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Bright red neon announces this temple of sound, dedicated to playing whatever’s current. Its three bars flank a central dance floor that’s never big enough to accommodate the throngs of party people. A sprawling terrace bar at the back affords great views of the beach and is an ideal chill-out spot, fanned by sea breezes.

Possibly the best-known nightclub in Portugal. Attracting a mixed 20-something crowd, its resident and guest DJs spin a funky mix of house and hip-hop. See Clubs and Late-Night Bars.

Arguably the most famous of all the Algarve nightclubs, Kiss is known for its memorable party nights and zany theme festivals. Three dance floors reverberate to cutting-edge house, techno and hip-hop, attracting seasoned clubbers from all over the continent. Kiss starts to smoulder around 3am and is still sizzling at dawn.

Snake pits, an alligator swamp, turtle town and iguana city feature at this highly unusual and wholly entertaining animal park. The pet farm is sanctuary to smaller, more cuddly creatures, while dinosaurs loom over the 18-hole crazy golf course that cuts a path through the jungles of the Lost World.

One of the most popular resort towns in southern Portugal, Lagos immediately captures the imagination with its carefree holiday spirit, laid-back lifestyle and immense historical wealth. Its greatest treasure is the Igreja de Santo António. The nearby beaches are equally attractive with their fine golden sand, ochre-splashed cliffs and bizarre outcrops of sandstone pillars. See Lagos.

A young, vibrant and carefree spirit imbues this resort. The nearby beaches, pocked with outcrops of sandstone rock, are spectacular. See Lagos.

A menagerie of exotic and appealing wildlife. Bushy-tailed lemurs, sure-footed gibbons and rotund Vietnamese pigs share the grounds with graceful flamingos, leggy emus, beady-eyed tou-cans and wallabies who bounce around with abandon.