Welcome to the Algarve... one of the best holiday and golf destinations in Europe!

Whatever you do in Algarve, you can always choose between sun-baked beaches and the wilder sceneries of the mountains. The international airport sits at Faro, the district capital.

For those who seek animated seaside resorts, Faro (the provincial capital), Portimão, Albufeira or sophisticated Vilamoura, with its luxurious golf courses, are good choices.

If you prefer more tranquil destinations, head for the west coast, facing the Atlantic and where towns like Aljezur still offer long, deserted beaches, or visit busy fishing and market towns like Olhão, or the pretty, quaint village of Alcoutim, near Alentejo and Spain.

Most towns and villages still bear the legacy of five centuries of arab rule, visible in their narrow streets and the houses´ styles, many of which present whitewashed chimneys with different shapes and geometric designs.