Place of interest

1 Praia da Marinha

This particularly beautiful stretch of beach received the Golden Beach award a few years ago. Photos of the robust cliffs on this beautiful beach have been central to the promotion of Portugal in various holiday brochures. Not only the cliffs are special, the beautiful clear water is also of unprecedented class. Because the water is fairly calm, it attracts many snorkelers. Keep in mind the many stairs going down to get to the crazy beach. Several boat trips in the area have excursions to see more of the coast such as the caves.
www.bijdiereplaatsen.nl/portugal/algarve/praia-marinha.htm

2 Silves

The great feature of Silves is its castle “Castelo dos Mouros” on top of a mountain top. Various excavations have been found in the area around this castle that show that some buildings date from the 8th century. The Muséeu Municipal de Arquelógia gives you the chance to find out more about objects from the Stone Age. The cathedral in the center is from the 13th century. This special city has another museum. Namely the cork museum “Fábrica do Inglês” with a documentation center, archive, beautiful garden, cozy terrace and a children’s park.
www.mooistedorpjes.nl/portugal/algarve/silves

3 Caldas de Monchique (spa town)

The Romans already knew it. Bathing in wonderful water calms the mood and brings a lot of peace to the body. In the beautiful valley of the Serra de Monchique mountains you will find spring water of approximately 33 C˚ at the thermal baths of Caldas de Monchique. The area is very green and peaceful. It is very fertile, which can be seen in the banana, orange and olive trees. There are various walking routes through this beautiful piece of nature. The town of Monchique itself is still very traditional.

4 Lagos

With its historic center and shipyard, Lagos is a friendly tourist destination. Especially in the summer there is plenty to experience in this old maritime city. Well-known natural sights are Ponta da Piedade, Laguna de Alvor and Mata Nacional de Barão de S. João. Walls of the old town can be found around the old districts of Santa Maria and São Sebastião. Various forts and castles can be visited in this beautiful town of Lagos. The fort on the harbor in particular is worth a visit. This is Forta da Ponta da Bandeira, which nowadays no longer needs to protect the port, but provides insight into the maritime history of Lagos.
www.mooistedorpjes.nl/portugal/algarve/lagos

5 Albufeira

Due to its ideal location on the coast, the seaside town of Albufeira is highly sought after by many tourists. The famous nightlife of Albufeira is mainly on “the strip”. This is an area with many bars, clubs and other forms of entertainment. The cozy marina has a lot to offer, such as various boat trips along the many beautiful bays of the Algarve. You will find the most beautiful beaches at Praia dos Pescadores, Fischerman’s beach and Praia do Tunel. The latter can be reached in a special way, namely through a tunnel through the rocks. Close to Albufeira, about 8 km away, is the Paderne castle with parts of the partially remaining city walls.
www.mooistedorpjes.nl/portugal/algarve/albufeira/

6 Sagres Point

The most outer southwestern tip of Europe is Sagres Point. Here is also a 16th century fortress with compass rose and cannons. There are many quiet beaches with high cliffs nearby. In the beautiful natural park “Costa Vicentina Natural Park” you can admire flora and fauna on approximately 76,000 hectares. Cape St Vincent is located at a distance of approximately 6 kilometers. The only building on this promontory is the 24 meter high lighthouse that is built on the ruins of an old monastery.

7 Portimão

The city of Portimão is located on the southern coast of Portugal. The city of Portimão is particularly famous among sailors. Large and prestigious sailing events are regularly held. The “World Match Racing Tour” attracts many visitors from all over the world. In this sporting city, more sports are being fought on the water, including Powerboating. The city itself is mainly characterized by the mix of 19th and 20th century buildings. You can make various excursions such as to the caves, dolphin watching and fishing trips. There are also boat trips to nearby Silves.

8 Vila Real de Santo António

The lighthouse of the city of Vila Real de Santo António is a good landmark. The area between this city and the coast is the resort of Monte Gordo. The main road of Vila Real de Santo António runs right through these two places. The large central square of Vila Real de Santo António is surrounded by orange trees and low-built shops and restaurants. Nearby is a museum “Museu de Manuel Cabanas” about the local artist who is known as the largest wood engraver in Portugal. Not far from here is the picturesque town of Alcoutim.

9 Praia da Luz

Many holiday villas and resorts make Praia da Luz a small holiday paradise. Along the coastline there are many diving schools, surf schools, restaurants, discos and shops. A little higher in the mountains are some archaeological excavations, including a Roman bath. Those looking for a little more adventure can go to Praia da Luz. So you can take cliff walks with a beautiful view as a treat. But there is more to do. Think water skiing, horse riding, tennis, sailing, mountain biking and paragliding. The historic town of Lagos is around 10 minutes away.

10 Alcoutim

The place Alcoutim is an important river port in history. Alcoutim is located on the Guadiana River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean via Vila Real de Santo António. There is a 14th century castle with a small archaeological museum. Alcoutim used to be known for its rich copper and iron mines. Now it is mainly many types of handicrafts and agriculture that the inhabitants live on.