Algarve

Portugal’s southern coast – the Algarve – unfolds as a cinematic stretch of Atlantic beauty, where raw wilderness meets Moorish echoes and time slows down in fishing villages and sun-faded hilltowns. Framed by dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and golden beaches, this is one of Europe’s most alluring coastal escapes – basking in over 300 days of sunshine a year.

The Algarve runs west from the Alentejo border to Cabo São Vicente – a headland of wild Atlantic breakers, empty sands and surf-shack cool – then sweeps east through the marshland labyrinth of Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a biodiverse haven of tidal lagoons, flamingos and salt flats. It’s here you’ll find Tavira, one of the region’s most atmospheric towns – a blend of faded grandeur, Roman bridges, Moorish rooftops, and laid-back soul, where cobbled streets and seafood tavernas spill out towards the river and the sea.

Inland, almond and carob groves sprawl across red-earth terrain, and whitewashed villages hold onto their quiet rhythms, long siestas, and old-world charm. From the fish-stacked markets of Olhão – housed in a landmark design by Gustave Eiffel – to the golf greens and coastal boardwalks, the Algarve is layered with contrast. Moorish minarets rise over town squares, ancient fortresses sit above surfers’ bays, and there’s a compelling stillness tucked just behind the beach-holiday façade.

Faro is the gateway, but the real Algarve reveals itself off the beaten track – in seafood shacks by the dunes, at lazy cafés under jacaranda shade, or wandering trails through eucalyptus hills. Whether you’re chasing waves in the west, birdwatching in the east, or losing time in Tavira’s slow, sultry rhythm, this region blends soulful Portuguese heritage with untamed Atlantic drama.

Life here moves slow – and that’s the point. It’s the kind of place that invites you to unplug, roam, and relish the quieter corners of coastal Portugal.