Algarve Holidays - Cheap Package Holiday Deals

Algarve

The Algarve, southernmost region of Portugal, offers a fascinating mix of beaches, golf courses, nature reserves, market towns, fishing villages and Roman ruins. Castles, golf, water sports, delicious cuisine and year-round sun brings masses of visitors to the Algarve every year. Stretching from the Atlantic to the western border of Spain it offers breathtaking scenery, such as breathtaking cliffs, pristine beaches, secluded coves, nature reserves, vineyards and wooded mountains – any surprise why it’s such a popular tourist region?

The western part of the Algarve is internationally renowned for its rocky landscape and isolated bays. Visit lively resorts such as Albufeira and Lagos for fun in the sun, or explore the quaint fishing villages of Burgau and Salema for a quiet getaway. Go to the south-western corner of the region and explore the historical peninsula of Sagres, or hit up Carrapateira and Odeceixe on the wild west coast, where you can enjoy windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Faro is the capital of the region; a former Roman settlement, it’s full of history and culture. Enjoy the beautiful gardens and the lively nightlife in the walled Old City. For a bit of tranquillity, why not experience the natural beauty of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a protected area on the east coast of Faro and its unspoilt frontier islands, a natural habitat for local birds.

Move inland and you’ll find a pleasing mix of scenic landscapes, history and relaxation. Admire the Roman ruins of Milreu near Estoi and the Moorish architecture of Silves, stroll through the charming streets of Loulé or spend an afternoon relaxing in the thermal baths of Caldas de Monchique. Bike or walk the Via Algarviana, a 300-kilometer route through the flower-covered mountains of the Serra de Monchique and the Serra do Caldeirão.

And how can we forget the golf? The Algarve is famous for its golf the world over and has more than 35 beautiful golf courses scattered throughout the 155 kilometre long coastline of the region.

Sample the delicious cuisine of the region. The region prides itself on its fresh local ingredients, such as fish, almonds, grapes, oranges and figs. Enjoy traditional cuisine like açorda de mariscos, a seafood stew and bread that is truly to die for.

The easiest way to reach the Algarve is via a flight to Faro Airport. Once you’ve arrived, it’s easy to explore the area by car, via the extensive network of buses or even by bike. With on average 300 sunny days a year, the Algarve is a popular year-round destination for everyone from honeymooners to families, from food lovers to sports enthusiasts. There’s something for everyone.

Portugal is a great location for a bit of sun, sea and sand. If you like beach holidays in Algarve then you're sure to love our cheap beach holidays to Madeira or our Albufeira beach holidays. Book with Expedia and find out why.

Guide to Exploring Algarve

Vilamoura

Vilamoura is one of Portugal's luxury holiday spots, known for its sandy beaches, premier golf courses, vibrant nightlife, beautiful views and top restaurants.

Lagos

Lagos is a municipality that lies along the banks of Rio Serafim, Algarve, in southern Portugal. With around 22,000 residents, Lagos is one of the most visited cities in the Portugal, thanks to its beaches and the famous rock formations at Ponta da Piedade. Visitors come to enjoy good food, cool nightlife spots and beautiful sun kissed beaches.

Faro

Faro is a picturesque, medieval city in the South of Portugal, with cobbled streets, café terraces and a natural park complete with beautiful lagoons. For those looking for more than just sun and beaches, Algarve’s capital won’t disappoint. This peaceful, whitewashed city has friendly people, good food and exciting bars, on top of the sun, sea and sand.

Albufeira

Albufeira is a quaint coastal town where you’ll find some of the most beautiful and sunny beaches in Portugal. Cool off by swimming in the ocean or enjoy local dishes in a restaurant right on the beach. Of course, there’s more than just sea and sand. Wander the cobbled streets of the old city and visit the ruins of Paderne Castle. Go shopping for souvenirs in the city centre before spending your evenings in one of the many bars on the Strip.

Praia da Rocha

Praia da Rocha is an all year round holiday destination, known internationally for having one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Algarve. One of its most popular stretches of sand, Rock’s Beach, owes its name to the rocks that rise between the sand and the sea.

Sagres

Sagres is the most southwesterly settlement in the Algarve and is home to some of the most impressive landscapes in the region.

Lagoa

Lagoa is a town situated between Portimão and Silves in the centre of the Western Algarve. The town was founded around a lagoon, which is where the name Lagoa comes from. Its marshes were dried to create fertile farmland and homes for settlement.

Portimao

Portimãois a cosmopolitan city with a great selection of restaurants, bars, clubs,shops, a casino and a beautiful marina. It also has one of the best-knownbeaches in the Algarve,the Praia da Rocha.

Praia da Luz

Praia da Luz is a beautiful sandy beach located just 6 km away from Lagos in the Algarve, Portugal. It’s located in the picturesque village of Luz, known for its narrow roads lined with bougainvillea flowers.

Quarteira

Quarteira is a seaside city, characterised by high-rise buildings with beautiful views overlooking the beach. It has been a popular destination with visitors since the 1960’s.

Alvor

Found in the western part of Algarve, Alvor is a charming ancient village on the southern coast of Portimão. Situated at the mouth of the Alvor estuary it offers incredible scenic views, with the Atlantic Ocean to one side and the calm lagoon on the other.

Monte Gordo

Monte Gordo is a large town close to Vila Real de Santo António in the eastern Algarve. It’s a popular family destination thanks to its beautiful beach that’s backed by sand dunes, rather than the cliffs seen in the western Algarve. The region is blessed with a mild climate, wide pedestrian streets and a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from four star hotels to rental apartments.

Olhao

Olhão is a city in the eastern Algarve, home to the interesting island of Armona, which is part of the nature park, Ria Formosa, and the popular Fuseta and Armona beaches. It’s also home to the largest fishing port of the region.

Tavira

Nestled where the Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Tavira is a beautiful fishing town in the east of the Algarve. The Ilha de Tavira (Tavira Island), with its impressive 14 km of beach and delightful historic town, is a true highlight of the Algarve.

Porches

Porches is a small town near the coast in the municipality of Lagoa in the Algarve. It’s renowned for its traditional pottery, wine and singular architecture (namely the Algarvian chimney). For tourists seeking an active break, there’s golf, water sports, biking and tennis, as well as gyms and wellness centres. For those of you that just want to chill on the beach, look no further than the epic beach of Senhora da Rocha.

Carvoeiro

The Carvoeiro coastline is breathtakingly beautiful, with cliffs, caves, coves and beaches, crystal clear waters and smooth sand, attracting countless visitors throughout the year.

Silves

Silves is a picturesque city filled with orange and lemon trees, which is a favourite with those looking for a relaxed holiday, good food and culture.

Burgau

Burgau is a quiet fishing village, situated between Lagos and Sagres in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, known for its sheltered beach. If your idea of the perfect holiday is to relax in the sun and swim in the sea, this village will provide everything your heart desires.

Altura

Altura is an ideal destination for family holidays due to the easy access to safe beaches, great water quality and top notch selections of holiday accommodation right by the sea.

Valverde

Valverde or Vale Verde (Green Valley in English), is close to the peaceful village of Luz and around 6 km away from the vibrant town of Lagos. Located in the Barlavento Region, it’s a place of stunning natural beauty situated in the western part of the Algarve, characterized by an Atlantic climate, high cliffs and beautiful reddish-yellow rock formations with sandy beaches.

Conceicao e Cabanas de Tavira

Once a fishing port, Cabanas village is now a popular summer tourist destination in the municipality of Tavira, Algarve.

Monchique

Monchique is a beautiful village set up high in the Serra de Monchique, in between two mountains

Aljezur

The town of Aljezur is idyllically located in a green valley near the border of north-west Algarve. It’s perfect for those looking to get up close and personal with nature with a little hiking or cycling, but would equally suit those looking for secluded beaches and gorgeous sea views. Aljezur truly is an ideal location for a relaxing escape.

Pera

Pêra is a beautiful village with old-world charm. With its narrow cobblestone streets, built for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles, and cute architecture from times gone by, it truly makes for a gorgeous, quaint retreat under the Algarvian sun. The proximity to the beaches and dunes of Praia Grande and birdwatching in the Salgados Lagoon doesn’t hurt either.

Alte

Alte is a pretty village, set deep in the countryside of central Algarve. Away from the touristy coast, Alte is considered to be one of the best-preserved villages in the Algarve, with its whitewashed houses topped with traditional chimneys and quaint cobblestone streets. It is the ideal spot for a relaxing holiday by the village’s springs and waterfalls or as a base for exploring nearby towns and villages like Silves, Messines and Albufeira.

Guia

Guia is a large village in the municipality of Albufeira, Central Algarve, about 5 km away from the sea, which offers a large number of accommodation, ranging from large beach and golf resorts to self-catering villas with swimming pools.

Luz

Luz, is a civil parish located about 6 kilometres from the city of Lagos in the Algarve. "Praia da Luz", which translates to ‘Beach of the Light’, is used to refer to both the local beach as well as the village.

Quinta do Lago

Quinta do Lago is a luxury golf resort located in Almancil, Central Algarve, just a short 15 minute drive away from Faro Airport. It is located in a region of stunning natural beauty and contains a pine forest and lake, several beaches, as well as the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Vale do Lobo

Vale do Lobo is one of the largest luxury golf resorts in the Algarve, covering an area of approximately three square km. On top of the top notch golf, the resort also offers tennis, sailing, other sports and pristine beaches. There’s never a dull moment in Vale do Lobo.

Portimao

Portimão is a busy city located near the mouth of the Rio Arade, in the western Algarve. Well known for being an international port of call for cruise ships, it has vibrant a waterfront surrounded by gardens, cafés, fresh seafood restaurants and lively streets and attracts countless visitors throughout the year.

Carvoeiro

Carvoeiro is charming town in the central Portugal, with traditional white houses, narrow cobbled streets and wonderful beaches.

Vilamoura

Yachts, golf, up-scale accommodation and restaurants: This purpose-built Algarve resort is a stylish retreat with a scenic waterfront.

Tavira

Tavira is a quaint town in the Eastern Algarve. Visitors come here to enjoy its beautiful beaches, grand architecture - like the Rococo-style Carmo Church - and to enjoy a quiet, relaxed getaway.

Sagres

Sagres is a small village located near the southwest tip of Europe in Vila do Bispo, Algarve. It attracts an increasing number of families, divers and surfers every year who visit for its dramatic landscapes and beautiful beaches.

Armacao de Pera

Armacao de Pera is one of the most popular summer holiday spots in the Algarve, thanks to its high quality hotels, long and pristine white beaches and traditional fishing community and restaurants that provide incredible seafood.

Odeceixe

Laying on a steep hill that divides the Algarve and the Alentejo is Odeceixe, a welcoming, laidback village in the northern part of the municipality of Aljezur. Odeceixe is an ideal spot for holidaymakers seeking a peaceful stay, surrounded by natural beauty and breathtaking sea views.