1. Loulé Carnival
Location: Loulé
Dates: 15–17 February 2026
Loulé Carnival is the Algarve’s most iconic winter celebration and one of Portugal’s longest-running carnival traditions. For three days leading up to Lent, the town’s central avenue becomes a vibrant stage of color, music and satire. Elaborately decorated floats roll through the streets, dancers perform choreographed routines to samba rhythms, and costumes range from playful to politically sharp, reflecting current events with humor and flair.
The carnival atmosphere extends well beyond the parades, with cafés, bars and street stalls buzzing throughout the day. Unlike larger European carnivals, Loulé retains a strong community feel, making it easy for visitors to feel part of the celebration rather than spectators on the sidelines. Staying nearby or arriving via Faro Airport Transfers ensures easy access, while a rental car allows travellers to combine Carnival with visits to surrounding villages and countryside viewpoints.

2. Almond Blossom Cross Country
Location: Albufeira
Date: 8 February 2026
The Almond Blossom Cross Country race is one of the Algarve’s most established international sporting events and marks the subtle transition from winter to early spring. Held amid blossoming almond trees, this prestigious athletics competition attracts elite runners from across Europe alongside enthusiastic amateur participants. The course winds through open countryside near Albufeira, offering spectators a rare chance to enjoy high-level sport in a relaxed, scenic setting.
Beyond the race itself, the event creates a lively weekend atmosphere, with athletes, supporters and visitors filling local cafés and coastal promenades. Even for non-runners, the almond blossoms and fresh February air make this an ideal time to explore the surrounding area. With Lagos Car Hire, visitors can easily combine the event with coastal walks, cliff-top viewpoints and neighbouring towns along the central Algarve.

3. Volta ao Algarve
Location: Across the Algarve region
Dates: February 2026 (dates to be confirmed)
The Volta ao Algarve is one of Europe’s most respected early-season professional cycling races, drawing world-class teams and riders to Portugal’s south each February. Over several stages, the peloton travels through coastal roads, historic towns and challenging inland climbs, showcasing the Algarve’s remarkable geographical diversity. From seaside sprints to dramatic hill finishes, the race offers unforgettable viewing opportunities for cycling fans.
Spectators often follow multiple stages, turning the event into a moving festival that passes through Faro, Lagos, Tavira and smaller interior villages. Having a hire car is especially valuable during the Volta, allowing visitors to reach prime viewing points and explore quieter inland areas between stages. Arriving smoothly via Faro Airport Transfers makes it easy to settle in before the race excitement begins.

4. Algarve Bike Challenge
Location: Tavira and surrounding trails
Dates: 27 February – 1 March 2026
The Algarve Bike Challenge is a three-day mountain biking stage race that highlights the region’s rugged natural beauty beyond its beaches. Based around Tavira, riders tackle a prologue followed by demanding stages through coastal tracks, forest paths and barrocal landscapes. The event attracts international cyclists seeking technical courses paired with mild winter conditions and stunning scenery.
Even for non-participants, the race brings energy to Tavira, with spectators, support crews and cyclists filling the historic centre. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience the Algarve’s quieter eastern side, combining sport with traditional architecture, riverside walks and local cuisine. A rental car allows easy access to trail viewing points and nearby nature areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.

5. International Sand Sculpture Festival (FIESA)
Location: Pêra / Lagoa area
Dates: From early March 2026
Opening in early March, the International Sand Sculpture Festival is one of the Algarve’s most distinctive cultural attractions and the largest sand sculpture exhibition in the world. Artists from across the globe transform thousands of tons of sand into intricate, towering works of art, often themed around history, pop culture or global landmarks. The scale and detail of the sculptures are impressive, making the festival engaging for visitors of all ages.
Running through spring, FIESA is perfectly timed for travellers extending their February stay into March. Located inland from the main resorts, it’s best reached by car, making it an ideal addition to a flexible Algarve itinerary. Combining the festival with nearby wineries, countryside drives or coastal beaches adds depth to the experience.

With festivals and events unfolding across multiple towns, seamless transport can transform a good trip into a great one. Faro Airport Transfers offer a stress-free start, delivering visitors directly from Faro Airport to their accommodation without delays. From there, Lagos Car Hire provides the freedom to move effortlessly between carnivals, races, exhibitions and hidden coastal gems — ensuring every moment in the Algarve is spent enjoying the journey rather than planning it.

1. Ponta da Piedade (Lagos)
This well-known location is well-known for its striking cliffs, unique rock formations and azure waters.
Visitors can use a boat, kayak or paddleboard to explore sea caverns and hidden grottoes. The vistas from the cliffs provide stunning panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean, making it a must-see for nature enthusiasts and photographers.

2. Benagil Cave (Carvoeiro)
One of the most well-known sea caves in the world is Benagil Cave.
This natural wonder, which can only be reached by boat, kayak or paddleboard, features a huge circular aperture in its roof that lets light stream into the sandy beach below.
Adventurers and beachgoers will find this place to be bizarre and breathtaking.

3. Tavira
Tavira is a charming town with a touch of traditional Portuguese architecture.
With its whitewashed buildings, ancient churches and Roman bridge, this Algarve village is less crowded than others.
Tavira Island, which is easily accessible by ferry, has lovely beaches that are ideal for unwinding.

4. Ria Formosa Natural Park
From Faro to Tavira, the enormous, protected lagoon system known as Ria Formosa stretches along the coast of the Algarve.
Birdwatchers, nature lovers and anyone interested in boat cruises through the park’s network of canals, islands and marshlands will find paradise here.
In this tranquil setting, chameleons, flamingos and other wildlife can be seen.

5. Sagres and Cape St. Vincent
Sagres is a mountainous and windswept hamlet at the southern coast of the Algarve, close to Cape St. Vincent, renowned as the “End of the World” during the Age of Discovery.
Adventurers and history lovers will love Cape St. Vincent’s dramatic vistas of the Atlantic and sense of isolation provided by the lighthouse and soaring cliffs.

These places encapsulate the Algarve‘s abundance of adventure, natural beauty and cultural diversity.
Savor the most thrilling experiences in the Algarve with your loved ones, always relying on Lagos Car Hire for top-notch car rental services anytime you need them and Faro Airport Transfers for simple, hassle-free transfers!

Faro, the capital city of the Algarve, and its international airport is the gateway for many tourists arriving in southern Portugal. Proud of its maritime heritage, Faro remains a busy and colorful port, a charming city that’s definitely worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.
It is the Old Town, however, that sightseers will want to visit. Enclosed by solid defensive walls, Faro’s Cidade Velha sits on Roman and Moorish foundations. This is one of the most attractive locations, surrounded by magical old churches including a magnificent cathedral, fascinating little squares and white washed cobbled streets with an impressive range of restaurants and cafes.

Another breathtaking location is Sagres, the southwesternmost town in Portugal, which has two points of interest you can’t miss: Cape St. Vincent and Sagres Fortress. Sagres has a profound history and a unique charm. Since the Middle Ages, this edge of Europe was considered “the end of the world”.
A paradise for nature lovers, Cape St. Vincent is, not surprisingly, a nature reserve since 1988, given the number of species that make this place their home, such as sea otters, herons and Bonelli’s eagles.
The Cape of St. Vincent combines nature, culture and myth. Come and discover this marvelous place, where the green lush exceeds any dreams or expectations, where the nature and naturality reign and where you can feel and almost touch the magnitude of nature. The Cape of St. Vincent and the surrounding area is one of the rare places where the geographical location, a wild but majestic nature, and historical factors combine with a mythical dimension.
Apart from its outstanding wildlife, the area is rich in history with evidence of occupation dating back to prehistoric times. There are also remnants of Roman and Phoenician settlements in the area. Ancient Greek chroniclers described Cabo de São Vicente as ”the end of the inhabited earth”.
The imposing lighthouse from Cape St. Vincent contains the largest warning light in Europe for both marine and air traffic. Here there’s a bird-watching festival every October which will definitely astonish the bird lovers.

Lagos is the western Algarve’s liveliest resort town, as well as a great historical significant location, as prince Henry the Navigator launched Portugal’s Age of Discovery from Lagos in the 15th century.
Lagos is one of the cities in Algarve visitors love the most, which has gracefuly maintained its authenticity. The town has a young, cheerful vibe, as well as a wealth of historic attractions and entertaining things to do.
When you visit Lagos, take some time to lose yourself in the alleys of its historic centre and enjoy the atmosphere of this city.
After visiting the historic centre, discover the Fort of Ponta da Bandeira, built in the 17th century. Here you can admire the small, but beautiful Chapel of Santa Bárbara, covered with glazed tiles and mesmerizing landscapes.
Located near the port city of Lagos, Ponta da Piedade is an exceptional natural place, offering a stunning view over Cape St. Vincent, with beautiful cliffs, arches and caves.
The town’s medieval collection of castle walls and graceful churches always captures the imagination of passers by, but it’s the coastline that enchants the visitors and tourists. In this idyllic place you can enjoy the most beautiful moments with your family and friends!

Associated with the fishing activity for centuries, Alvor flourished in time and, nowadays, most of its economy is dependent of the tourism industry.
In this absolutely enchanting corner of paradise you can admire some places like the Misericórdia Church, the town market (mercado municipal) and Ria de Alvor, a place where you’ll find beautiful different birds’ species.
One of the outstanding places is represented by the vast Alvor Beach, where you can relax and enjoy the warm weather and hikes in the biggest walkway in Algarve.

Considered one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve region, Carvoeiro is an adventurous and nature embracing postcard for those eager to visit southern Portugal.
Besides from the amazing bubbly beaches like Carvoeiro Beach and Vale Centeanes Beach, you’ll also have other points of interest you won’t want to miss. Surrounded by spectacular natural scenery, dramatic cliffs, and beautiful beaches, this popular resort town has everything you could want when seeking a relaxing getaway.
After enjoying the beautiful landscape, you can enjoy the fascinating wooden walkway that connects the site of the ruins of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação Fort to Algar Seco, a small 570-metre walk. This walkway is definitely one of the most beautiful in Algarve, where you can admire the beautiful bluffs and natural “windows” carved by the sea and wind erosion, especially in the Algar Seco location.
Another place you can’t miss during your visit to Carvoeiro and surrounding areas is the Algar de Benagil. This place is only accessible by sea, but it’s definitely a place you’ll want to explore! Don’t miss the chance to discover one of the most beautiful places in Portugal!

Enjoy the biggest adventure with your family and friends, always counting on Lagos Car Hire, which provides excellent safely car rental conditions for amazing and unforgettable adeventures!

Going to the beach in October just might sound like a crazy idea for most parts in the world, but it is a sweet reality for the Portuguese, who enjoy a long, warm and mild autumn with temperatures well above the average European ones.

So you can actually still enjoy a few days basking in the mild sun and walking on the lukewarm sand of the Algarve.

The Algarve, the southern part of Portugal, is the seaside spot of the country and one of the greatest seaside attractions in the world in recent years, having attained prominence as a welcoming, accessible and beautiful international destination.

You will definitely fall in love with the Algarve as soon as you arrive to see its dramatic landscape, huge rocks emerging majestically from the sea, the sun reflecting on the crisp cerulean waters of the ocean… plus there is a feeling that you are welcome and at home, a most inviting sense of lack of pretentiousness and natural appeal which you will surely adore.

We thought you might find some practical travel information practical at this point, so here it goes:

• Transport in Portugal is quite an accessible aspect, so you can rent a car in Algarve or get Faro airport transfers at very accessible and fair rates, especially if you book online in advance and enjoy the promotions.
• There are plenty of seaside resorts to choose from if the Algarve wins the place of best destination for you and your family or you and your group of friends.

Here are some of those great options:

Faro is the capital city of the Algarve. With a vibrant nightlife and cultural and economic activity, this can be a perfect choice if you want to spend a week at the seaside.

Albufeira is more than a seaside resort, it is a place where you can both experience the authentic Portuguese life and enjoy golf and water sports.

Portimao is a lovely seaside resort that can cater for all your travel needs.

The annual Medieval Fair in Silves is the best chance to sample the life Moors and Christians alike led during the Middle Ages. Having begun on August 7th, the fair is going to last until Sunday, August 16th.

During the medieval Arab rule of the Algarve, Silves used to the capital city and it was then that the city saw its golden days. After the Reconquista, Silves, like the entire Algarve, returned to the possession of Christian Portugal. But it never lost its eclectic cultural quality.

For the fair, knights, Moors, damsels,  minstrels, jesters, dancers and magicians crowd the streets for nine days. You can join the party, rent a costume and delve deep into the romantic (or rather, Oriental) atmosphere. For only 3 EUR, you can be a knight or a clown for a day – now, that’s not too bad!

You’ve still got a few days to enjoy the Feira Medieval in Silves. Or rather, a few nights, seen that activities start daily from 6 PM and last until 1 in the morning or later. The entry ticket only costs 2 EUR, except for the day when the jousting tournament is held.

So if you are currently in the Algarve or if you plan on spending your weekend there, put the Medieval Festival in Silves 2015 on your list. You might need a vehicle, so Algarve car rental can deal with this problem. Or you can book a Faro airport transfer for a tour and a ride.

August and September are high season on the Portuguese shores of the endless Atlantic Ocean, so there is much entertainment to speak of, a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. Here’s what you can enjoy during the following weeks in the region:

From August 7th until the 16th of the month, you are all invited to delve deep into the tumultuous, but fascinating past of the Algarve in the Silves Medieval Festival 2015. Silves town is definitely the best setting for such display of history and colour. The picturesque medieval town center will be the arena for princes and princesses, Moors, jesters and knights. You can blend in if you get a costume and sit down for a meal and a drink. The events begin every evening from 6 PM and end at 1 AM and the entry ticket is only 2-3 EUR. To attend the jousting tournament, you need to pay 5 EUR, but they’ll be worth every… eurocent.

For one day, between the 8th and 9th August, Portimao will be the center of the Algarve, hosting the huge inflatable water slide measuring 300 m in length and promising American-style fun! For 5 EUR per slide, you can test its slope and for 85 EUR, you can have unlimited fun for the entire day.

In Lagoa, between the 21st and the 30th of August, you can attend one of the greatest festivals in the Algarve, Fatacil 2015, having got to its 36th edition. There will be fairs with handicrafts, tourist offers, food and drink for everyone.

To move freely around the Algarve, you can either rent a car in the Algarve or book a Faro airport transfer.

Apart from the local Indo-European cultures, Portugal has been vastly influenced by the Moorish conquest in the middle ages. This influence is present notably in architecture, but also in the local cuisine (especially in the region of Algarve); and it is both similar and dissimilar to the Mediterranean one. Fish is the main element, but the Far East innovated Portuguese cuisine by introducing spices and herbs, from pepper and ginger to saffron and coriander. From the Americas, the Portuguese conquistadors brought potatoes, rice, coffee and other now household foods, so these ingredients are also common.

Fig and almond sweets, popular in Portugal, also trace their origins back to Moorish times. Piri piri and vanilla are very common as well and since recent Portuguese history has seen the influence of the British, the breakfast here looks a lot like the English one: milk, bread, butter and jam.

In terms of original recipes, it is worth mentioning the fish dishes of “bacalhau” (cod fish salted and cooked in 365 manners), stuffed squid, “sardinhas assadas” (grilled sardines, so popular during fairs and celebrations), anchovies and a variety of shellfish (such as oysters, lobsters, clams and crabs).

If you wish to sip a soup, we recommend caldo verde (made up of mashed potatoes, Galician cabbage, olive oil and tora or slices of churico).

As for beverage, what else can we recommend but a glass of the sweet Port wine?

The Algarve is the best place to sample the cultural specific of Portuguese cuisine. Before your trip, you can book Faro airport transfers and your Lagos car hire online.

Starlit walks through the cultural region of Portimao is just what the Municipality has thought of as a way to celebrate the coming of summer. And not just any walks, but cultural routes along the city of Portimao and Alvor, preservers of a vast and varied cultural heritage.

The Algarve is a region where Europe and the Orient blend in an architectural mixture of beauty and eclectic style. Although the Algarve was reconquered by the Portuguese Crown centuries ago, the Islamic legacy is still present in culture, cuisine and mainly in the millenary architecture that still stands tall.

For Alvor, the organized walks have been scheduled to take place on June 19th and August 21st. The meeting place is… romantic, if a bit creepy: near the local cemetery, at 9 in the evening. Places like the hermitage of Sao Pedro, the church, castle and the Ethnographic Museum are counted among the points of interest in the itinerary.

In Portimao, the walk will take place on July 17th, also starting at 9 in the evening at the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Square. Here, the itinerary includes walks through the Manuel Teixeira Gomes House, the Bivar Gardens and the square of the Town Hall.

The awesome thing about these walks is that they are entirely free. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can just turn up and tag along, because places are limited so your presence must be previously confirmed.
For your prolonged stay in the Algarve, you may like to book a vehicle with Lagos car hire or benefit from transport from Faro airport transfers.

Basically, the “kiss and fly” pick up and drop off system, previously implemented in fellow European countries like Italy or Belgium, implies that drivers are allowed a maximum 10 minutes’ free access to the airport terminal without parking fee. If this short period of time is exceeded, additional costs are charged, ranging from 3.50 Euro to 63.50 Euro. This measure particularly affects Faro airport transfers companies, because if the system is used more than 7 times a day, each additional pick up is charged 15 Euro.

The Communist Party of Portugal reportedly denounced the measure of the ANA Portuguese National Airport Authority as “extortion”. According to them, most local transport companies cannot afford to keep their business going with these new taxes instilled. The potential collapse of these companies may lead to thousands of people becoming redundant and can seriously threaten local tourism.

The alternative is for transfer companies to get a license (priced 270 Euro a year) that allows access to the parking lot of the Faro Airport. However, the access to the terminals of arrivals and departures is not permitted and the licenses are limited. Also, the option of parking outside the airport is not allowed, being heavily fined by the Police.

This wave of antipathy towards ANA is amplified even more by recent layoffs of the airport staff which caused the workers to go on strike. The “Kiss and fly” system may be implemented in Porto Airport later this year and extended to Lisbon Airport next year. With all this media hype, the outcome of the discussion remains to be seen.

Vilamoura is one of the “corners” of the Algarve Golden Triangle. Once a small Roman harbor, the resort of Vilamoura came into existence in the second half of the 20th century when Portuguese banker Cupertino de Miranda started constructions here in 1966.

In terms of facilities, Vilamoura offers 6 internationally acclaimed golf courses, since the Algarve is an excellent golfing destination. Those who come to Faro or Vilamoura to play golf can hire golf clubs in Faro airport, book an Algarve golf transfer or rent a car in Lagos or Vilamoura to move about the region.

Vilamoura also houses a lawn bowling club, a shooting club, a tennis center and, of course, a general Sports Club. Among the numerous 5-star hotels, self-catering villas and apartments, restaurants, bars and clubs, Vilamoura also boasts a great Riding School.

The Vilamoura Hippodrome is an excellent venue for horseback riders and enthusiasts of the sport to come and learn how to ride or attend the contests organized here. Just last weekend, the Grande Premio CSI3 was won by Celine Schoonbroodt de Azevedo. The rider managed to jump all the obstacles excellently and performed impeccably, in harmony with her trusted horse.

More contests are in store for the remaining weeks of March during the last part of the 2015 Vilamoura Atlantic Tour. If you are in Portugal during this time, it is worth visiting Vilamoura for the history, the Atlantic Ocean, the cuisine and the people, as well as for all the activities you can choose to opt for during your stay here.