Albufeira is the most popular destination in the Algarve which allows the views to be picturesque and the beaches to be crystal white.

There are plenty of activities to keep you entertained on your trip including a trip to the highly acclaimed Zoo Marine which has dolphins, seals and wild bird shows as well as fun rides and water slides which are great for the kids. There are even opportunities to swim with the dolphins during your visit.

You can not visit Albufeira without stopping and visiting “Praia d’oura beach” This tranquil setting stretches far out into a beautiful bay and is protected by rugged cliffs. The beach offers a wide variety of water sports including wind surfing, water skiing, parasailing, jet skiing and the ever popular banana boat ride. There are many spots along the rugged coastline where dolphin watching operations go out daily.

The nightlife in Albufeira is infamous, but has something to offer everyone, with nightclubs, pubs, karaoke bars and cocktail bars. The seafood, as it is everywhere in the Algarve is exquisite, however there are many different restaurants offering different types of foods, including traditional Portuguese piri-pir chicken that is astonishing, though not for the faint hearted. For anyone who may be a little homesick or a just a little stubborn, you can’t go wrong with a good British fry-up in one of the many British owned cafes.

Perfect Getaways have a tremendous assortment of holiday villas in Albufeira, which are close walks to the beach and to the main strip, have a look here and start packing your sun block.

Want to enjoy the best the Algarve can offer but don’t quite fancy the frantic Albufeira?, Perfect Getaways have a fine selection of luxury holiday villas in Olhos d’Agua, a popular  little fishing village, situated east of the notorious holiday resort.

With beaches second to none throughout the Algarve, friendly locals and great quality restaurants, our fantastic holiday apartments in Olhos d’Agua are the perfect dose of tranquility needed for anyone from young families to older couples. Olhos d’agua is famous for its fresh water springs as well as its superb seafood, and attracts many visitors during the day.

The best way to spend an evening if your not having a barbecue or splashing around your private pool in one of our lovely holiday homes in Olhos d’Agua is to visit one of the few bars or restaurants on the town’s main street. For a great ocean view, race down to La Cigale a fantastic seafood restaurant where you can see the sun gently set into the sea from the terrace.

If relaxing on the beach becomes a bit tedious for you or the kids are starting to go haywire, there are plenty of nearby activities the whole family can enjoy. The Algarve has one zoo, and two zoo theme parks, as well as four water parks all within driving distance of our holiday villas in Olhos d’Agua, just keep your fingers crossed the kids don’t want to go to all four!

Renting holiday accommodation in Olhos d’Agua is the perfect chance to enjoy all the fantastic benefits the Algarve has to offer, without having to deal with hustle and bustle of Albufeira.
 
Take a look at some of these brilliant properties we have in Olhos d’Agua.

Looking for a fast-track, no hastle way to get yourself on to the beach? Look no further as Perfect Getaways have a fantastic selection of luxury Holiday Apartments in the Algarve.

Perfect Getaways’ two new travel writers have completed a feature on the Algarve,  giving you some more information on two of the best places to visit in the Algarve which will be coming shortly.

Portugal
Portugal has superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. It is also graced by one of Europe’s most relaxed and attractive capitals.
Positioned on the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is a great historic country of immense diversity. From the culture and prosperity of Lisbon, through the beautiful wine regions and the Sun, sea and sand of the Algarve. Modern marinas and spectacular golf courses mean that there are plenty of activities.

Weather

Southern Portugal including the Algarve, has a Mediterranean cimate with hot, dry summers and mild winters whilst the north is wetter particularly in winter with cooler temperatures.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 15
February 16
March 18
April 20
May 22
June 26
July 29
August 29
September 26
October 23
November 20
December 16

Culture

The culture of Portugal is based on a past that dates from a prehistoric era into the times of Roman and Moorish invasion. All have left traces of archaeological remains including prehistoric cave paintings at Escoral, a roman town of Conimbriga, the Temple of Diana in Evora and typical Moorish architecture of southern towns as Olhão and Tavira.

Throughout history, Portugal’s arts have been enriched by foreign influences, including Flemish, French and Italian. The Portuguese discoverers opened the country to Oriental influences and the revelation of Brazil’s wealth of gold and jewels fed the Baroque flame in decoration.

Food and Drink

This is the place to eat, drink and be merry! Many of the dishes are homebaked, healthy and fulfilling. Most regions have their own special dishes, some meals are common to most of the country. Here are some of the specialities:

Sopas (soup) - made with potato puree and very wholesome; try the caldo verde, made from shredded kale.

carne de porco a alentejana - pork with clams

leitao assado - roast sucking pig

arroz de marisco - seafood rice

One thing to note is that the Portugese don’t often eat breakfast but a black coffee will suffice.

The most popular drink in Portugal is wine or you could try a Portugese brandy, the two varieties being Macieiera and Constantino.

Beaches

There are 600 miles of coastline in Portugal, most of which are gorgeous white sandy beaches, making it a beachgoers paradise. Add the gorgeous climate and you can see why it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Unlike other countries in Southern Europe whose coast faces into the calm waters of the Mediterranean, Portugal faces the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. This makes for some excellent surfing conditions.

Top things to do

1. Visit one of the watersports centres dotted all along the coast and try your hand at snorkelling, wind-surfing or water-skiing
2. Try out big game fishing which is popular along the Algarve coast
3. Listen to Portugal’s traditional Fado music at the atmospheric bars and clubs
4. Visit the port houses of Porto or Gaia for the country’s best port wine tasting.
5. Absorb the spirituality of the shrine at Fátima, which has been an important centre of Roman Catholic pilgrimage since 1917
6. Cruise along the canals of the wetlands around Rio de Aveiro aboard a traditional Portuguese moliceiros
7. Hike, climb or canoe in the Peneda-Gerês, Portugal’s only national park
8. Play a round of golf on the championship golf courses in the south of the country (there are 19 in the Algarve alone)
9. Attend a car or motorcycle race at the world famous Estoril racetrack, which is located a short distance from Lisbon