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Welcome to this Tourist Guide about the Portuguese Algarve.
Besides this Introduction with some general information, I have provided the most interesting cities in the Algarve with a page of its own. You can find them via the map on the City pages as where you can also find a distance table.
General Tourist Information about, for instance, opening hours shops, post offices, car rental,
money etc. can be found on the page Touristic info. The Language Guide contains common Portuguese words and phrases.
On the Weatherpage you can find the current weather but also statistics.
NEW, just added! - The Hotels page! - Algarve hotels at lower prices!! Up to 15% discount on early bookings!
NEW! - The Car Hire pages! - Upon arrival your car will be ready on the by you requested location. On-line booking discount 25%!
NEW! - Just added several Holiday Homes and Apartments!
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The Algarve stretches across the whole of southern Portugal. Its name derives from the Arabic
El-Gharb meaning "west". Although the Algarve has been occupied by the Moors for
600 years, besides some city- and castlewalls in Silves and
Tavira, there are hardly any remainders. Nevertheless all houses in the
Algarve are still being build with those typical arabic chimneys. The Romans however left several
bridges and ruins
East of Faro the coast is known as the leeward shore. The area stretching eastwards to the Spanish
border forms an unusual lagoon landscape closed by sandy islets. A great part of the coastline has
been declared a protected area, namely Parque natural da Ria Formosa.
The windward shore is the Algarve's most famous stretch of coast. Ochre - coloured cliffs plunge
down to the beach and the turquoise sea surges into coves and grottoes.
The interior of the Algarve is still relatively unknown. The flower-decked, whitewashed villages
have managed to preserve their traditional appearance, where handicrafts are still an important
industry for the local population.
The year-round scents alone are worth the visit, with eucalyptus, pine, lavender and rock-rose
all growing here in abundance.
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Cabo São Vicente - near Sagres
Ponta de Sagres
Cabo Carvoeiro
Algar Seco - near Carvoeiro
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Ponta da Piedade - near Lagos
Monchique
Xorino Grotto - near Albufeira
Roman ruins of Milreu - near Estoi
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List of all Algarve Tourist Offices:
Click Here
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Região de Turismo do Algarve
Avª 5 de Outubro, 18
8000 FARO
Tel. ++351 289-800400
Fax. ++351 289-800489
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Posto de Turismo do Aeroporto de Faro
Aeroporto Internacional de Faro
8001-701 FARO
Tel. ++351 289-818582
turismo.aeroporto@rtalgarve.pt
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The Algarve region is popular for its great weather and selection of fine hotels, but for people who prefer more privacy,
villas in Portugal are a great option. The Algarve coast has a superb choice of villas, some within exclusive golf resorts, others on the coast itself with stunning views out across the Atlantic.
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Almost all of the places have one or more camping sites, more info on the "city" pages and in the Campsites section!
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Yor car hire Portugal cares about your holidays in Portugal.
We believe that the Algarve is one of the world´s most attractive and congenial holidays destinations. Few areas are over-developed and the coastline, with its golden beaches, is simply wonderful - mile after mile of it remains completely unspoilt.
With Faro car hire driving just a few miles inland you are in a timewarp. The roads are greatly improved but otherwise life is much as it has been for centuries.
Try exploring on a
Car Hire Algarve trip. You must explore the fabulous coastline, It will be the highlight of your stay and you will understand why so many visitors return.
The Algarve is less than 160 km from side to side, but so diverse.
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Portugal receives around 27 million tourists every year with most of them travelling to the Algarve coast for their holidays.
Although there is a small airport at Portimao and the Spanish city of Seville is just 130 kilometers from the Portuguese border, most airlines chose to operate their flights to Faro as the main arrival hub, with convenient transport links to the key resort areas of Tavira, Vilamoura, Albufeira, Carvoeiro, and Praia de Rocha near Portimao.
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