da Oura, Açoteias or Praia de Falésia. The quieter resorts of Altura and Alvor offer a sleepy pace, and the inland towns and villages such as Estoi and Tavira show visitors a side of the Algarve that is rich in history and culture. Holidays in the Algarve cater for everyone, with resorts such as Vilamoura and Quinto de Lago offering top-of-the-range sporting facilities, with the emphasis on the excellent golf courses.

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Algarve holidays, when, where and how

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So, whether you want to see new places or revisit that beautiful spot you miss so much since your last vacations, I recommend visiting a unique collection of quality Touristic Algarve Webcams; here you will be able to see live pictures of popular tourism destinations in the Algarve. Have a look at unspoilt touristic places trough webcams in Tavira or other popular places like Portimão or Ferragudo and Carvoeiro in Lagoa.

If you prefer a more artistic approach check also the Flickr section of Algarve photos or Tony Pubrook’s Algarve Images site. Keep in mind that if you want to use any of those photos you should always check with the author first.

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Algarve Webcams for Travellers

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[algarve map]

There is also a good range of accommodation resources to choose from, from Resorts to Hotels, Guest Houses, Serviced Apartment and Bed and Breakfast. Most of the resorts in the Algarve were originally small fishing villages, now filled with beachfront Hotels and apartments.

Among the innumerous popular sports, Golf is the number one sport enjoyed in the Algarve, and the area boasts almost 20 courses, among which are some of the best in Europe; also Diving and a wealth of watersports are all available whilst enjoying a holiday in the Algarve. And don’t forget the recommended day trips inland to visit the traditional villages of the Algarve, as the scenic drives and walks through the lush green countryside.

With so many stuff to do and so little time, here I decided to compile a pack of goodies covering from what to see in the Algarve to where to stay in the Algarve, also including some tips of where to eat and what you should try.

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Holidays and Vacations in the Algarve

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