Dream vacation in Algarve

This summer I'm featuring Portugal, a country that has so much to offer. In June I was taking you to Porto. In July we will travel to the Southern part: let's deep in the crystal clear water and the most amazing beaches in Algarve. It's summer time, Portugal is a popular holiday destination with the perfect climate, tasty food, quality wine and lovely people. I loved taking long walks on the paths and on the beach, gorgeous panorama, hidden little beaches.

Algarve is a really special, iconic place to me because the idea of Uandstyle was born here. While sitting on a bench and observing the ships passing by, it suddenly came to my mind how to create my own blog, where traveling, my passion can be connected to my two other loves: fashion and design.

Short history

The heritage of the Algarve is easy to see as you travel around the region. Did you know that Portugal was one of the first Catholic countries in Europe? Then the Islamic invaders, the Moors ruled here for more than 500 years (711-1250) and has left relevant influences: the decorative glazed tiles  - azulejos (you might remember that from the previous chapter), especially the geometric design on the buildings and the flat roofed buildings with the typical chimneys. The Moors introduced many new plants and trees to the region, such as almond trees, fig trees, pomegranates and the first orange trees. The Arabs also gave the Algarve its name: Al-Gharb (meaning: the west), as it was the western possession of their empire.

Moorish chimney

Azuejos

Algarve today

In modern Algarve history, the region experienced an economical recovery in the 19th century mainly due to the fish-canning industry, fishing and agriculture. Today the tourism plays a very important role in the region.

My top beaches

The coast of the Algarve is an endless series of some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. They are spectacular stretches of sand: the climate and atmosphere are truly Mediterranean. I was spending a week at the region, where beaches with limestone rock stacks produced by erosion. Their orangy-brown colors make them perfect. However I was also discovering some other beaches nearby: Faro, Lagos, Portimao area.

My accommodation was located in the charming Carvoeiro. I was staying at Pestana Palm Gardens (https://www.pestana.com/en/hotel/pestana-palm-gardens). The apartment was spacious with a breathtaking view and huge garden.

Pestana Resort

The pool

The beach is a good 10 minutes walk from the room. There are several nice beaches here.

Tiny private beach next to the resort

The main beach in Carvoeiro center is amazing with its pretty, colorful boats, nice restaurant and cafes, little shops. The closest beach to the hotel is the Praia da Centianes, it's a more quiet, little beach with great facilities, boat trips, cafe and restaurant.

Carvoeiro beach

Restaurants and cafes on the beach

Clear water on the Praia da Centianes

Ice coffee on the beach

Praia da Centianes

It's worth renting a car and driving to the East, where you will find such beauties like Benagil and Praia da Marinha, you can visit these two places within one day, they are close to each other. Benagil beach is also famous for its caves, it's a good idea to take part in the 30 Euro tour that lasts an hour and a half and actually stops at the Benagil Cave as well. I'm sure you noticed this photo, it looks like a postcard, this place is one of the well-known and most photographed sights in Algarve.

The cave

Benagil beach

My absolute favorite place was the Praia da Marinha, pure bliss, just have a look at the photos below! It's a must see beach. Steps are leading you to the beach, but it's not difficult to handle them. I recommend you arriving in the morning around 9, the beach relatively quiet and less crowded at that time.

If you are looking for a fun, social beach that fills up with families, locals, backpackers, go to Portimao. There are several good bars and restaurants on the beach. If you prefer long, sandy beaches, this is something for you. I enjoyed an afternoon walk here before heading back to my accommodation.

Faro visit

I only had a few hours to spend in this tiny, quiet town. You can stroll through the old town, visit the cathedral, the old monastery. The mosaic floors and decorations, cobbled streets bring you back to the Moorish time. It's a nice, seaside town, but you can easily visit it within 2 hours, still it's worth spending sometime there, it's the center of the region after all.

The Cathedral

If you loved Algarve  as much as I did, please share your experience and photos with me! In August my last topic of this summer will be still Portugal, focusing more on its culture and gastronomy.