1. Festival Do Orgao do Algarve (Organ Festival of the Algarve)

The festival is taking place between 03.11.2017 – 25.11.2017. It follows eight succesfull years in faro and has been expaded across the regios. This year, the festival will take place across four counties: Portimao, Faro, Tavira and Loulé.

You should’t miss this as you will enjoy many concerts and for sure you will have lot of fun.

2. St. Martin’s fair in Portimao

 The fair has taken place every year since 1662 and it is considered the most ancient event and also the most popular in the city.

Visitors will have the chance to browse through 84 stalls where you can find anything from food, clothes, shoes,household item, toys and so on.

Also this year a novelty it will be the exhibition of new and used cars, which represents nine car brands in the Algarve. The show will take place at Portimao Arena, locaed in the grounds of the Parque de Feiras e Exposicoes, from 15:00 to 23:00, each day until 18.11.2017.

3. Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Christmas celebration in Portugal traditionally start on December 8^th (“The day of “Our Lady of the Conception”) and end of 12^th night.

Christmas itself is celebrated on Christmas Eve night.

Did you ever imagined spending Christmas sorounded by decorations but somewhere where the weather is still warm? Algarve is the perfect answer.

New Year celebration can become very expensive but did you thought that you can get more with less money?

You can watch the firework displays on the river front in Lagos and get a view of Portimao’s display as well.

Many open air concerts will take place in Albufeira and all the bars and clubs across the Algarve will stay open until the early hours so everyone can celebrate.

If you need a car we suggest you to hire a car from Lagos Car Hire as they have very good prices and lots of discounts up to 30% this time of the year.

Hope we helped you with some ideas for this autumn and winter and we wish you to enjoy your time in Algarve.

Located 90 kilometers from Faro, the capital city of the Algarve, Lagos is – and has been for some time - one of the top seaside resorts in the country. It’s also quite accessible, even if you are not traveling by car, because you can employ Faro Airport transfers to take you there and back.

One of the reasons people come to Lagos is the spectacular coastline. Lagos contains some of the best beaches in the Algarve. With its fantastic rocks and fine sand, the flowers covering the edge of the cliff and the cerulean ocean below, Praia de Dona Ana is our favorite beach.

Another beautiful beach just behind the Lagos Marina (which is a site you should definitely never miss) is Meia Praia. Its name might mean “half a beach”, but actually this is the longest beach in the area and provides a lot of excellent sand and water-sports facilities.

History comes to life at Forte Ponta da Bandeira, a 17th-century fortress built to defend the harbor of Lagos. (You might have guessed this: Lagos has had a long history as a seaside port). The remains of the fort can be visited, along with an 18th-century small chapel covered in azulejos, where there’s also an exhibit that celebrates the Portuguese golden age of discoveries.

If you want a fun day out for you and the kids, you can always opt for the Lagos Zoo. for just 10-14 EUR, you can visit a beautiful park that’s home to a true family of exotic animals. Plus there’s a restaurant there that provides traditional food.

What do you think about Lagos so far?

I guess you’ve heard this before, but it’s logical to bring into discussion one reason why so many foreigners visit Portugal (aside from the beautiful landscapes, the endless Atlantic Ocean and the year-round mild and warm weather). And that key reason is because it is very affordable. For British, Germans, Dutch and even American tourists, Portugal and specifically the sunny Algarve (the seaside region of the country) is the ultimate low-cost destination. Which is not to say it’s a “cheap” destination, if you know what we mean; quite on the contrary!

Portugal offers excellent lodgings for affordable prices, some of the best golf courses in the world, wonderful landscapes and outstanding cultural tours (with old Moorish castles and Manueline architecture lining the squares of the main cities).

Aside from this, services in the region are affordable. As for the beaches, Lagos is probably the best seaside destination in the whole Algarve if you are looking for a happy place under the sun to lie in the sun and play in the water. Also, you can book your Lagos car hire for a convenient price, while if you are staying in Lisbon, you have transfers from Lisbon Airport to Lagos to choose as a suitable alternative.

Redescobrir os Segredos do Algarve (in translation, Rediscovering the secrets of the Algarve) is an ambitious project that wants to show tourist agents, tour operators and journalists (who normally sit “at the other end” of the “tourism chain”) exactly what a tourist coming to the Algarve experiences.

Those who spend their time promoting Lagos and the entire Algarve and help “selling” the Portuguese tourist product are now rewarded with a beautiful late vacation. The program established by the organizers includes trips to less known destinations in the Algarve, cultural elements and many surprises.

In a program where culture is entwined with tourism, RTA plans to stress not only the littoral importance of Lagos and other Algarvian destinations, but also the cultural heritage and the natural splendor. The history and patrimony of Portugal and the Algarve are not to be ignored, believes Desiderio Silva, president of the Regiao de Turismo do Algarve organization.

Maria Joaquina Matos, president of the Municipal Chamber of Lagos, is also of the opinion that initiatives such as Redescobrir os Segredos do Algarve should receive all the attention, as they show the region in a new light: as a culturally relevant center, not just as a place with sunny beaches and water sports.

Lagos, Portugal is one of the most important centers in the Algarve, alongside Portimao, Faro or Alcoutim. Today, Lagos attracts thousands of foreign visitors, especially English, Dutch and Germans, many of whom settle here after retirement. But fewer people know the city is a herald of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries and home of the famous Henry the Navigator.

The city is easily accessible by car and Lagos rent a car companies are never out of business.

Being organized in the Lagos – Portimao area, Mar Algarve Expo aims at promoting the local economic and business-related potential. Various local products and services will be presented for the wide public (comprised of both locals interested professionally and of foreigners, coming to the Algarve for tourist purposes).

The organizers of the event have chosen a venue that accommodates an exhibit area, a gastronomic corner (where people can sample the local products), conference rooms for seminars and lectures. One of the event’s main targets is to create a meeting place for the representatives of Algarvian companies and their international counterparts.

The Municipality of Lagos comes represented by four major companies of the maritime industry: Clube de Vela de Lagos, Wake Salinas – Sports & Recreation, the Lagos Marina and the maritime association Frota do Infante.

In recent years, the tourist industry by the shores of the Atlantic Ocean has developed due to the great affluence of Western- European tourists. The Germans, the English and the Dutch are among the main customers of the Portuguese tourist product. One of the most prominent names on the market is Sol e Mar, a network of hotels and venues in the Algarve. The company will be there to promote its brand, along with other enterprises that offer cruises on the ocean, watersports and other sea-related activities.

The event is due to take place at the Portimão Arena, open between 9 and 11 October 2014, from 10 AM to 9 PM. Visitors have free access to the Mar Algarve Expo Vernissage and the venue is easily accessible by public transport or by employing a private transfer in the Algarve.

The Western Algarve will be celebrating this fifth edition of the Blue Summer Festival, dedicated this year to the theme of memory. Lasting for four days, the event is addressed to all people, designed to cater for all tastes. The schedule includes shows, live performances, music concerts, open readings, conferences on pressing current issues and projections of documentary films and a display of classic animation films (meant to delight children, as well as their parents, who will reminisce together with their animate childhood heroes).

Coordinated by two prominent artists, João Galante and Ana Borralho and organized with the support of the Casablanca cultural association, the Blue Summer Festival’s main purpose is to promote and encourage contemporary art.

The Portuguese festival will include a unique publishing project and a series of memorable lectures suggested by Rui Catalão under the title “The great debt”. Participants will also have the opportunity to watch the play “By Heart” staged in Lagos by Tiago Rodrigues.

As for the entertainment available for the young ones, the organizers created the concept of the show “The elephants walk”, telling the touching story of a herd of elephants. They also propose a couple of sessions of classic animation films in Cinema Lagos.

Meanwhile, in Portimao, music fans can enjoy extraordinary performances from rapper Capicua and a Friday evening on the rhythms of hip hop at the Municipal Theatre. Portimao is also preparing for the City Fair, also scheduled for October, which is sure to provide much entertainment for everyone. If you are going to be in Portugal in the coming weeks, you may like to look into the option of renting a car in the Algarve and get some tickets for the Blue Summer Festival Algarve.

If the charm of Spain and Portugal attract you, be it through customs or especially music, there are quite a few music festivals and events that you should take into consideration. For instance, in Portimao, you can take part in Música Mundi: Tango and many more. If you wish to be lulled by the gentle and sad Fado rhythm of the Portuguese guitar, there are recitals by João Cuña almost every day in Faro Museum.

Portimao is also host of some quality classical music recitals: the Lagos Music Academy Chamber Orchestra comes on tour on the 21st of June, to give just an example.

All throughout the Algarve, there are markets with fun and artifacts and much joy: Lagoa, Lagos, Faro, Loule, Albufeira, Quarteira and Tavira are just a few of the cities hosting them.

If you thought the Portuguese were not fun people, you’ll change your mind when you find out they actually organize Festa do Frango no Churrasco – which basically celebrates the exquisite flavor of chicken barbecue and turns the whole cooking activity into a true ritual!

In August, Olhos de Agua hosts a traditional Sardine Festival, as ever since time immemorial, most of the Algarve cities thriving today used to be fishermen villages. The same town organizes a great folkloric festivity with even more music, food and fun.

Albufeira dresses in festive clothing on August 14th with the Festa da Nossa Senhora da Orada (the festival of Our Lady of the Oracle), who is patron saint of the fishermen, which is at the same time a religious and a popular celebration.

Last but not least, let’s not forget that Europeans love sports and the Portuguese are not an exception to this rule. All throughout the summer, in June, July and August, you will have the chance to see sporting events and activities on the beach, culminating with August 20th, when Albufeira pays homage to sports with a great fireworks display.

Could we make our invitation to Portugal clearer?

The Algarve is for the most part regarded as an excellent seaside attraction, so it’s probably not surprising that aquatic activities rank first among the popular activities available in this part of Portugal.

Surfing and Scuba-diving are our first suggestion of things to do, especially if you are a sports fan. You can find excellent schools in Lagoa, Lagos, Alvor, Albufeira or Portimao, to give just a few examples.

The Atlantic Ocean is home to an impressive marine life, so whale and dolphin watching is another great experience you shouldn’t miss. Boat trips in Alvor, Faro, Lagos and many other places should also make your list.

Bulldog Buggies are also an unexpected choice and provide an awesome off-road safari experience. Explore the valleys and hills, the winding tracks and the riverbeds of the Algarve building unforgettable memories while riding these funny and practical vehicles.

Horseback riding is a popular outdoors activity for a great deal of people. Real Picadeiro is just one of the places where you can come close to these magnificent and gentle animals.

Apart from spectacular sightseeing during the long walks around the Algarve seashore, you can also visit the Lagos Zoo (Parque Zoologico de Lagos), where you can admire exotic animals and spend quality time with your friends or family. Needless to say, this is an amazingly gratifying experience for children, who will be thrilled to know they can even pat some of the tenants of the happy Portuguese Zoo. All in all, this will surely be a great day outdoors, taking in the sun and fun of the Algarve.

Next in our Top 10 Summer Activities in the Algarve, we will examine some enjoyable things to do for the less adventurous of you. For instance, you can treat yourself to a day or a whole holiday of pampering in an exotic spa. Aromatherapy, massage or skin treatments are in store for you, as well as swimming pools and gyms, and the offer is plentiful.

Algarve is also one of the capitals of golf, housing the best golf courses in the world, such as: Millenium, Pinhal, Morgado, O’Connor, Vale do Lobo and many others, so there is an entire industry centered around golf club hire and golf transfers. So if golf is on your list of new things to try out, the Algarve is the place for you.

For the truly intellectual ones, who long for a cultural excursion, we recommend visits to the museums and castles in the Algarve. Suggestions: Museu de Portimao and the ancient Fortress at Sagres.

We hope our Top 10 Summer Activities in the Algarve will help you get an idea of all the amazing places you can see and things you can do here!

According to a statement released by the Lagos Town hall, the elevation of Lagos to city status is considered one of the most significant moments in local history because it was a clear recognition of the importance that the port town garnered.

This action led to the headquarters for the governors of the Kingdom of the Algarve to get set up in the city, as a result making it one of the most important locations in the history of the country. The upgrade to city status is also considered to have been crucial in Lagos being the place where the first ships sailed on the voyages of discovery, which in turn opened Europe up to the rest of the world and everything that those brought with them.

Starting with the 24^th of January the Lagos Town Hall is organizing a variety of cultural activities, which aim to promote the local cultural heritage as well as attract some tourists in the winter low-season.

On the 24^th of January the tourist guides and other professionals from the tourism sector will take part in a day-long seminar meant to refresh their knowledge in relation to Lagos’ cultural and archaeological heritage so that they can then better pass on this information onto their visitors.

The activity will be held in Portuguese and is free for tourism professionals  for those who registered to attend until the 21^st of January.

Also on the 24^th a book entitled “Legado do Conde de Ferreira no Algarve” – The Legacy of Count Ferreira in the Algarve – will be launched at the Cultural Centre at 4:30PM.

On the 25^th of January, guide Jose Antonio Martins will be carrying out a free guided tour of the historic centre of Lagos, an activity open to the general public which will take place between 10AM and 1PM.

Lagos and the region surrounding it is currently a top nightlife destination for tens of thousands of holiday makers, however the regional council has recently decided to close all of its bars at midnight.

As social media and travel-focused sites such as this one are starting to pick up on this odd piece of news coming from the Algarve it is though that tourists will start to change their holiday-making plans in order to avoid this particular region.

When you look a bit deeper into the new restrictions you’ll see that they will not affect all bar owners equally.

The reason given for the move is said to be noise abatement, however the Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Assosciation – ASMAA – says that it has more to do with offering council-owned bars by the riverfront a competitive edge over the other establishment, seeing as how the riverfront ones are exempt from the new regime.

A few more details about these new Lagos licensing restrictions by-laws: they include reducing the operating licensing hours by two hours for all bars and restaurants in Lagos that have traditionally traded after midnight – with the notable exceptions of the council-owned bars that will soon open on top of the public parking garage in the Avenida along the riverfront.

There’s a massive storm brewing between the Lagos Council and ASMAA, as evidenced by a public disclosure meeting that was held between the Council and ASMAA representatives. ASMAA’s notes on the meeting raise more than a few questions as to the ulterior motives of the Council in going forward with these new by-laws.

This is a rather unnerving development for the region, since pretty much all facets of tourism will surely be impacted greatly, including the Lagos car hire industry, if these new by-laws are passed in their current form, we’ll keep an eye on the issue as it develops and report back to you.