Holidays to the Algarve step up to the plate in every department. In beach terms, the place is like royalty, and the supporting cast of fairways and family attractions is on the money, too.

Family ingredients

It’s impossible to pick fault with the Algarve’s kid-friendly CV. Every beach worth its salt comes with a full roster of watersports, and the eating out scene juggles home favourites with Portuguese seafood and fiery piri-piri chicken. Theme and waterparks are in good supply, and there are go-karting tracks, zoos and little and large golf courses. The whole lot’s propped up by a spread of family-focused hotels.

Five-star sands

Blue Flags are given out like hot cakes in these parts, and it’s easy to see why when you eye up the sandy beaches. These chunky, wave-lapped waterfronts are easily the Algarve’s forte. Lively Albufeira’s got more than 10 accredited stretches around it, plus enough bars and restaurants to keep you hanging around once the sun’s gone down. Elsewhere, Praia da Rocha, Gale and Olhos d’Agua all earn their Blue Flag stripes, too.

Little-known neighbours

Let the front-runners drift out of focus, and the Algarve’s second tier of seaside towns comes to the fore. They’re not your standard package holiday haunts, either. Take the fishing village of Alvor, which has stuck with its traditional image. Cobbled streets lead down to golden sands where you could hear a penny drop, and bumpy rock formations poke up from the shore and shallows.

At a Glance

  • Play a few holes on a top-rated fairway
  • Start a checklist of Blue Flag beaches
  • Hit the flumes at an adrenaline-pumping waterpark

Top Destinations

TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN THE ALGARVE

BEACHES

SHOPPING

NIGHTLIFE

FOOD & DRINK