Things To Do in Acoteias

In the village, this rustic Portuguese restaurant serves up seafood so fresh you can pick what you fancy from the tank. On your plate, the prawns are given a hint of garlic, while the fried squid is simply served with lemon, parsley and shallots. Meat lovers get a peri-peri sauce – if you like it, they’ll give you a little bottle to take away.

When it comes to food, Acoteias is all about the freshly-netted fish. In the village, you’ve got a few family-run restaurants serving up super-fresh sardines. Or you might want to try the clams Algarve style – cooked with parsley, garlic and spicy sausage.

As the sun sets, you can tuck into barbecued sardines at one of the beachfront eating places. Or walk up to the village for traditional, family-run restaurants. They’re a good place to try hearty Portuguese favourites such as soupas – chunky broths infused with herbs and spices – and casseroles baked with fresh cod or bacalhau.

If you fancy stretching your legs, the clifftop walk from Acoteias to Vilamoura will give you seven kilometres’ worth of exercise – with some knockout coastal views en route. And when you get there, you’ve got the swanky marina to get round, too. After that, you can take a well-earned rest at one of the upscale restaurants – then order a cab home.

Over in Albufeira, the old town and The Strip boast shops and stalls selling souvenirs and local ceramics. And a fortnightly gypsy market here offers unusual handicrafts – haggle a good price for filigree jewellery or wild lavender honey from the mountain regions. Back in sleepy Acoteias, the shops stock postcards, refreshments and souvenirs.

Zoomarine is a popular waterpark, zoo and fair in Guia, a few kilometres from Albufeira. The huge place is covered in lakes where you can see crocodiles and nesting birds up close, and you can meet sharks at the aquarium as well as swim with dolphins in the lagoon. Water slides, amusements and restaurants make this an all-day affair.

Acoteias would run a mile if it got caught in a foam party. Here, the resort has just a couple of tavernas where you can settle in for the night with a meal and a few quiet drinks. It has laid on an alternative, though. Just 15 minutes away, you’ve got Albufeira with its famous strip packed with out-all-night clubs and karaoke bars.

This rustic Portuguese restaurant, opposite Pine Cliffs Resort, is known for its knockout sardines and wholesome home-cooked meals. The décor is warmly traditional – a wood-and-stone bar, terracotta floor tiles and local wines in racks. Back to the food, try the chicken or monkfish cooked with peppers and onions in an Algarvian cataplana – a cooking pot with a lid joined like a clam.

At Praia de Falesia Beach, the water is clean and clear, making it ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. Sailing is available, too, along with deep-sea fishing – you’ll be casting out your line for blue marlin, tuna and swordfish. Back on dry land, you can wind down with a sundowner at one of the friendly beachfront bars.

Evenings in Acoteias are nicely relaxed, with long, lazy dinners at a homely taverna. For those who want something pacier, neighbouring Albufeira is just 15 minutes’ drive away. The place buzzes with karaoke, live music and clubs – which you’ll find in the old town, by the beachfront and along The Strip.