7 Things That Surprised Me About The Algarve

I had a vision of the Algarve in my head. It was of 1970s high rise hotels on sea fronts, deckchairs on the beach and sunburnt British tourists. Everywhere. How wrong I was.

The Algarve truly surprised me. It was far better than I’d ever imagined and I was left wondering why it had taken me so long to discover the region at the southern tip of Portugal. Of course, there are plenty of people who are well aware of the Algarve’s allure with more than 7 million foreign visitors descending every year. Yet when we visited in October half term, it didn’t feel overrun with tourists. I discovered quiet coastlines, lazy seaside towns, wide sandy beaches and delicious food. Here’s some of the things that surprised me about Portugal’s Algarve.

Sandy Beaches

The Algarve is beautiful. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so picturesque. I saw no high rise hotels only rugged landscapes, nature reserves and long, wide beaches which, in October, were virtually empty. A visit to Playa Verde saw miles of beach and just a handful of people. No scrapping for towel space here!

Fuzeta was another quiet fishing village we visited with a beautiful sandy beach. We based ourselves at the lagoon which was perfect with young children.

Weather

Much of the Algarve’s appeal is its climate. The hottest month is July but even in October the weather was very warm. There had been some storms before we arrived and we experienced a bit of cloud but we also enjoyed temperatures from 19 to 23 degrees celsius which was perfect for us and our young children. It certainly beats the UK in autumn and the splash of October sunshine was just what we needed.

Picturesque towns

Along the Algarve’s coastline lie quaint fishing villages where you’ll find delicious seafood and a slow pace of life. It’s easy to slip into its relaxed vibe. From our base in Olhao in the east of the Algarve we came across places such as Santa Luzia.

The seaside village is famous for its octopus which is caught using traditional methods by fishing fleet. It is served up at one of the harbour restaurants. Oh my, it was delicious!

Wander around larger towns such as Tavira, dissected by the Gilão River, and take in its famous azulejos – painted ceramic tiles – which adorn its buildings. There’s also a castle!

Food

As well as its mouth-watering octopus, Portugal surprised me on the food front. Eating out, whether it was high end or more rustic, the food was delicious. Our hotel served incredible dishes while we thoroughly enjoyed the meal (and view) we had at Restaurante Panormaico in Castro Marim. We didn’t eat a bad meal and the red wine went down rather well too!

Price

We found Portugal relatively inexpensive. Certainly not as pricey as some parts of Spain and France. Eating out was fairly cheap and we got an excellent deal on our boutique hotel, Vila Monte in Moncarapacho. We benefited from going late season but it was still during the school holidays.

Quiet and untouched

The Algarve still feels rather rustic. It certainly isn’t the over developed region I had conjured up in my head. The beaches and villages we visited in the east were quiet and secluded. It is in need of some investment on the roads (which were a little pot holed) and we saw plenty of derelict buildings but, in a way, that added to its charm.

Friendly people

We were welcomed into the country by its residents. The hotel staff even apologiesd to us for the rain when we arrived (as if it was their fault). We encountered friendly people who adored our daughters.

Our last-minute holiday to the Algarve gave me a fresh look on a region I had previously overlooked. I’ve even surprised myself by considering a return visit. I don’t often go back to places but I feel the Algarve has far more hidden gems which I am keen to discover, sooner rather than later.

Have you been to the Algarve? What did you think? Did it surprise you?