Winter seems to be a good time to start thinking ahead and get back into a summer mindset, right? While the cold settles down in most parts of the northern hemisphere, people are already plotting break to somewhere warm and sunny. Somewhere that the sand, surf and sun meet in perfect unison for a vacation. If you are planning a mid-winter break or even planning ahead for a quick week away in Spring, Southern Portugal seems to be the perfect destination for that.

From the westernmost point of  Cabo de Sao Vicente to Cacela Velha in the east at the border with Spain, the Algarve consists of a cornucopia of sites to visit. Gardens seems to spill over crumbling walls and fig and orange trees grow in abundance some even spilling their spoils right onto the street. This is a region where people still live off the land and the sea.

How to explore the Algarve

Portugal’s Algarve Region along the southern coast is best seen by car. Perhaps even switch off the GPS and go for a drive with the smell of the sea and surf guiding you to small coastal towns. You’ll pass dramatic and steep cliffs, turquoise blue waters and surf-themed cafes as you drive up and down the coast. Portugal’s Algarve region is the perfect place to unwind and escape. With more than 150 beaches bordering a whole string of tiny, sleepy fishing villages and historic towns, the Algarve is best seen at a slow pace so as to take in all the sights, sounds and smells of the ocean.

While there are a lot more flights into Lisbon and Porto, the Algarve can also be accessed via direct international flights from Europe that fly into Faro. Ideally you would want to spend a minimum of four to five nights touring the coastal and rural areas of Portugal’s relaxed southernmost province.

Exploring the city of Faro

Faro which is the biggest city in the Algarve has a relatively busy airport. In fact more than 90% of the air traffic at Faro airport consists of international flights from Europe. Faro has been the administrative capital of the Algarve since 1540. Faro is definitely worth spending a day or two to explore its city center, historic buildings and old churches. One of the most beautiful and famous church of them all is the 18th century Igreja do Carmo. Right next to the church is the equally famous Capela de Ossos, a bone chapel made from the skeletons of former monks. The chapel isn’t as gruesome as it sounds. In fact, monks build it did so to humanize death as something that is normal. Everyone has to die one day and death is a normal part of the journey of life. You can even get a fantastic bird’s eye view of the city of Faro with its whitewashed walls and orange/brown tiled roofs from the terrace of the church. Faro also has many cork producing establishments and survenier shops around town. Portugal is famous for its cork along with white and blue tiles.

Exploring the city of Lagos

An hour west of Faro is the resort city of Lagos. Lagos, inhabited since 2000 years, first by Phoenicians, then until 1241 by the Arabs, is a paradise for fans of history and the arts. From this port town, Portuguese seafarers set sail to conquer the West African coast. Through them, black slaves from Guinea and Senegal were first brought to Europe and Lagos was an important center for the slave trade until it was abolished in 1820. The old slave market exists to this day. The city center itself is covered with tiled pedestrian streets and small local boutiques which makes it perfect for browsing and window shopping. The old town of Lagos is hilly with a jumble of whitewashed houses, colorful tiles and terra cotta roofs.

However the speciality of Lagos are its world famous beaches. In fact, some of the most photographed beaches in the Algarve are in Lagos, popular for their unusual rock formations, including gold-colored stone arches and free-standing rocks rising out of the water.

Exploring the city of Olhao

A few miles east of Faro is the beautiful town of Olhao with its picturesque alleys and blue and while tiles. In fact, it is the Algarve’s biggest fishing port, with an active waterfront and pretty, bustling lanes in its old quarters. The narrow streets of Olhao’s old town are easiest to navigate on foot. Easy access to the Ria Formosa nature park and a nice promenade, combined with a lovely old town make this a perfect weekend destination in Portugal. Olhao itself doesn’t have a beach, but the lovely golden beaches of barrier islands Culatra and Armona are only a ferry ride away. There are two market buildings in Olhao right next to one another. One houses the famous Olhao fish market, the other one is a permanent fruit and vegetable market. Both are worth a visit. Olhao also has a famous market day every Saturday that is well worth the visit as they sell everything from fresh herbs to home made churros.

In the summer months, a guided boat trip in the Ria Formosa is definitely one of the top 10 things to do in Algarve. The Ria Formosa is the second most important wetland for aquatic birds in Portugal, so a birdwatching tour from the water is a special treat. Dolphins are also found off the southern coast of Portugal and a dolphin watching tour is a great way to spend some quality family time.

Exploring the famous Benagil Caves

Perhaps one of the most famous things to see along the Algarve coast are the Benagil caves. Also Algar de Benagil, it is probably the most famous of all the sea caves of Algarve. Benagil cave is located next to Praia de Benagil (Benagil Beach), between Portimao, Albufeira, and Lagoa. While it’s located just around the corner from the nearby Benagil beach (Praia de Benagil), the Benagil cave can only be reached via the sea. You can drive to the top of the cave and walk up to the hole in the ceiling of the Benagil cave and see it from above, but there is no way to get inside the Benagil Cave itself on foot.

To get to the Benagil cave you have to either swim from the beach which can be quite challenging because the ocean is very rough around these parts or take a kayak / boat tour.

Catching surfs up in Sagres

Arguably, the traditional fishing village of Sagres which is considered as the southernmost point in Europe is most famous for its surf. It has a quiet atmosphere for the most part except for the summer months when the almost perfect surf draws many tourists and locals alike. The waves vary from mild and medium sizes on most days to fairly large, especially when the winter months hit. The great thing about Surfing in the Algarve is that the water is warm; still about 22 degrees in October. When the winter settles in Europe with snow and ice in parts of the continent, the Algarve still has a spring like feeling with temperatures around 16 degrees. Although some locals may feel reluctant to share their slice of Portuguese paradise with foreign visitors, the area has a small, welcoming surf community with many schools that teach all skill levels from beginner to advanced. Burgau is a sweet fishing village, that is worth a short visit to wander around the narrow paths and stumble upon tiled facades – a typical architectural feature of Portuguese houses. There are several lovely airbnb homes that are very close to the beach so if you want a quiet place to rest, this village is it.

With its spectacular coastline and easy laid-back way of life, this southern part of Portugal and the Algarve is a year round destination. Although, autumn through to spring is really the peak period because the summer can be hot and with long flat spells. Winter can still be warm enough for t-shirts and the water is the warmest in Portugal.

Regardless of when you decide to visit the Algarve, know this. You will come back with a renewed appreciation for the simpler things in life – the taste of salt on your skin, a sense of calm and peacefulness and a love for the sea.

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