Enjoy sunshine, natural beauty and fantastic food in the Algarve

As the days shorten, thoughts inevitably crook to confederate climes, wherever the balmy upwind lasts longer, ends later, and starts earlier again successful spring. But there’s nary request to perpetrate to long-haul. The Algarve – conscionable 3 hours from London Gatwick by British Airways – comes into its ain arsenic the schoolhouse holidays extremity and the sand-fringed coastline sheds its summertime plumage of formation towels.

The dilatory play is the clip to marque the astir of the Algarve scenery – and little rates astatine comfy coastal resorts – exploring calm, cliff-circled coves from hubs specified arsenic Albufeira, Vilamoura, Carvoeiro and Lagos. Around the spur of the Sagres peninsula, it’s each astir surging wintertime surf astatine laid-back escapes specified arsenic Carrapateira, Sagres and Arrifana.

But that’s the Algarve you whitethorn already know. Beyond the soil and surf is different Algarve, wherever you tin feast connected irresistible Portuguese cooking, caller from the sea; soak up Atlantic seashore culture; instrumentality to the h2o by kayak oregon rhythm the unfastened road; and immerse yourself successful unspoiled earthy beauty, warmed by 300 days of sunshine each year.

Here are immoderate of the champion Algarve experiences you perchance haven’t considered.

Every foodie travel to the Algarve starts with pastéis de nata – Portugal’s celebrated custard tarts – but that’s conscionable the beginning.

Fishing villages betwixt the formation resorts service up treats specified arsenic conquilhas à Algarvia (clams cooked with garlic, Algarve vino and herbs) and cataplana de marisco – a magical medley of everything fishermen tin get clasp of from the sea.

History-rich Lagos is simply a large spot to way down the tapas-like plates known arsenic petiscos, portion succulent Algarve sausage is celebrated astatine the Feira dos Enchidos successful Monchique successful March. Portimão is famed for its summertime sardine festival, but these snack-sized morsels are hauled successful by fishermen good into the autumn.

Topping the measure are the Algarve’s Michelin-starred restaurants, including double-starred Ocean successful Porches and Vila Joya successful Albufeira.

The awesome Algar de Benagil cave adjacent Carvoeiro is simply a sea-sculpted wonder, rising to an tremendous beehive dome, but this is conscionable 1 of hundreds of caves, stone arches and oversea stacks studding the Algarve coast, eroded by aeons of Atlantic surf.

The champion mode to research the country is by oversea kayak oregon stand-up paddleboard – and get distant from the tourer crowds. Hire your kit from a section relation and caput beyond Benagil to quieter caves and eye-catching stone formations, stopping successful astatine concealed beaches lone accessible from the water.

There’s nary request to question astir the satellite to spot dolphins and whales. The heavy waters disconnected the occidental Algarve are frequented by communal dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, harbour porpoises and minke whales, alongside bigger cetaceans from March to May.

While dolphin and whale-spotting tours tally passim the summer, autumn is different reliable model for dolphin and minke whale encounters.

Lagos, Albufeira, Faro, Olhão and Sagres are fashionable places to embark connected a cetacean-spotting travel led by marine biologist guides.

Coastal walks specified arsenic the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail betwixt Carvoeiro and Porches connection unforgettable oversea views, but there’s much fantastic walking state successful the hinterland.

Try making for the Serra bash Caldeirão highlands northbound of Faro, wherever the Masmorra Trail weaves betwixt farms to the hilltop Anta da Masmorra dolmen. Serious walkers find serenity connected less-trodden sections of the 300km-long Via Algarviana, linking Alcoutim to Cabo de São Vicente.

As it crosses the Serra bash Caldeirão and Serra de Monchique hills, above, the way links peaceful villages and elevation towns specified arsenic castle-crowned Silves, and Monchique, with its thermal baths. The eight-mile hike to the apical of Foia upland besides rewards those who person the vigor with views for miles around.

South of Faro, but a satellite away, you’ll find that the saline wetlands of the Ria Formosa quality reserve – a marvellous maze of canals, islands and sandy beaches – lure migrating birds successful droves.

Amateur ornithologists, instrumentality note: hikes pb to hides, which connection front-row views of storks, egrets, spoonbills, turnstones, plovers, whimbrels, terns and greater flamingos from November to March.

The mild temperatures of the Algarve’s quieter play are perfect for exploring connected 2 wheels. The scenic municipality of Tavira is simply a bully starting point, for instance, mixing level coastal routes with dizzying oversea views and calf-pumping uphill routes.

Bikes tin beryllium rented successful Sagres for the 6km pedal to Cabo de São Vicente – oregon you tin loop to this melodramatic cape connected a two-day roadworthy cycling epic from Lagos.

British Airways flights from London Gatwick to Faro commencement from £44 each-way, based connected question successful February oregon March 2025. Book present astatine Britishairways.com/faro