Fly to Faro Algarve

Furthermost south in Portugal, a couple of kilometers from the Atlantic coast is Faro. The old town, Vila Adentro is well preserved behind the old city walls.

For more than 500 years the Iberian peninsula was ruled by the Moors. In 1250 Portugal was recaptured by the Christians. Although many years have passed since the Moors lost control of Portugal and Spain, there are still many visible memories of this era.

You will recognize Moorish architecture in the old town of Faro, with its distinctive Arabic style. Unfortunately, Faro was hit by a powerful earthquake in 1755, which left large parts of the city in ruins. Fortunately for us who travel there today, the old town is still full of narrow alleys, beautiful churches and historic buildings that make the city well worth a visit.

The most famous places on the Algarve coast are Vilamoura, Albufeira and Portimão. You will find everything from small, family-run bed and breakfasts to large family resorts with a kids' club, activities and evening entertainment.

If you are looking for a slightly smaller place to go we can recommend the small island of Armona, east of Faro. This is as close as you will get to the Caribbean in Europe - at least in terms of mood, colors and style.

You get to Armona by taking the ferry a short trip out of the town of Olhão. Out here you will not find large hotels, only simple bed and breakfasts, guest houses and rental cabins.

Armona is well suited for surfers and kiters. There is a lot of wind out by the sea, but you will easily manage to find shelter from the wind in one of the bays or on the lee side of the island.

If you play golf, the Algarve coast can offer very good opportunities. You can choose from as many as 40 golf courses! Some courses are spectacularly located with fantastic sea views, while other courses are located in beautiful inland surroundings. This makes it easier to choose a course based on the season and weather conditions.

The climate on the Algarve coast is good for golfing. The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean means that you rarely get the intense heat here as within the Strait of Gibraltar. Precipitation during the winter months contributes to nature receiving a good supply of water so that the tracks can be kept in good condition.