Stay & Explore Algarve guide
Stay & Explore - Algarve guide In the Algarve, you re guaranteed a few things mesmerising Atlantic sunsets, wildlife-rich lagoons and seafood-laced platters being but three of them. This Portuguese region is simply brimming with serene suntraps and cultural gems. Whether you re visiting for the first time or are a seasoned Algarve holidaymaker, there s always a few of these spots just waiting for you to discover them. Guides are on site to tell you everything you need, like where to find the best local delicacies, how to get around and which sites to visit. Let Saga be your in-the-know advisor, while still giving you the freedom to explore all the beaches, caves and basilicas at your own pace. Getting around the Algarve
Our Local Expert recommendations It s easy for you to delve into the local way of life on your Stay & Explore holiday in the Algarve. Just ask your local expert for travel tips on your arrival and enjoy the array of sights and sensations on offer. Must-see sights and must-do events Vilamoura Nature watching tips: the waters surrounding Vilamoura see warm Mediterranean currents mix into colder Atlantic streams and are home to white marlin, swordfish and hammerhead sharks. To get your fix of nature inland, go to the Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura, which is home to kingfishers, purple herons and mallards. Historic landmarks: head to the Roman Ruins of Cerro da Vila. These remnants show classic roman architecture, harking back to some of the Algarve s first inhabitants. Golf: there s five golf courses within easy reach of both the Luna Olympus and Vilamoura Garde hotels which cater for all ability levels. Vilamoura Carnival Sailing week (February): Vilamoura s marina comes alive in February, with a congregation of yachts from Portugal and beyond. Find yourself a good seat and enjoy the show. Lagos Historic landmarks: Mercado dos Escravos was Europe s first slave market, dating back to 1444. Today, it serves as a poignant reminder of the horrors many slaves endured. Natural beauty: go to the sea arches and caves of Ponta de Piedade on the shoreline of Lagos. This spectacle comprises rocky pillars, caves and towering golden sandstone cliffs. Pleasures of the Sea festival (June): this takes place in Aljezur, a municipality roughly 30 minutes drive from Lagos. This occurs throughout the whole of June and involves chefs running tasting sessions of locally sourced seafood dishes. Vilamoura Lagos
Faro Sightseeing: Faro is the Algarve s capital and has historic credentials in abundance. Organised tours can give you a comprehensive insight to the city, but if you re stuck on what to do, a trip to the Cathedral of Faro never ceases to amaze. Praia da Rocha Historic landmarks and cultural sights: drive from Praia da Rocha to the region s socalled Moorish capital, Silves. Visit the castle here and gaze over stretching Portuguese vistas. You can walk to nearby Portimao to see the Museu de Portimao, which gives an insight into the fishing and canning industries which were the backbone of this town s economy before tourism arrived. Natural beauty: Falesia Beach is a short distance from Praia da Rocha and is one of the region s most renowned strips of sand, overlooked by gorgeous golden-brown cliffs. Alvor Scenic walks: not far from Portimao, Alvor s boardwalk and estuary trail takes you through Ria de Alvor Nature Reserve, including sand dunes, farmland and freshwater marshes Silves Sand City festival (may to October): otherwise known as the International Sand Sculpture Festival, this internationally renowned event which takes place in Pera, near Silves. Every year around 45,000 tons of sand gets sculpted into an array of movie stars, intricate buildings and much more. Lagoa Vineyards: the Quinta dos Vales wine estate is situated just outside of Lagoa. Visitors can engage in tasting sessions, tours of the estate and look at the sculptures which are dotted throughout. Portimao Museums and cultural sights: visit the Museu de Portimao gives an insight into the fishing and canning industries, which were the backbone of this town s economy before tourism arrived. The Igreja do Colegio, a majestic 17th church, is one of the town s most sacred sights and worth visiting for alone. Gypsy market (monthly): open on the first Monday of every month, except August and November, this market can be found by the waterfront.
Quarteira Beaches: across from the Hotel QuarteiraSol, there s the Praia de Quarteira. This classic Algarve beach has been reeling in holidaymakers since the 1960s, and to this day holds Blue Flag status thanks to its cleanliness. Quarteira Carnival (February): occurring during the second week of February, this festival draws influence from flamboyant Brazilian-style celebrations and is made up of gigantic floats and processions of sweaty, glittery dancers. Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December): taking place annually on the 7th and 8th of December, Quarteira s tribute to the Virgin Mary sees street processions and boat trips dedicated to the patron saint. New Year s Eve in Quarteira (December): Head to the seafront to see musical performances and fireworks bring in the new year in style. Faro Praia da Rocha Alvor Silves Lagoa Quarteira
How to explore the Algarve All transport prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. You have so many options when you want to strike out from your cosy hotel and uncover the colour and character of the Algarve whether you want to travel by car, bus or even bike. Take a look at your choices as laid out by our Local Experts. Vilamoura There s a bus terminal near the marina in Vilamoura. Frequent services run approximately every 30 to 40 minutes, and go to Faro alongside other destinations. Typically, a bus from Vilamoura to Faro takes 50 minutes, while numerous services run throughout the day. If you were heading to Albufeira, a coastal city east of Vilamoura, the journey would take around 35 minutes. Both trips cost around 4. Travelling by train from Vilamoura Unfortunately, there isn t a train station in Vilamoura, the nearest ones being Boliqueime, 15 minutes away by road, or Loule, 20 minutes by road. These stations can link you to the wider Algarve, with prices for these journeys ranging from around 2 to 6, depending on where you re travelling. Lagos Lagos bus station, located a short walk from the Hotel Tivoli Lagos, is a pickup point for the ONDA bus service, which links Lagos to its surrounding beaches. Day tickets for this cost just over 3.50, while individual tickets come to 1.20. Another service, called the EVA, runs to locations outside of Lagos. You can use this to get to Albufeira in just over an hour, and to Faro in just over two. Both of these journeys cost a little over 5. Travelling by train from Lagos Lagos train station is a half-hour walk from the Aqualuz Suite Hotel. Train routes here span the entire Algarve coast, taking you to Silves in 35 minutes or Faro in one hour 45 minutes. Prices for these trips are 3 (Silves) and 7 (Faro). In Lagos, there s a tourist train that takes half an hour to run from the marina to the Ponta da Piedade cliffs. This runs between 10am and 7pm and takes you across all the city s main sites for around 2.50. Praia da Rocha A bus stop is situated 450 metres from the Hotel Oriental. You ll need to get a bus to Portimao if you re wanting to go further afield, with routes from here to Lagos departing regularly and taking just over 30 minutes, with a return ticket costing you 8. Getting to Faro from here takes one hour 45 minutes and return tickets cost around 12.
Travelling by train from Praia da Rocha If you want to travel by train, then you ll also need to get to Portimao, although getting on a service here can be a quicker alternative to bussing it. Train routes from Portimao to Lagos take 20 minutes, whereas it ll take an hour and a half to get to Faro, with regular services running daily. Quarteira When staying in the Hotel QuarteiraSol, you re just a quick walk from the bus station. Routes can take you around Quarteira and Vilamoura for 1. You can also go to the Algarve s other main hotspots, like Albufeira and Faro, both of which cost 9 for a return journey. They run between 8am to 7pm, so you can tick off the wider region s attractions and still get back to Quarteira in time for dinner. Travelling by train from Quarteira For train services you ll have to travel to either Loule or Almancil, both of which are a 15-minute bus ride away. From there, you re a quarter of an hour train ride from Faro costing 2 each way and a 75-minute journey from Tavira, which costs around 4 to 5. Car hire in the Algarve You might want to rent a vehicle for your Algarve holiday. In which case, speak to a Saga tour guide who ll be more than happy to help with the process. This ll mean you re free to uncover the area s most secluded spots at a pace which suits you, going between them as you please. Simply talk to the local expert on arrival and ensure you bring the relevant documentation on holiday with you.
Food and drink It takes a lot to top succulent Algarve sunsets, but the taste sensations here could do just that. Food Fish and seafood are highly revered here, thanks to the region s coastal location. Garlic is a staple of many dishes and quite often, chefs will cook meals with whole cloves still in their skins! Camarao Poruguese is a local speciality comprising prawns (in their shells) fried in olive oil and garlicy butter, sprinkled with coriander and a bay leaf. Wine You ll find that alcohol is reasonably priced in the Algarve, but the quality is still everything you d expect from a warm country straddling the Mediterranean. Local wine is produced in vineyards near Lagoa, Portimao and Tavira. Most restaurants solely serve Portuguese wine, although there are some serving varieties from Spain and elsewhere. For an easy way to replenish on hot days, order a glass of green wine. It s a regional speciality, made from a younger grape than white wine and comprising a lower alcohol volume. White port, similar to Spanish sherry, is also a popular drink of choice for many locals. Beer In terms of beer, there are three main brands sold in the Algarve Sagres, Super Bock and Cristal. These are often on tap, although you ll also come across more common international lagers that you d find back home, which tend to be more expensive. Spirits Aguardente is a Portuguese brandy which ll leave a fiery taste in your throat. It s the region s most famous spirit, but you ll need a stomach of steel if you plan to sup on more than one of these.