Things to do in the Algarve, Portugal – 7 Nights

 

This was a week-long trip booked independently in July 2006 and gives an idea of things to do in the Algarve.

We flew from London Gatwick with Easyjet to Faro airport where we picked up a hire car. We had booked a two-bedroomed apartment at Balaia Sol Holiday Club for 7 nights. The apartment was a two-hour drive from Faro airport. It was cool and spacious with a balcony.

Algarve Accommodation

 

Albufeira

The town of Albufeira and the beach at Praia da Oura are great things to do in the Algarve. The town was a 15 minute journey from our accommodation so we decided to drive there. We spent the morning looking at the shops then after lunch we drove to the beach at Praia da Oura. It is a beautiful sandy beach with lots of rocks to explore. However, there is a strong current and large waves crash on the rocks so swimming is only advisable for strong swimmers.

Praia da Oura Beach Algarve

 

Cape St Vincent

Cape St Vincent is a popular tourist spot and the name given to the south-western tip of Portugal. Before the age of exploration, people believed this point to be the end of the world. The drive from our apartment was about two hours.

Cape St Vincent

Standing on the edge of the cliff it is easy to see why people thought it was the end of the world because all you can see is sea and sky.

It is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area, but once you have looked at the view there is little else to do.

 

Jeep Tour

Jeep tours are very popular things to do in the Algarve, taking you off-road and into the hills above the region. We booked this tour through the apartment reception and were picked up from our apartment complex. After a short road journey we were taken off road into the hills.  The driver was going quite fast, which was a little unnerving, but the views were spectacular.

Jeep Tour views - things to do in the Algarve

Our driver had a good knowledge of the area and we stopped frequently to look at cork trees, eucalyptus trees, citrus fruits and other interesting crops and landmarks. 

 

Silves

The Medieval hillside town of Silves rises up out of the landscape and makes for a good photo opportunity. Even from a distance the cathedral and castle can be plainly seen as the dominating features of the town.

Silves Portugal

We parked the car on a cobbled street and walked a short distance to the cathedral. After spending some time looking at the cathedral we walked to the castle. 

Silves Castle Walls

Some of the castle walls are still intact so you can get an idea of how the castle looked in Medieval times. The areas inside the walls were well looked after with green grassed areas and typical Mediterranean foliage and flowers. The views from the castle were also spectacular.

 

Top Things to Do in the Algarve

Albufeira
Cape St Vincent
Jeep Tour off road
Praia da Oura
Silves Castle
Silves Cathedral