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Drawing the whole gamut of visitors, from backpackers, package tourists and wealthy expatriates, Lagos exudes a lively and inviting atmosphere. Modern amenities and historical sights make for an appealing mix of old and new, and the nearby coves, framed by russet and mustard rocky outcrops, are some of the most spectacular in the Algarve. See Lagos.

Bright, loud and unashamedly extrovert, Albufeira buzzes with vitality in summer. Wide sweeping beaches, first-class water sport facilities and dozens of bars, bistros, restaurants and nightclubs lend the resort its non-stop party atmosphere, though the old quarter still manages to convey a mellow charm. See Albufeira

Some of the very first holiday hotels in the Algarve sprang up here back in the 1960s, and Praia da Rocha hasn’t looked back since. Vibrant and engaging, this resort is famed for its outstanding golden beach. And at night, revellers dance till dawn in the clubs and bars that skirt the sand.

Designed around a marina of international repute, this upmarket resort has championship golf courses, a stylish casino, luxury hotels and sumptuous villas. Fabulous cruises depart from the marina. See Central Region.

Nestling in a sheltered bay midway between Portimão and Lagos, Alvor is an unusual mix of dignified charm and flickering neon. The old quarter is a delight to wander through, the 16th-century Manueline church is a gem and the village restaurants serve up some of the tastiest seafood in the region.

The beach here is one of the longest in the Algarve and fronts a commercial hub of tall, angular apartment blocks, seafront hotels and rows of cafés and bistro bars. But this is all rather functional, so instead everyone heads east for Pêra’s livelier old town, spread around the site of a small fortress.

Friendliness suffuses this alluring little town, making it ideal for families. It is one of the Algarve’s main self-catering areas, and the hilltops that flank the pocket-sized beach are awash with apartments. On the other side of the promontory is the snorkelling territory of Algar Seco rock formation.

A generous beach and a casino (popular with big spenders from Seville) are the twin targets for most visitors to this, the closest Algarve beach resort to the Spanish border. The esplanade is fringed by lofty palms and even loftier apartment blocks with fabulous views of the ocean.

Though not strictly a resort town – it has little in the way of entertainment infrastructure and its isolated position keeps it off the tourist treadmill – Sagres offers access to some of the most unspoilt beaches in the Algarve. See Sagres

The brazen tourist hub that is Quarteira is home to a throng of holiday apartments near the beach. The remodelled fishing harbour is a hive of activity in the mornings, when returning boats deposit their glistening catch on the quayside, most of it destined for the town’s market next door.