Fuzeta is set in the eastern region of the Algarve and is actually a stand-alone town, a rather thriving fishing town thanks to the warmer waters close-by that still catch the local fisherman large numbers of tuna which in turn are integral to the local canning industry.

The town is also a major producer of natural sea salt thanks to the salt beds that lie on the eastern side of the town and is also a great destination for campers because of a great campsite right by the quayside. The views from this place include the small islands with long sandy beaches accessible by taking the local ferry. Those visiting the Armona island for instance also have the option of a water taxi – more expensive than the ferry but you won’t have to conform to the ferry timetable.

The town of Fuzeta is laid out in a grid pattern, featuring a cobble decorated main street which has been pedestrianized and having great shops, bars as well as an art gallery all of which leading to a small square with shady trees and benches.

The square is also flanked by lots of bars and restaurants, both options being great to just sit with a glass of local booze and take in the atmosphere. Both large and small roads criss-cross each other but many of them are either no-entry or one way, so walking is a good idea for exploring the place in depth.

The town of Monte Gordo, as opposed to most other destinations in the Algarve is actually a pretty large and spacious one; many of its wide streets having been exclusively dedicated to pedestrians.

The place used to be a rather thriving fishing village benefiting from a very wide variety of fish species thanks to the warmer waters of the Mediterranean.

The town is located just a few kilometers from Vila Real de Santo Antonio, being situated practically on the border of Spain, but the two towns are two quite different entities.

Monte Gordo saw a major change in the late 1990s when the Casino Hotel opened. This change came in the form of high-rise apartment buildings, thankfully however, the miles-long stretches of wide golden beaches have remained unspoiled by building sites, there is nothing to ruin the coastline view of the town. Monte Gordo is quite a popular destination for summer visitors thanks to the warmer Mediterranean waters.

The beach decking features access for disabled people in several locations and there is also a rather small but attractive park where one can find plenty of seating in the shade when needing to escape the hot summer Algarve sun.

Even though the place is known by tourists it doesn’t mean that it’s that tourist-focused, the place featuring several good Portuguese restaurants where you’ll find some traditional cuisine. This is an important distinction to make especially when comparing to very popular destinations such as Albufeira which has many bars and restaurants catering to English tourists for instance.

There are lots of pay-to-park facilities located close to the beach and along the promenade, the promenade is also where a monthly antique market is held on the fourth Saturday.

One other great advantage of Monte Gordo is that you can hop into Spain to enjoy some tapas in Ayamonte.