Algarve

the best hidden secret

The sea in every shade of blue, almost always calm, and warm, and the beaches of fine white sand are the hallmark of the region, stretching as far as the eye can see, bound by golden cliffs in small bays nestling between rocks, provide many stunning backdrops for unforgettable memories.

The Algarve is known by its long sunny days, a gastronomy to “die for”, endless golden sandy beaches, golf courses, the kindness of their people and more, much more for you to discover. Try to mention Portugal or the Algarve in a conversation and you will be surprised with how many people instantly will bring up warming memories of beautiful sunny days, well spent in this corner of Europe.

The Algarve region has 200-kilometer coastline with over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and a low annual average rainfall, the beaches, for many sun-seekers from all over the world, their favourite.

Portugal is a country with nine centuries of history and well-defined geographical borders. Since 1974 a democratic regime prevails in Portugal, in 1986 Portugal become a member of the European Union, and on 1 January 1999 joined the European Monetary System, using the Euro as his single currency.

Every year the magazines ‘Live and Invest Overseas’, ‘Conde Naste Traveller’, ‘World Travel Awards’ among others, produce their guides and award places around the world such as ‘World's Best Places to Retire’, ‘World's Leading Destination’, ‘World City Destination’; ‘World `s Beach Destination’ among many other awards and once again, Portugal and its regions, cities, resorts or gastronomy are honoured year after year, sometimes ranked number one, as in 2021 as the “Best Place in the World to Retire”.

This year at the World Travel Awards 2022, and for the 5th time in the last six years, Portugal was once again honoured with the title of ‘Best Tourist Destination in Europe’. The election is the result of thousands of professionals from the sector voting from all over the world, and this year Portugal won more than 30 awards, In terms of regional destinations, the Azores (Europe's Best Adventure Tourism Destination), the Algarve (Europe's Best Beach Destination), Lisbon (Europe's Best City Break Destination, Europe's Best Cruise Destination and Europe's Best Metropolitan Seaside Destination) and Porto (Europe's Best Urban Destination) stand out.

Best place in the world to retire

World Travel Awards
The Algarve, Portugal, João Fernandes, President , Algarve Tourism Bureau

Portugal is the third safest country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
It has the second-highest density of Blue Flag-awarded beaches in the world.
It offers a fast-track method to residency through the Portuguese "Golden Visa.
It has a low cost of living compared to many other countries, especially in Europe.
There are tax incentives for foreign residents. Portugal's 'non-habitual residents' (NHR) program gives special tax benefits to new residents for their first ten years in the country and includes a flat 10% tax on foreign pension income and withdrawals, including lump sums.
Great Gastronomy, more sunshine than anywhere else in Europe, amazing beaches, some of the best courses to be found in the world, excellent infrastructure and Health System, large English-speaking population, easy and cheap access from anywhere in Europe.

So why does consistently Portugal score so highly? Well, here are some of the reasons why:

Enjoying the Algarve

Here you will have time for everything, so that you enjoy a more relaxed way of life. Cheaper prices, when comparing with almost all other countries in Europe, beautiful unspoiled beaches and landscapes, a large variety of Golf Courses, Marinas and not to forget the traditional Portuguese cuisine and wine. Those who venture beyond the coast, even by a mere 10 kilometres or so, you will find a new different Algarve with a varied landscape, a fascinating history, a calm lifestyle, and above all, the warmth of its welcoming people making you feel at home.

Every year, thousands have gone ahead and bought their home in Portugal, most as a second home for holidays but for many as a permanent move, either for retirement or in search for a new and healthier way of life.

Set on the westerly edge of Europe, Portugal has a coastline of around 800 km facing the north Atlantic Ocean, of which approximately 200 kilometres are in the south region (Algarve) where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea, As a result the sea water becomes much warmer and calmer towards a more Mediterranean atmosphere.

The average sunshine rates of 8.6 hours a day makes the Algarve the place in Europe with more hours of sun during all year round, this microclimate makes all the coastline enjoy temperatures that vary from 15º C in winter to 35º C in the summer Months. It's no surprise the Algarve is the choice for so many people to come and live here.

Algarve Climate

The Algarve has been choice for millions of holidaymakers, every year thousands of permanent visitors return and is certainly an option worth considering if you are considering buying a overseas property. Some important and positive aspects of life in Portugal:

Family Values
Cost of living
Easy lifestyle
Welcoming country
People are particularly open to families
People really make an effort to help you on your language and cultural integration. Climate
Relaxed approach to life
Safety
Approximately 2H30 flight or less from London, Paris, Milan, Berne, Munich, Amsterdam
Established ex-patriot community

All those people willing to integrate more into Portuguese life, venturing away from these apron-strings, will be rewarded with fantastic spots of natural beauty, mainly cheaper prices, and a true taste of the real thing. If you just want to get away from it all, quite easily you will find tranquillity a few kilometres away from the touristic area’s hot spots.

Choosing the Algarve

Tradition

The Portuguese are a genuinely kind and traditional people, they are staunch exponents of family values, and in many activities the family network is still of vital importance. Fortunately, this is still a country with its own traditions, many of them linked to religious beliefs, a country where family comes first and where people are willing to help each other just for the satisfaction of being good citizens. This is particularly clear in all the small and numerous rural areas of Portugal.

The language

Most people do not realise that Portuguese is a wonderfully rich and diverse language, spoken on four continents by around 200 million native speakers. Portuguese is, in fact, the third most spoken European language in the world, behind only English and Spanish. It is the language of Brazil, of many African countries such as Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde, as well as of Timor and, until recently, the main language of Macau.

Economy - Politics

Portugal is an active and full member of the European Union, a democratic, tolerant, open and free country that respects European rules. Over the years, it has benefited from European subsidies, a result that can be clearly seen in all the new motorways that cover the country from north to south, in the new health system and in many public infrastructures.

Eating out

The Portuguese enjoy eating out as much as enjoying a good regenerating day at the beach; it is part of their lifestyle and is shared by visitors and residents alike. The cafés and restaurants are packed with couples and families, especially at weekends. Being a traditional country, it is very common to see small children walking with all generations of the family, and the restaurants welcome everyone. In the Algarve, you will find an obvious tourist offer, many English-style restaurants, but if you look more closely, you will also find the places where the Portuguese go, and that is exactly where you should go for authentic, quality meals. If you are looking for fast-food chains, you will find them mainly in the shopping centers of the main cities in the Algarve.

Algarve Coastline - Beaches

The Portuguese love the beach, whenever they have free time with their families, this is where they often head. In the Algarve, you are spoiled with a variety of beautiful and diverse beaches. The water is very clean and the beaches are safe, in the summer months there is a lifeguard, the sea water is not always very warm, but it is certainly the ideal place to be, with beach tents, picnics and family games.

Religion

Portugal is a Catholic country, 97% of the population professes this religion, however, during the last decades, the power of the church to attract the younger generations has certainly diminished. The north is the stronghold and unifying force of the church. The south is not so religious, although there are still some religious festivals. It is mainly the elderly who attend church. Each region of Portugal has its own festivals and events, which translates into a national list of hundreds of local festivities.

Sporting Activities

Golf is undoubtedly a very important factor for many buyers and visitors to the Algarve. As one of the world’s leading golf destinations, Portugal in general and the Algarve in particular boasts many world-class courses, with 11 Algarve courses in the world’s top 100. The Algarve has consistently been voted the top international destination for golfers, and the facilities on offer at the 34 golf courses (in the Algarve region alone) are truly first class. Some of the best courses are located in Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo, Penina and Monte Rei. Surfing / Windsurfing / Kite - Very popular with young people, Portugal ranks highly in international competitions and Sagres is the perfect location for lovers of this sport. Sailing - A wide range of marinas and sailing clubs provide the necessary equipment. Vilamoura Marina in the Algarve is the best known and award-winning top marina. Diving - There are many diving schools and diving facilities throughout the Algarve. Cycling - This is one of the fastest growing sports in the Algarve, with numerous clubs and programmes available all year round. Horse riding - This is growing in popularity; this is evident from the number of horse riding centres dotted around the Algarve. Fishing - A very popular activity, fishing trips are plentiful in the Algarve, departing from many resorts and marinas. Football - This is the country's favourite sport, played by almost all young people. Games are followed avidly at home, in bars or cafes with friends. The top team is the fabulous Sporting de Lisboa, where players such as Ronaldo, Figo, Futre, Nani were “born”, but there are also not so good ones :) FC Porto and Sl Benfica are other internationally renowned teams. There are football clubs all over the country where thousands of young people play this sport with the dream of becoming players like Ronaldo, our most famous star. Tennis and Paddle - These are very popular sports in the region, with many tennis academies in the Algarve.