Algarve apartments - holiday apartments throughout Algarve

ALGARVE

Roca, Algarve

Algarve holiday apartment rentals: whether it is for the sea, the sun or the golf, we have apartments throughout the Algarve that will suit your needs. View our top Algarve apartments below or search for your perfect property.

Read our mini guide to Algarve

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The Algarve, Portugal's southernmost region, has fame for both its busy resorts and for its slow-paced, traditional feel. A belt of land stretching 100 miles along the Atlantic coast, the Algarve boasts a fantastically mild climate, an unspoilt interior, and some of Portugal's best beaches. With such offerings, it should be no surprise that the easily-accessible Algarve is a popular destination for those wanting a quiet escape.

Though the Algarve's largest city is Faro, a bustling university town in the centre of the region, its most popular destination is Lagos, a resort in the western Algarve with unbeatable beaches and great nightlife. Here, you can relax on the seemingly endless stretch of golden sand at Meia Praia, one of the best beaches in all of the Algarve, or head out to the more remote Praia do Pinhao beach, south of town. Other beach resorts, like the well-known Praia da Luz, are close by.

Near Lagos is one of the Algarve's most beautiful fishing villages, Sagres. A real working town - it's known for boat building and lobster fishing - Sagres gives you a postcard-perfect glimpse of traditional Portugal. Just outside Sagres begins a protected coastal area that stretches up Portugal's western coast, and this is a great area for bird watching or walking. Also nearby is the Cabo de Sao Vicente (Cape St. Vincent), the most southwestern point of mainland Europe.

Other picturesque resorts in the Algarve include Praia da Rocha, the oldest resort of the region; Portimao, near the mouth of the River Arade; Arma?ao de Pera, a beach town in the central Algarve; Albufeira, a busy resort with tons of services and crowds from all over Europe; or Quinta do Lago, an upscale resort.

If you're looking to get off the Algarve's beaten track, head to Monchique, a sleepy town hidden in the forests of the Serra de Monchique. Offering a pristine hillside setting and a pretty town centre, this is a good spot for a day trip and is easily accessible from other spots in Algarve. Be sure to visit the Igreja Matriz church here and, if you have time, head out of town to F?ia, a mountain peak that offers beautiful panoramic views of Algarve.

Inland, the Algarve is dotted with small towns and villages, many of them boasting long histories and quaint centres. Many of these lesser-known towns, while worth a visit, are well off the tourist track. Head to Silves to visit an ancient castle, to hilltop Salir for a taste of quiet country life or to Tavira, one of the Algarve's oldest towns.

Roca, Algarve

With its long, sunny days and mild temperatures, the Algarve claims to have the best weather in Europe. Summers are warm and dry, but thanks to the constant Atlantic breeze they don't get too hot. Summer highs in the Algarve hover around 80?F June through August, and lows are in the low 60?s. Spring and Autumn are also pleasantly mild, with highs in the 70?s and lows in the 50?s. Winter temperatures drop only slightly below this, with highs in the low 60?s and lows in the 40?s. Rainfall in the Algarve is light, with the rainiest months (November through February) having averages of just 3 inches per month.

Roca, Algarve

The Algarve is well-connected to the rest of Portugal and to Europe via its main airport in the regional capital, Faro. Airlines like Iberia, British Airways, Monarch and Tap Air Portugal offer inexpensive, non-stop flights from the UK to Faro. Flight time from London is under three hours.

If you're travelling from Lisbon, it's a 2 1/2-hour drive to Faro (about 175 miles). You may also want to consider taking the bus or train. For regional travel in the Algarve, the bus system here is efficient and economical and provides a good alternative to hiring a car. For long-distance travel, the train is an easy and comfortable way to get around.

Roca, Algarve

The Algarve presents endless opportunities for fun in the sun, with excellent beaches and a long, varied coastline filled with suitable swimming spots. Once you've soaked in the Algarve sun, try out the Algarve's other attractions. Head out for a boat cruise on the Atlantic (harbours in Lagos and Vilamoura offer numerous sailing or yacht trips) or try adventure water sports like waterskiing, windsurfing and surfing.

If you prefer to stay on dry land, tee off on one of the Algarve's many golf courses. There are some 20 courses scattered throughout the Algarve, and most of them can be played year-round.

Walkers will find plenty to keep busy too. The Algarve's Serra de Monchique offers numerous hiking trails, many with good opportunities for bird watching. Other excellent places for walking and bird watching include Cabo de Sao Vicente (Cape St. Vincent), the marshes of the Ria Formosa (in the Ria Formosa Natural Park) and the Castro Marim Reserve. Countless other trails follow the Algarve's coast and criss-cross its interior; check with local tourist offices for detailed information.