Why move to the Algarve
This sun-kissed state is wonderfully varied, from elegant cities to popular beaches and picturesque fishing towns, all offering that rare combination of qualities: beauty and friendliness.
The azure seas of the Algarve are world-famous, partly due to their popularity among tourists and partly for their role in history. In the 15th century, Henry the Navigator conducted expeditions from his base near Lagos, beginning the notorious Portuguese Empire. The centre of the Algarve region is full of busy coastal towns that attract upwards of 4 million tourists every year. But to the east, you’ll find mountains, the Guadiana River and mystical hillside villages, and to the west you’ll find traces of a Moorish past, ancient forests and fertile marine areas. It’s by far the warmest region of Portugal, with summer temperatures reaching towards the top 40s and winters averaging around 25°C.
The region’s capital is Faro, known as the gateway to the sea. It’s closeness to the Ria Formosa lagoon (now a national park) attracted palaeolithic settlers. It has remained an important trading port for foods, fish and minerals ever since. There are architectural hangovers from the Byzantines, Visigoths, Romans, Phoenicians, Moors and Christians, even though Faro didn’t actually become the region’s capital until Lagos was destroyed in the earthquake of 1755. There are city beaches along the Ancao peninsular, and on the barrier islands separated by tidal flats. Most airlines fly into Faro Airport, and there are excellent railway and public transport systems. There is a glittering marina, a variety of publicly maintained spaces and parks, and an old town that preserves a distinctly Portuguese feel. Other cities worth considering include the golfing hub of Vilamoura, the former fishing village turned tourist town of Albufeira and the historically seafaring Lagos.
There has been steady development along the Algarve coastline, mainly because it is so easy to reach. The reliable weather, beautiful beaches, local hospitality, soulful food and family-friendly entertainment options mean the area has an enviably broad appeal. As such, a rich melee of expats choose to buy holiday or permanent homes there. The mixture of Europeans, British and north Americans flooding in since the 1960s have adopted English as their lingua franca and as a community, they uphold values like community safety and cultural cohesion. And if the summer crowds begin to fray your nerves, there are more peaceful beaches towards the far ends of the region. The western coast is considered a surfers paradise, and you’ll find small, boutique hotels intermingled with cheap eateries and cool cocktail hangouts there. Towards the east, there are cliff-sheltered coves, sea caves and sand islands which create natural lagoons that attract schools of dolphins and flocks of flamingos.
Inland of the southern coastal strip there are mountains, salt planes and cultivations growing carob beans, figs, almonds, oranges, mangoes, bananas and caster oil palms. The Algarve Way is one of many popular hiking routes leading through the interior while the Vicentina Route coastal path traverses the western coastal ridge.
The Algarve region also boasts thermal spas which attracts wellness fans, and of course, the weather is perfect for golf. Food unsurprisingly centres on seafood, with chargrilled octopus, sardines, goose barnacles and clams particular delicacies. Buyers can expect an established network of expats and potential income from summer rents in a variety of property locations and types.