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Portugal : Faro - August 2009

Country Code: Dial 1 for Portugal

Summer is high season in the Algarve, when locals flee the heat of Faro and head for the countryside, holiday resorts and fantastic beaches. In Loulé, 29 August is White Night, when the town and its people are dressed in white, and musicians and street artists perform. Paul Rouse slaps on the sunscreen

Getting around

Faro International Airport

Bus: Eva Bus connects the airport with the city centre. Services run every 30 minutes from 7.05am to 9.15pm. The journey takes 20 minutes and a return ticket costs €4 while a single ticket costs €1,55.
Train: A single journey from the airport to Faro for up to four passengers costs around €15 and takes 15 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is at 8-11 Rua da Misericordia (tel. , visitportugal.com).

CENTRAL FARO

If you fancy summer in the city, Faro still has something to offer away from the beaches.

Sleep soundly – What could be more romantic than staying in a 19th-century palace? Hotel Palacio de Estoi (Rua de São José, Estoi, tel. , pousadasofportugal.com, rooms from €170) is just 10km from the airport, but transports you to another world.

Culture vultures – Centro Ciência Viva do Algarve (Rua Comadante Francisco Manuel), or Centre for Living Science, is perfect for inquisitive kids, with games, exhibitions, an observatory and a flight simulator.

EASTERN ALGARVE

From the glamour of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo to the understated charm of Almancil, there’s plenty of choice for all holidaymakers.

Sleep soundly – The family-friendly Dona Filipa Hotel (Vale do Lobo, tel. , donafilipahotel.com, rooms from €230) has a range of sports facilities, a supervised kids’ club and golf at San Lorenzo included in its summer packages.

Culture vultures – If you thought fado was old-fashioned, you’ve never heard Mariza. Catch the charismatic Portuguese singer in concert on 14 August in Vila Real de Santo Antonio as part of the summer-long Allgarve (allgarve.pt) season of events.

Must eat – Head to La Terrazza (Praça, Vale do Lobo, tel. ) for great food, a superb atmosphere and real Italian gusto. The pizzas are enormous. They don’t skimp on the hearty British-Portuguese dishes at O Limoeiro (210 Avenue Duarte Pacheco, Almancil, tel. ) – ‘The Lemon Tree’ – either. Check out the courtyard, perfect for sunny lunches and warm summer evenings.

Must drink – Couleur France (Vale d’Eguas, Almancil) is the place to visit every Friday evening. Get here for 6pm for its informal get-togethers. Drop in for Brazilian jazz, cocktails and free tapas.

Dance the night away – Kadoc (Estrada de Vilamoura, Loulé) is the Algarve’s largest nightclub and pulls in big-name DJs such as Erick Morillo and King Bizz.

CENTRAL ALGARVE

The heart of the Algarve’s tourist region is packed with places to see and things to do. And in the height of summer, the Portuguese from the north love it, too.

Sleep soundly – The modern resort at Monte Santo (Sitio do Mato Serrao, Carvoeiro, tel. , montesantoalgarve.com, rooms from €69) comes with outdoor pools, gardens, massage tents and a running track. Vila Domilu (Estrado do Benagil, Praia do Carvoeiro, tel. , viladomilu.com, rooms from €83) is an elegant 32-bedroom boutique hotel with outdoor pools and a spa offering seaweed, wine and chocolate baths.

Culture vultures – Fiesa 2009 (fiesa. org), the international sand sculpture festival, takes place in Pera until 22 October, and showcases some remarkable works of art. Or spend the day at Zoomarine (zoomarine.com) near Guia, where you can swim with dolphins and enjoy the aquariums.

Must eat – Perched over the beach, the terrace of Rei das Praias (Praia dos Caneiros, Ferragudo, tel. ) is a great sun trap. Watch the crashing waves and take your pick from the fresh fish display. For traditional Portuguese food at its best, O Lotus (13 Rua Fonseca de Almeida, Lagoa, tel. ) has amazing lobster rice and tempting dishes of the day.

Dance the night away – Casa do Cerro (Cerro da Piedade, Albufeira) is where the beautiful people hang out until late. With its hilltop setting, heaving bar, throbbing music, outside terraces and Arabic ambience, you could be in Marrakech.

Shop til you drop – As well as an excellent restaurant, Veneza (Mem Moniz, Paderne) houses the best wine shop in the Algarve, a cavernous cellar stocking Portuguese varieties to suit every taste and budget.

Compiled by Paul Rouse