Algarve The most Poplar Tourist Place in the World

Looking for a private holiday villa or apartment accommodation to rent in Portugal and don’t want to pay travel agent prices, then why not book your next holiday rental direct through the owner or their agent.
Variety is the spice of life and holidays in Portugal offer all the diversity you could wish for. From fabulous sightseeing to stacks of fun activities, there is something to suit everyone on this sun-dappled slice of the Iberian Peninsular. Beautiful island vacations. Luxury golfing getaways. Or sun-drenched beach breaks. You’ll find everything your heart desires on Portugal holidays.
Spend sunny days exploring the Lisbon coast and taking in the seductive sights of this seaside stunner. Seek out the lesser trodden path and discover the tiny villages of the Douro. Or stretch out on the sugar soft beaches of the Algarve. With summer holidays to Portugal you’re really spoilt for choice. Away from the mainland, your Portugal holiday takes on an island breeze. Cue the dramatic scenery of the floating Garden. Madeira, in all its glory, is a flower-filled paradise isle – the ideal spot for tranquil holidays to Portugal.
With holidays in Portugal you get shopping to die for, watersports galore and more championship golf courses than you can shake a pitching wedge at. So whether you’re looking for all inclusive or self catering holidays in Portugal, you’re sure to have a whale of a time.
Algarve is derived from the Arab phrase al-gharb, meaning the “land beyond” that the Moors gave to this sunny region of Portugal after conquering the Iberian Peninsula in 711. The name could just as easily mean “vacation paradise,” because the Algarve has drawn millions of foreign visitors–most notably the British–to its beaches and villages since the developers moved in during the 1960s.
Despite the invasion of package tourists and retirees, much of the Algarve is relatively unspoiled. The region certainly isn’t undiscovered territory, but it isn’t Torremolinos, either.
When to visit
The Algarve is at its most pleasant during spring and fall, when resorts are uncrowded but the waters of the Atlantic are warm enough for swimming. Winter can also be pleasant, with average daily January highs of 59° F (15° C). Water temperatures tend to be cooler in the west and warmer in the east, with an average thermometer reading of 57° F (14°) in January and 70° F (21° C) in July.
Where to go
The Algarve has three main tourist regions:
Barlevento (windward coast)
This rocky and dramatic stretch of coast curves southwest from the fishing town of Portimão, with its 1930s-style Praia da Rocha beach resort, to the deserted cliffs of Sagres (where Portuguese explorers set sail in the 1400s). The most popular resort town is Lagos.