DK Travel : The Algarve

The Algarve : Overview & Top 10

The Moors called their al-Gharb the Sunset Land, and visitors have been waxing lyrical ever since. Blessed with a mild winter climate and a sunny disposition, Portugal’s playground province remains one of the most popular year-round holiday destinations in southern Europe. Lively coastal resorts spill over ribbons of golden sand in sharp contrast to the quiet villages of the hinterland, where history and tradition go hand in hand.

Folk dancers

Zambezi Art Gallery

A celebration of all things African, this gallery displays a wealth of artifacts and offers a stunning range for sale, including Congolese beer coolers and Nigerian wood sculpture.
Zambujeira do Mar

An annual rock festival has put this coastal smudge of a village resort on the map, but its secluded beach and other-world charm has always attracted the more independent of travellers.
Zoomarine

A superb theme park – part zoo, part funfair – all about the ocean. Sleek sharks, shoals of colourful tropical fish, turtles, crocodiles and marine birds are on the welcoming committee. Spectacular water shows featuring high-spirited dolphins, crafty sea lions and cheeky seals are other highlights.
“Ilha” do Rosário, Silves

A serene circular walk which partly follows the course of an irrigation ditch (levada ) and two rivers. The 8-km (4-mile) path begins at the Mira-Rio restaurant on the N124 where it picks up thelevada before heading towards the “Ilha” do Rosário viewpoint. The path then veers through lush, open countryside and skirts a tiny hamlet, Vale da Lama, before meeting the restaurant again.