Five reasons to visit the Algarve

visit portugal

What is the new normal in the Algarve?

Keep a social distance of 2 meters, wear face masks in a public area, and hygiene like wash your hands regularly.

On daily bases, people ask me how is it to be in the Algarve? To me, it is still heaven! The new normal does not really affect me. You can still go to the beach (plenty of sun lounges to choose from), bars and restaurants are open. Make sure you always have a face mask with you, as when you enter a restaurant, you need to wear a face mask. Once you sit down, you can take it off and enjoy the lovely food and drinks. The sunsets are still stunningly beautiful, the temperature nice, the beaches sandy, and the seawater refreshing!

In March this year, I wrote the article below, but at the same time, the coronavirus hit Europe! It was not a good idea to promote the Algarve. But it is August now, and the Algarve is safe and clean, and with respect to the new normal, we can handle Covid-19 in Portugal! Algarve Housing like to remind you why to visit the Algarve!

48% of Tourists Would Still Visit Portugal in 2020 If Restrictions Were Lifted

visit portugal

Please find below the results of a survey done by the Portugalist, a leading blog about Portugal.

Almost half (48.3%) of tourists who had planned to visit Portugal in 2020 would still visit if travel restrictions were lifted. Of those that plan to visit this year, 52.7% hope to visit Portugal in the autumn or winter compared to 30.4% who hope to visit in the summer.

History of Portugal in a nutshell

history portugal

History of Portugal in a nutshell

Did you know that Portugal was once a powerful nation and one of the leading powers of the world?

While you are on holiday in the Algarve, you will see many historical remnants of different eras.  Algarve Housing has put the main historical era’s that had a great influence on what Portuguese culture is today, in a row. Let’s talk history of Portugal:

history Portugal
Map of Spain and Portugal at 30BC

Autumn in the Algarve, St Martin’s day and low season in the Algarve

st martins fair portugal

Autumn in the Algarve

Autumn has arrived in the Algarve, there is no doubt about that! Although the weather in Portugal, is still very pleasant and the sun still keeps us company, the temperatures have slightly dropped, and we even experience the occasional humid or wet day, although more rain would be more than welcome at this point of the year! But let us rejoice the splendid weather and look forward to one of the most traditional Portuguese days of the year: the day of São Martinho (St Martin’s day) on the 11th of November. Most Saints are celebrated during the summer, yet this one is the only one being celebrated during autumn, although the warm and dry November days have given that period the name and fame of “the summer of São Martinho”.

Carnival in the Algarve 1-5 March

 

Carnival in the Algarve

This year Carnival in the Algarve is in March. A traditional and colourful event not to be missed. Most towns has the traditional celebrations with colourful parades and samba music in the streets. The best and largest is in Loule, but smaller towns like Messines, Alte, Moncarapacho, they all celebrate carnival. It is hard to miss this nice yearly event in Portugal. This article of Algarve Housing, will tell you all about Carnival in the Algarve, the carnival programme, other things to do in March and a private paradise in the Algarve.

February in the Algarve

February in the Algarve

February in the Algarve

February is a bit like January, nature is unfolding with many nice flowers blooming, and spreading nice smells like the Mimosa, the poppies and the daisies. Weather can be nice, very nice, with lots of sunshine, BUT it can be stormy and rainy too. Be aware!

February is the perfect month if you like hiking and biking (watch our next blog!) and playing golf.

What else can you do in February in the Algarve?

Algarve Housing like to share a few events in February with YOU!

January in the Algarve

january in the Algarve

January in the Algarve

Happy New Year!

‘Algarve host 150 events in January’ I just read at the front page of the Algarve Resident…who think January is a dull and boring month in the Algarve, is completely wrong. Today it is 3 January, and up until today I had every day breakfast and lunch in the sun! Lovely temperatures, and plenty to do in January in the Algarve. Music, art, gastronomy, a variety of cultural events in January. Algarve Housing like to share with you a few events in the Algarve for this month!

Christmas and New Year in Portugal

Christmas in Portugal

Christmas celebrations

Although Christmas celebration is somehow universal, you do get the small and bigger differences per country or culture. Christmas in Portugal, is mainly a time to spend with family. Although Christmas trees have been more popular since the 70’s, the main decoration still is the “presépio”, the nativity scenes, that each home will have, and that towns will display in larger sizes and sometimes even with real people and animals playing out the roles. The Portuguese love to go and visit them. You will witness plenty of light decoration during December in the cities too, and although palm trees with Christmas lights might not give you the same feeling, it does get you into a winter atmosphere. Plenty of Christmas trees though during Christmas in Portugal!

Christmas Algarve

December in the Algarve

December in the Algarve

December in the Algarve

The last month of the year!  December is a festive month, also in the Algarve. With Christmas coming up, there will be loads of Christmas markets and fairs in the Algarve. We will mention a few! Many other activities will take place in December, plus the weather is mild, beaches empty, the holiday rental prices are low! Ideal time for exploring the Algarve by bicycle or foot, or playing golf. Algarve Housing, can help you to find a nice villa for your holiday to the Algarve in December, or any other month!

Weather in the Algarve

weather in the algarve

Weather in the Algarve

“What is the weather in the Algarve in January (or any other month) like?” is one of the many questions people often ask me. As you know, weather is unpredictable, that is a fact, but Algarve Housing likes to give you a guideline what you can expect of the weather in the Algarve in the four seasons of the year.

AUTUMN

The summer is over, the first rain has arrived and we can finally feel a little sniff of autumn. And for those who cannot stand the heat of the summer, this is the best period to consider a holiday in Portugal, until sometime in spring.

Silves, Historic Town Worth a Visit!

Silves Algarve

Historic Silves

Quietly hidden amidst the rolling hills of the Algarve along the banks of the slow-flowing Arade river, with its peaceful atmosphere, Silves Algarve is one of the best locations in the Algarve to still experience authentic Portuguese culture. It has that contagious relaxed pace of life that will instantly throw you in a good holiday mood. You could easily spend your days just wandering through the cobbled streets, drinking a good Portuguese coffee in one of the many typical local cafés or sipping a wine from a terrace watching Portuguese life pass by.

Only in August, during the Medieval Festival, you are reminded of the glorious times when Silves was the capital of the Algarve, a major defensive stronghold and an important trading centre. During the ten days of the Feira Medieval, the rich and turbulant history of the city at the Moorish times is played by actors while the old city centre is transformed in the vibrant town it once used to be.

You can find all you need in Silves, three large supermarkets, a post-office, and enough to keep you busy if you like.

Winter in the Algarve

 

 

algarve winter

What is the winter look like in the Algarve? What temperatures has January?

Questions I receive very often, together with an enquiry for multiple months rent for a winter in the Algarve.

Unique winters

As every villa is unique so are the winters in the Algarve. Like last winter, October and November, during the day it was still 30 degrees! And it was dry for many, many more months. We all were worried, if it stays like this, we will have a huge water shortage problem!!! But it did change, I cannot remember exactly when, but late in the winter, I think it was February, maybe March, it started raining. Lots of rain, between some sunny days, don’t worry!

Thing to do in August in the Algarve

algarve portugal

Are you on holiday in the Algarve? Or do you live here? August is a busy and warm month! Make sure you protect yourself well against the sun and drink enough water.

Apart from that, there is so much to do regarding festivals, live bands performing along the coast plus various DJs who will guide you through the long hot summer nights in the Algarve.

Hopefully you have a nice place to stay in the Algarve. IF not, check our website for nice villas in the Algarve. We already receiving many bookings for 2019. So contact me for more information regarding your paradise in the Algarve!

July in the Algarve

July in the Algarve

July in the Algarve

We started the first of July with a cloudy morning, but later in the day the sun came back as well as the heat. It is summer without any doubt.

July and August are the busiest months of the year in the Algarve Portugal. Algarve Housing update you every month with things to do for the coming month.

Along the coast you will find a lot of sunset and other beach parties with DJs and live bands performing at beach bars.

So here we go for July in the Algarve. There is so many things to do, but we will go for the highlights Algarve.

East Algarve

East algarve portugal

We can roughly divide the Algarve Portugal into 3 parts: West, Central and East. Today, Algarve Housing, would like to inform you about the Eastern Algarve.

The Eastern Algarve is maybe the least explored part of Southern Portugal, making it a very attractive region to explore. It harbors some very fine beaches, a lot of which are only accessible by boat, giving them that extra touch of adventure. The water is often warmer and calmer, making it an ideal destination for families with small children.

Visit Algarve Central, the heart of the Algarve

Centra AlgarveWe can roughly divide the Algarve into 3 parts, West, Central and East Algarve. Today we’d like to inform you about the Central Algarve. Algarve Housing rent villas all over the Algarve, but most villas we rent are located in the Central Algarve. Why visit central Algarve?

Visit Central Algarve
In the heart of the Algarve, the choice of things to do is endless and suits any type of tourist. Whether you’re a sporty type, a history nut, a party animal, a silent and nature seeker or a regular run-of-the-mill holidaymaker, you will be able to find what suits you in the Central Algarve.

West Algarve, worth a visit?

map Algarve POrtugal
Map Algarve Portugal

Algarve Housing rent villas in West, East and Central Algarve. Very often we get asked which part to go, what to do there, any kind of advice. We will make a nice article about each part of the Algarve, so you can read and make up your mind. It is all a matter of taste of course, but, with those articles, we hope to help you a bit to make the right choice.

Today we present The West Algarve. Enjoy, and do not hesitate to contact me for any further details regarding the Western Algarve.

Summer Festivals Algarve

Festivals Algarve

Algarve Summer Festivals 2018

Summer in the Algarve is coming up, together with many, many festivals Algarve.

Algarve Housing made a list for you, so you will not miss any festival in the Algarve summer 2018.  Together with a nice villa in the Algarve, and your holiday in Portugal is complete!

14 June the Worldcup Football 2018 start! Portugal won 2 years ago the European Cup, that was a big street party! What will happen this year? Ronaldo and his team are playing their first game on Friday 15 June 18 pm against Spain, I think they need support!