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Spend the day at a picture perfect beach
Praia Dos Salgados is the type of beach you’d see on a postcard. It’s a wide, flat stretch of golden sand that unravels for miles. Sand dunes and marshy swamps separate it from the town, so it has an out-of-the-way feel, while still being within easy reach of local restaurants. Long, pushchair-friendly boardwalks provide an easy route over the marshes to the shore, and you’ll likely be greeted by the resident flamingos as you make your way there.Restaurants around here take full advantage of their coastal location, with seafood securing the top spot on most menus. A huge variety of fish is netted in the Algarve’s waters, and you can try everything from clams, to snapper and langoustines. Eateries where you can pick your own fish fresh from the counter aren’t hard to come by either, so you can watch the sun set, a glass of wine in hand, while a chef prepares your dish to order.
Read MoreThis festival takes sandcastle-building to a whole new level. Every March, 50 national and international artists come together to shape 40,000 tons of sand into intricate sculptures. You can expect to see hundreds of works of art, some of which stand at a whopping 12 feet tall. And they stay put – somehow – all the way until October. The theme changes each year so, even if you’ve visited before, you’ll be sure to see something new.
Read MoreFor family days out, head to the Zoomarine theme park. It’s a 15-minute drive from the seafront and packs in rides, shows and animal displays. You can book a session for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to swim with dolphins, or just watch them as they flip their fins through the air at a show. Catch a movie at the 4D cinema. Then hit the wave pool for some swimming time. A go on the mini-rollercoaster or pirate ship is sure to dry you off before you head home.
Read MorePraia Dos Salgados is a 20-minute drive from Albufeira, which is a real all-rounder for evenings out. Head to one of the al fresco restaurants at the old town’s main square to spend a chilled-out evening sipping from a carafe of home-grown wine while people watching. Or, if you’re looking to really let your hair down, there’s a two-kilometre long strip laden with neon-lit bars and nightclubs that’ll keep you dancing until sun up.
Read MorePortuguese mementos, like pottery, embroidered linens and jewellery, are the star buys in the town of Armacao De Pera. If you like what you see there, travel a little further on to Porches, where you can shop for handicrafts among streets lined by age-old churches and castles. If you’re more interested in high-street stores than handmade goods, there’s a big shopping centre in nearby Guia, where the likes of H&M and Mango line the air-conditioned walkways.
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