Algarve, Portugal

At a glance · 5 reasons to go

Why Algarve, Portugal.

1. 1

   The Algarve is a 150-kilometre run of golden cliffs and hidden coves — Praia da Marinha and the sea caves of Benagil (reachable only by kayak or boat) are among the most photographed coastlines in Europe.

2. 2

   It is one of the world’s top golf destinations — courses like Monte Rei, Quinta do Lago, and San Lorenzo draw players year-round to the mild winters.

3. 3

   Lagos and Tavira preserve cobbled old towns and Moorish history; Tavira alone has 37 churches and a Roman-era bridge.

4. 4

   The seafood is the point — cataplana stews, grilled sardines, and the clams of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a protected wetland teeming with birdlife.

5. 5

   Faro is the gateway (and an underrated walled town in its own right), with direct low-cost flights from across Europe making the Algarve Northern Europe’s favourite sun-belt.

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