Local beaches
All of our rental properties are within walking distance or just a few minutes’ drive from a superb selection of eight outstanding Blue Flag beaches, known for their cleanliness, safety, and excellent facilities. Each beach offers bar-restaurants, sunbed hire, and good access, making them ideal for relaxed family days by the sea.
Praia da Galé & Praia dos Salgados
These neighbouring beaches form one of the longest continuous sandy stretches in the Algarve, extending around 6 km toward Armação de Pêra. They offer wide open space, perfect for long walks, beach games, and quiet sunbathing spots even in peak season. Facilities include several beach bar restaurants and a range of water sports such as surfing, SUP, and jet ski. Multiple access points are wheelchair friendly. Pedras Amarelas beach bar is especially popular for sunset drinks on its decked terrace.
Praia de São Rafael
A picturesque cove surrounded by impressive golden rock formations and clear turquoise water. São Rafael is ideal for swimming and snorkelling, with calmer conditions on many days. It has a good beach restaurant, sunbeds, and easy parking nearby, making it a favourite for both families and couples.
Praia da Coelha
A smaller, sheltered beach reached by a short scenic path, offering a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Known for its clear water and attractive setting between cliffs, it is excellent for swimming and snorkelling. There is a well-regarded beach restaurant and good facilities despite its cosy size.
Praia do Evaristo
A charming, compact beach with rocky features and natural pools at low tide, popular for exploring and snorkelling. It has a renowned beachfront restaurant and a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for guests looking for something a little quieter and more traditional.
Together, these beaches provide a wide variety of experiences — from long open sandy bays with water sports to smaller scenic coves — all close to our villas and apartments.
Climate
The Algarve enjoys the best climate in Europe with over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.
The climate type is warm wet winters, tempered by the ocean, and hot dry summers. (although really the Algarve is a 3 season region, and does not have a winter season) Rain normally arrives anytime from the end of October, with most rainfall in January, and then sporadic, coming to an end around early May.
Total annual rainfall is only 300mm, but a large percentage can fall in just one day! Temperatures: The annual average is 17º / 18ºc.
In January the coldest it can reach is around 6ºc (night temperature) for just a short period, with often bright sunny days with 15ºc, and in the summer from the high 20's to mid 30's c.
Places to visit
The Algarve offers a wide range of activities for all ages and holiday styles. To make planning easier, here are recommended experiences grouped into Family Fun and Relax, with specific places to visit and what each is best known for.
Family Fun
Water Parks
- Slide & Splash (Lagoa) – One of the largest water parks in Portugal, with the widest variety of thrill rides and attractions. Best feature: high-adrenaline slides and large multi-person raft rides. Recommended for ages 6+ (excellent for teens and adults, with a dedicated children’s zone).
- Zoomarine (Guia) – Marine theme park combining water attractions with animal presentations and aquarium areas. Best feature: dolphin presentations and marine education experiences. Recommended for all ages, especially families with children 3–14.
- Aqualand (Alcantarilha) – Smaller and easy to navigate. Best feature: compact layout and shorter queues. Recommended for ages 3–12.
- Aquashow Park (Quarteira) – Water park plus amusement rides. Best feature: combination of water slides and roller coasters. Recommended for all ages.
- Krazy World (Algoz) – Animal and activity park. Best feature: reptile exhibits and interactive areas. Recommended for ages 3–12.
Adventure & Outdoor Fun
- Albufeira Adventure Park (Arborismo) - Tree-top adventure circuits with rope bridges and zip lines set in a pine forest. Best feature: multiple difficulty levels so both children and adults can participate. Recommended from approx. age 5+ (courses by height/level).
- Algarve Jeep Safari Tours - Guided off-road countryside tours through villages, hills and orange groves. Best feature: cultural stops, viewpoints and local tastings along the route. Suitable for all ages.
- Serra de Monchique - Scenic mountain trips and viewpoints.
- Alte village - Natural springs and traditional Algarve setting.
- Almancil Karting Professional track with junior karts.
Sea & Beach Activities
- Boat trips to caves and grottoes (Benagil area) - Sea cave access and coastal tours. All ages.
- Dolphin watching - Guided marine wildlife trips. Ages 4+.
- Kayak & SUP tours - Explore cliffs and caves. Ages 8+.
- Surf schools - Beginner lessons available. Ages 6+.
Relax
- Spa & Wellness - Recommended Algarve Spas
- Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel - Monchique — Detox and wellness programmes.
- Monchique Thermal Spa - Mineral water treatments.
- Vila Vita Parc Spa by Sisley - Porches — Luxury spa experiences.
- Anantara Vilamoura Spa - Signature massage and day packages.
- Conrad Algarve Spa - Quinta do Lago — Award-winning facilities.
- EPIC SANA Algarve Spa - Modern wellness centre.
Fine Dining — Michelin & Signature Restaurants
- Ocean Restaurant – Vila Vita Parc — Two Michelin stars, seafood tasting menus.
- Vila Joya Restaurant - Galé — Two Michelin stars, landmark fine dining.
- Bon Bon – Carvoeiro — Michelin star, modern Portuguese cuisine.
- Gusto by Heinz Beck – Almancil — Michelin star, contemporary fine dining.
- A Ver Tavira – Tavira — Michelin star, regional gastronomy.
Quality Casual Restaurants — Galé & Guia Area
- Praia da Galé Restaurant — Reliable beachfront dining, fresh fish and Portuguese classics.
- Pedras Amarelas (Salgados) — Beach bar-restaurant, excellent for relaxed sunset meals.
- Restaurante São Domingos (Galé) — Traditional Portuguese menu, very popular locally.
- Bellavita (Galé) — Good Italian option, family friendly.
- Apolónia Café & Terrace (Galé) — Light meals and daytime dining.
Guia (famous for chicken piri-piri)
- Ramires — Most famous piri-piri chicken restaurant in the region.
- Teodósio — Traditional grilled chicken and Algarve dishes.
- O Vieira — Well-known local grill restaurant.
- Adega dos Salgados — Portuguese cuisine and regional wines.
Sunset & Easy Evenings
- Beach sunset bars in Galé & Salgados
- Marina restaurants in Albufeira
- Seafront terraces in São Rafael area
Our local office team can recommend and arrange bookings and reservations, helping you balance activity and relaxation throughout your Algarve stay.
Suggestions for a day out
Silves & Monchique
Head for Silves, explore, have a drink, and then drive on to Caldas Monchique (you will pass the Quinta do Francis winery), a small spa town, and then continue up to Foia, above Monchique town, which is the highest point in the Algarve at 458m, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the region. Monchique is also well known for its medronho, a strong drink distilled from the berries of the arbutus (strawberry) tree.
Cape St Vincent
The most south westerly point of Europe. Henry the Navigator's Fortaleza at Sagres, where Sir Francis Drake raided and stole the then superior Portuguese maps. Just beside is the Rosa dos Ventos (wind compass) made in pebbles, unearthed beneath a church in 1921.
Alte
One of the prettiest villages in the Algarve, consisting of a series of narrow cobbled streets gathered on the hillside.
Wine Tastings
Local Algarve wineries with award winning wines. Quinta do Frances (on the road from Silves to Monchique) and Quinta dos Vales (take the EN 125 and you will see their sign just after Lagoa).
Rio Formosa Nature Park
An interesting, signed, 2/3 hour walk with descriptive boards of local fauna and flora, and a restored tidal mill.