Welcome to the Official Algarve Addicts Blog!
If you are looking to completely re-locate to the Algarve sunshine, or just looking for a Southern-Portuguese getaway, then this blog is absolutely for you. Read on to discover everything you need to know about one of the most beautiful places on earth!
About the Algarve
The Algarve region is the southernmost province of Portugal stretching the entire width of the country in a block 150km wide by about 50km high giving it a total area of almost 5,000 km2. It truly is a fascinating area filled with great hotels, unbelievable beaches and the most stunning cliffs, coves and caves.
Why would you want to visit the Algarve?
Here are a few reasons to enjoy some time out in one of Europe’s most beautiful little hideaways:
- Weather. It’s incredible, it really is. I have lived here since 2000 and it constantly amazes me how good the weather is in the Algarve. They say 300 days of sunshine and they’re right. Five months or more of summer. What could go wrong?
- Hotels. With over 500 hotels to choose from and 10,000 “Airbnb’s” you’re spoiled for choice; from campervans to six-star suites; from yurts to bed and breakfasts. the Algarve will cater for your particular style of accommodation.
- Food and wine (not to mention Port!). Portuguese food is fresh and simple and you’ll come to love the ubiquitous seafood. Head inland for a bit and gorge yourself on meat specialties like wild boar and duck rice. A growing movement of nutritious, wholesome and sometimes vegan restaurants cater for the body conscious. The Algarve wine scene is bubbling up and competing with the classics of Portugal. We’ll definitely enjoy some great food and wine conversations.
- Golf is big here. 35 or so golf courses offer a varied and exciting challenge for all levels of golfers. Go on and putt into the forgiving greens of Benamor near Tavira or drive down the cliff top fairways at Vale do Lobo. To top it all off, every year the Portuguese Masters plays home to the Pro’s in Vilamoura.
- Beaches. There are about 130 golden sandy beaches spread out along the 200km of Algarve coastline. Head to the west for wild, rugged cliffs and isolated little havens of sand. The southern coast is calm and peaceful in summer with long sandy panoramas punctuated with rocky sections of cliffs, caves and coves. We’ll find some beach bums to chat to about the Algarvian beaches and their massive differences.
- Surfing. Ever since Garret McNamara flew in from Hawaii and landed the world’s biggest wave in Nazaré, the Portuguese surf scene has been generating buzz world-wide. No longer the preserve of the select few who picked out a couple of weeks a year to surf Portugal’s mythical waves, surf tourism is now big business. The Algarve has a ton of surf schools and even more surf spots which cater from the beginner to the advanced.
- Watersports. Other watersports have taken off hugely here and now you can hire almost any form of water vessel and practice your chosen pastime in the stunning surroundings of southern Portugal. Think stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, parasailing, jet skis and even some of the rarer and newer sports like flyboarding.
- Arts and crafts. Hunt out unique souvenirs in some of the artier sections of the Algarve. Porches is famed for its pottery and Lagos has a plethora of interesting places to buy jewellery, ceramic tiles, embroidery, baskets, paintings and leather.
- Countryside. For the more adventurous you can explore away from the typical (and slightly stereotyped) beach holiday, spending a day exploring inland in a multitude of ways:
- Hiking
- Biking
- Jeep safaris
- Motorized buggy trips
- Horse riding
- or just hire a car and cruise the back roads!
- History. Delve deep into Portugal’s history through Roman Ruins, old churches, chapels and cathedrals and the remains of Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. You’ll see elements of what made the country a world power in the 16th century.
- Nightlife. Naturally there is a pulsing night life in summer, but you’ll need to know where to go. Don’t just arrive in any Algarvian resort and expect world class clubs and bars, head down to Portimão (Praia da Rocha), Albufeira and Vilamoura for your fix of all things dark and sparkly.
- Budget. A great reason to visit the Algarve is that is great value for money. There are some really expensive spots but if you do your homework the normal places are probably way cheaper than back home.
- English! Yes! Most locals in the Algarve speak English. You’ll struggle a little further north in places like Lisbon and Porto but the Algarvians have been catering to tourists since the 70’s. It’s almost tough to learn Portuguese here as it’s so easy to speak English on a day to day basis.
- Safety. Portugal has recently been listed, as of 2020, the 3rd safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index. How serene is that?
Looking to relocate to the Algarve?
If you are serious about re-locating to the Algarve, then please follow the link below and click “SUBSCRIBE” to receive your Algarve factsheet, with all the relevant information and contacts to help you begin the process!
Looking for an Algarvian getaway or holiday?
If you would like some more general information on the Algarve, or some guidance on where would best suit you to visit, then please follow the link below to our YouTube channel. We have a video on everything you could possibly need to know…
ALGARVE ADDICTS YOUTUBE CHANNEL
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