Algarve villa holidays - activities & sights

With its craggy, cave-laced coastline and clear seas, the Algarve offers excellent scuba-diving for both experts and beginners. As well as rich and colourful underwater life, there are also elaborate rock formations, hidden grottoes and even shipwrecks to explore. Sailing is the part of the fabric of life here, so you'll find buzzing marinas, as well as yacht trips and sailing cruises galore. You can hire small sailing boats at beach sports centres in many resorts and don't miss the chance to take a cruise on one of Portugal's replica 'caravels' the traditional, two-masted sailing vessels.

The Algarve has attracted discerning golfers for almost three decades. The main golf season is from late autumn to late spring. Winters are mild and golfers can enjoy warm, sunny days and keep their swings in the groove when their home courses are unplayable. Despite southern Portugal's appealing sunshine, rain does fall from time to time and nearly all of it during the main golfing season. Most courses are within 20 kilometers of the coast, but their terrain varies dramatically. The Algarve offers everything from challenging steep hillsides to coastal flat courses and links holes. Vilamoura has several top notch courses including Vilamoura Old Course, Pinhal and Vila Sol. Other interesting courses conveniently placed near resorts are Salgados, near Armacao de Pera, Palmeres, near Alvor, Gramacho, near Carvoeiro and Laguna, near Vilamoura.

Walking is a popular pastime, especially around Monte Gordo, mainly due the flat terrain in the area. Most resorts provide some sports facilities with the marina at Vilamoura the place to go for a spot of sailing.

The Algarve is fringed by many beaches along the coastline, often backed by rugged cliffs. Some of the best include Praia de Monte Gordo at the eastern end of the coast, Praia de Faro, which is close to the capital, Praia da Falesia, one of the longest beaches in the area and Praia do Amado on the west coast.

Close enough to the Algarve border for a spectacular day trip, Seville, the capital of Andalucia, is home of the flamenco dance. This atmospheric, beautiful city offers a multitude of elegant architecture, romantic plazas and beautiful parks. Sightseeing here includes the grand Gothic cathedral with its famous Giralda tower and enticing open-air cafés and restaurants where you can sit down to Spanish tapas and Seville's legendary gazpacho.