Take the Family holiday rating
| Flying Time | 2.75 hours  |
|---|---|
| Carbon Footprint | 1.51 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT +1 |
| Local Currency | Euro |
Because this most popular holiday region of Portugal offers plenty of the things that families look for in a holiday: the moderate climate, fantastic beaches and purpose-built resorts make it great for families travelling with small children, while the vast array of sporting options on offer means teenagers will never get bored. And whether you’re looking for peace and quiet or something a bit more lively, the wide range of family-friendly accommodation on offer along this coast has it covered.
Wherever you stay on the Algarve, outdoor activities are a must. All of the busier resorts offer a good selection of watersports. Calm waters on the south-facing coast make this the best spot for canoeing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and jetskiing and the place to find pedalos and banana boats. This is particularly true at the western end of the Algarve. Surfing is also possible if you head a little further north, while rock-pooling is great fun for tots.
The Algarve is also a great place for golf and tennis – the coast has some of the best courses anywhere in Europe, so if you want to learn with your kids, it’s a great place to do so. Many hotels in the region have tennis courts, and coaching is often available.
The Algarve has excellent weather throughout the year. Because it is on the Atlantic, it stays a little cooler than some of the Mediterranean destinations, with temperatures reaching around 29C at the top of the high season. Even so, you'd expect to have sunbathing weather from late May to early October. It's also worth considering a visit at Easter, as the climate is very dry and the weather is cool enough to allow you brush up on your sporting skills.
From May to October, check out the spectacular sandcastles at FIESA, a fantastic international sand sculpture festival held annually in Pera.
There are flights to Faro from just about any UK airport you can name, so it's simple to get to. Flight times are around 2½ hours from London, or 3 hours from Glasgow.
Check deals with British Airways and Expedia Flights. Plenty of charter flights are available, as are scheduled flights and budget options from major cities, including London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.
There are hundreds of accommodation options within an hour's drive of Faro, from budget apartments and hotels to gorgeous villas and five-star hotels. Although by no means inexpensive, the Vila Vita Parc and the Sheraton Pine Cliffs are highly rated by families, in particular for their childcare. See our writer Suzanne Baum's features on her family stays at the Vila Vita and the Sheraton.
More luxury can be found at the five-star Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort & Spa and the lakeside Lake Resort and Spa, which has three pools, spa treatments and a kids' club.
For self-catering hoildays, we particularly recommend partners' Meon Villas' retreat Casa Periquita in the Monchique Mountains, but they have lots more to choose from, from rural countryside to bustling marinas. See Meon Villas' Algarve villa collection, and also partners' James Villas Algarve portfolio, Four Winds holidays Martinhal townhouses and villas, and the superbly luxurious Casa das Estevas from partners Simply Salema.
Check family package deals to the Algarve with partners Expedia and Thomson.
Head for the beaches. With 200km of coastline and natural white-sand beaches stretching all the way from Spain to the Atlantic, it’s never too hard to find a deserted stretch. Good supervision and Blue Flag approval make the Algarve’s beaches particularly suited to children.
Albufeira at the centre of the Algarve offers great family beaches and is one of the most popular tourist resorts on the Algarve. Families are well catered for with accommodation ranging from campsites to hotels and luxury villas. However, for a good night’s sleep make sure to avoid accommodation near the bars and clubs of the Areias de São João area – try the more peaceful streets of the old town. Ten kilometres outside town you can see sharks, sea-lions and tropical fish at ZooMarine, an oceanographic themepark focusing on education and marine life, with shows and dolphin experiences. For water-themed fun of a different kind, try the slides at Aqualand, also known as 'The Big One', with its 36m-drop Kamikaze to keep thrill-seeking teens happy. It's 15km from Albufeira, with regular buses runnng between major resorts and the park.
Albufeira offers easy access to some of the Algarve’s best beaches. Head 2km east of the resort to Oura for a good selection of bars, restaurants and watersports. Further east still, visit the beach at Olhos d’Água, which remains fully integrated into a typical fishing village.
To the west of Albufeira, the purpose-built resort of Vilamoura has two good beaches and a great range of facilities, including golf courses. A good choice of boat-trips and excursions are available from Vilamoura Marina, and the self-contained nature of the resort makes it a great choice for families with very young children. The biggest watercoaster in Europe is the main draw of the Aquashow family park just outside Vilamoura.
Further west, the area surrounding Portimao boasts a number of interesting resorts. Praia da Rocha offers unadulterated fun, with plenty of watersports, horse-riding and nightlife to keep everyone entertained. The resort’s quieter neighbour, Praia do Vau, has a more peaceful setting and a handful of restaurants. Alvor is one of the best resorts in this area – smallish, with a good choice of restaurants and accommodation. Situated at the beginning of the lagoon system that runs along the coast, it’s an excellent spot to take a break from the beach to indulge in a spot of bird-watching or nature trekking. Visits to caves, snorkeling and fishing trips can all be arranged from Alvor through Trigana Sailing Adventures.
Further west still, the cobbled streets of Lagos offer a break from the busier tourist resorts of the Algarve, without your having to miss out on the beach – outside the town’s medieval walls, the beach of Meia Praia offers a good range of watersports and the chance to take a boat-ride to explore coves and caves.
Head for the hills. The Algarve doesn’t have to be all about commercial resorts – head inland slightly and you'll find green rolling hills and pretty country villages. Those travelling with older children should consider basing themselves around Faro or Tavira right at the eastern end of the Algarve.
Food on the Algarve is very international – it's a popular destination for many Europeans, so you'll find everything from fast food and international options to traditional local dishes.
Portuguese cuisine, based around fish, is closely related to Mediterranean cookery. Beachfront restaurants are an excellent place to sample the fish and seafood on offer. We recommend caldeirada de peixe (fish stew) and cataplana de amêijoas (clams steamed in a copper pan). To satisfy sweet tooths, try pastel de nata – a small custard tart dusted with cinnamon.
Family holidays in the Algarve start at around £1,000 for four in the low season. Bargain-hunters may pick up last-minute deals for even less than this, but you can easily spend much, much more in high season.
by John King
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The Algarve, Lisbon and much more to help you plan and enjoy a great family holiday in Portugal.
by Matthew Hancock
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Helps your family avoid the worst of the crowds and make the most of this beautiful region.
Newly refurbished rooms, apartments & villas in a spectacular setting More
* based on 7 nights 2 adults 2 children sharing a 2 bedroom Golf Suite including transfers and return flights from London
A stunning complex with fantastic views, lots of family activities and just 300m from the beach More
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A popular hotel, with excellent facilities for children with an All Inclusive option More
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Great value and facilities, based on reviews from delighted families. More
* based on 7 nights 2 adults 2 children sharing a family suite including breakfast, transfers and return flights from London.
A 5 star lakeside resort with 3 pools, spa treatments and a kids club More
* per family of four for 7 nights, sharing a One Bedroomed Apartment, room only, including flights and private transfers
Five star resort and spa opened 2004 recommended for families More
* from £1518 per family of 4 for 7 nights, on a self catering basis, including flights and transfers
Action-packed and fun-filled coastal family activity holiday with golden beaches More
* from £875 per adult for 7 nights, including flights and transfers, most meals, hotel accommodation and tuition.
