HOLIDAY BEACHES
In southern Portugal, the ocean carved out a masterpiece of rock and sand. North-African winds ensure most days are lovely and warm. Add some golden beaches and you have the perfect holiday mix.
ALBUFEIRA: Mass tourism is the operative word here, probably because of its many beaches and beautiful rocky coastline. You can go on beautiful walks from one side of the beach to the other and Albufeira's old city centre also has a lot to offer.
CARVOEIRO: The famous rocks and many sandy coves of Carvoeiro make this holiday resort quite special. Mass tourism has not yet reached these parts, but it has all the necessary facilities. You can still find many secluded, romantic places here. How to get to them is another matter and usually involves quite a bit of walking.
QUARTEIRA: There are huge beaches between Quarteira and Vilamoura. The city itself is not very special and is mainly inhabited by locals.
TAVIRA: The Ilha de Tavira is a unique beach with a sandbank about ten kilometres into the sea.
VILAMOURA: This town has many hotels and boasts a classy marina and the best golf courses in the area. It is not an exclusive seaside resort, but doesn't exactly have any cheap hotels either. Because most of the city was built at the end of the seventies, it has wide avenues and lots of gardens, so you never feel as though you are in a busy city.
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