With 300 days of sunshine each year, fantastic beaches and many world-class golf courses, the Algarve is one of Portugal's most desirable luxury holiday destinations.
Portugal boasts a rich seafaring heritage, superb beach resorts, romantic villages, fashionable cities and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheatfields and luxury Algarve holidays combine all of these elements to create a stunning holiday destination.
A land of cultural diversity, clear blue skies and long stretches of rugged beaches, a holiday to the Algarve offers infinite options for any traveller.
The Algarve is synonymous with superb beaches and top-class sports facilities. Faro, the regional capital, contains an intriguing old town. Elsewhere, market towns like Loule, famous for crafts such as leather and copper, fishing villages like Armacao de Pera and cities like Silves, a walled city with a 12th-century cathedral, are worth visiting.
Nearly 40 years after the legendary Henry Cotton put the Algarve on the golfing map, it remains the ultimate year-round golf destination. With 18 beautifully tended golf courses, including the Arnold Palmer-designed Victoria Golf course which is overlooked by the Anantara Vilamoura resort there's no shortage of putting action.
Kelsey
Travel Specialist
Where to go in Algarve
Portugal travel information
When to visit Portugal
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- Time zone: GMT +0
- Flight time: 2.5 - 3.5 hours
- Recommended airlines: British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Tipping guideline: 10% to 15%
- Health considerations: No major health risks.
- Capital: Lisbon
- Population: 10,223,348
- National languages: Portuguese
- Electricity and plugs: Type C/F<br>230V
- Mobile phone coverage: Good coverage
- UK passport visa requirements: You don't need a visa for Portugal if you have a British passport - for a maximum of 90 days
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For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware