Local Area Information

The year-round mild temperatures and over 300 days of sunshine, the long golden beaches being lapped by lucid water, the quirky coves and bays and stunning cliffs that dominate the Algarve’s 200 kilometer coastline, the exceptional local cuisine and the friendliness and great hospitality of Portuguese people, make Algarve one of Europe’s top destinations.

Vilamoura Marina

The heart of Vilamoura is the marina, which is enormous and home to some very glamorous vessels. A number of boats run excursions along the coast towards Lagos. Big game fishing is also available for those who have an interest in it. In 1993 a boat from Vilamoura caught the world’s largest recorded black marlin and it is displayed on the dockside. The waterfront is brilliant for wandering around day or night with several cafes, bars and restaurants.

Vilamoura Casino

The casino at Quarteira in Vilamoura offers more than just a place to gamble. There is also an art gallery, where exhibitions are frequently held. Artists, photographers and sculptors provide displays of the different artistic expressions. The Miralago Lounge hosts live spectaculars each evening and the views from the terraces are superb. There are various restaurants and bars and, for the energetic, a discotheque. However, if gaming is your reason for visiting the casino, the following are on offer: Gaming Machines, Table and Poker Games, American Roulette, Blackjack, French Bank, French Roulette and Punto Banco.

Cuisine

Food is a serious affair in the Algarve. From restaurants with a focus on fresh fish, seafood and traditional Algarvian dishes, traditional meat dishes from the north of Portugal, international cuisine, you will find it difficult to decide which restaurant to visit. Come hungry and ready for unique and leisurely experiences. We will of course let you know which restaurants are our favourite.

Sightseeing

Algarve will provide you with the perfect opportunity to get a top quality sightseeing fix! When driving through the Algarve you barely go 20 kilometres before spotting an ancient castle, fort, cathedral or some ancient architectural marvel standing proudly on a hillside. The Algarve is famed for its fascinating collection of old churches, sandstone castles and ancient cathedrals.

Golf

Okay so we’re not all enthusiastic golfers but for those who do enjoy a good round of golf, the Algarve offers great golfing holidays. There are five superb golf courses all within a 5 minute drive of the apartment (Pinhal Course is within walking distance – 15/20minutes). Being Europe's largest golf resort, the Oceanico has five different courses and caters for all levels of golfers. With comprehensive facilities including shops, restaurants, bars, a golf clinic and golf academy, the Oceanico Golf Club, offering great value golf in stunning surroundings, remains one of Algarve’s most popular golf resorts.

Best beaches nearby

Praia da Marina de Vilamoura - This is the beach in front of the complex situated right between the Vilamoura Marina and the town of Quarteira. The sands have easy access from the adjoining road. It ends at the Marina and there is a large parking area, restaurants, facilities for disabled, sunshade rental, showers, windsurfing, sailing, small craft hire and the beach is an EEC Blue Flag.

Praia de Quarteira - The extensive sandy beach spreads over roughly three kilometres, and is interrupted by a series of breakwaters. Running along the whole of the seafront is a busy and lively avenue, known locally as the Calçadão, offering all kinds of tourist amenities, with sun-filled pavement cafés and restaurants, and lots of life and entertainment during the bathing season. The beach is supervised during the bathing season with ample parking nearby.

Praia da Falésia - It is one of the most popular and spectacular in Algarve. It starts at the western end of the Marina and it boasts 3km of white sand set close to red cliffs, creating a very pleasant atmosphere. It  is well served of close by restaurants, bars and water sports equipment to rent. There’s also a car park in the vicinity which is usable if you come early to the beach.

Praia do Almargem - This beach is at the final stretch of the Ribeira do Almargem, which creates a peaceful sheet of water that is very inviting for water birds. It is therefore possible to be on the beach and watch the cormorants fishing, or the enormous grey herons searching for food in the brackish lagoon water, which is not suitable for bathing. The beach is very quiet and peaceful in comparison with the neighbouring beaches of Quarteira. There is a parking area near the beach, which has basic restaurants and toilets at its western end, and is supervised during the bathing season.

Praia do Forte Novo is situated at the eastern end of Quarteira, far from the hustle and bustle of the more populated beaches of the resort. This beach forms a buffer zone between Quarteira and Vilamoura to the west Vale do Lobo in the east. There are soft, low cliffs that are characteristic of this stretch of coastline, with an intense ochre colour contrasting sharply with the deep green of the pinewoods that grow at their top. The sea sometimes reaches the foot of these cliffs. The beach has parking, restaurants and toilets and is supervised during the bathing season.

Watersports

The Algarve’s coast is the perfect place for aqua-based activities such as: dinghy sailing, jet-skiing, paragliding, scuba-diving, snorkeling, water-skiing, windsurfing and shark and marlin fishing.

Aquashow

This fun water park, near Quarteira on the EN396, has something for every member of the family – young and old. With a huge variety of slides, roller coasters, pools and rides, this is somewhere to go for the entire day. In fact, there is so much to do you might want to go back again! In addition, visitors will find a tropical park with exotic birds, a birds of prey section, a museum, a picnic area, restaurants, bars and a multicultural centre.