|
|
Travel Destination Guide - Alvor
Alvor (Algarve, Portugal) 
Alvor Information
Slideshow of Photos
|
Alvor is a traditional Portuguese fishing village (formerly a Roman settlement) which has developed into a small quaint resort; it remains unspoilt but offers everything needed for a relaxing holiday.
The main sandy beach is located at Praia de Alvor and has been recognised for its standard of cleanliness and peaceful surroundings. Water sports are available for those who wish to do more than laze on the beach.
There are numerous excellent fish restaurants serving local cuisine - all taking advantage of the daily catch. The narrow streets of the old village are lined with traditional fishermen's cottages alongside a multitude of bars and restaurants. Within the town and surrounding areas, large-scale development continues and there is a sprawling modern complex of tower blocks and hotels by the ocean. Whilst most Portuguese villages and towns have seen tourist development and commercialisation, Alvor has generally remained less than many other resorts in the region.
Locality:
Alvor is located towards W end of the Algarve, in Municipality of Portimao (42 mls W of Faro and its airport, 3 mls W of Portimao and Praia da Rocha, 12 mls E of Lagos). Alaro is positioned on the east bank of a deep estuary inlet, about 1 ml inland from an extensive beach and backed by main national road (N125) and hilly countryside.
|
Alaro has wide appeal, including golfers and water-sports enthusiasts. The area tends to attract people seeking a quieter beach or pool holiday.
Accommodation here consists mainly of self-contained self-catering complexes, but also 4- and 5-star hotels. A popular attraction is the main Alvor Beach (sometimes known as Torralta) which runs for 4½ mls and is wide, sandy, straight, backed by dunes and has plenty of facilities. Tres Irmaos Beach, farther east, is mostly backed by cliffs with huge rocks scattered along the shoreline (contains basic facilities like sunbeds, parasols, restaurant and bar). Farther east still, Prainha Beach is in a small cove with access only via Prainha complex providing all beach facilities so it can be expensive for nonresidents. Beyond that, and well on the way to Praia da Rocha, Vau Beach is also in a cove and backed by cliffs, with bar, restaurant, sunbeds and sun shades.
Popular attractions here include: a variety of water sports, 'Slide and Splash' Aquapark, golf, horse riding (at Centro Hipico de Belmonte in Portimao). By night there are a range of bars in the village with a greater choice locally (including discos, bars and casino) in Praia da Rocha and Portimao.
|
Population: 10.566.200
Languages: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but lo
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Portugal - Lisbon
Country Dialling Code: +361
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
 
|
|
Portugal, by virtue of its position on Europe's Western edge, gets fewer travelers than other Mediterranean places. But visitors are rewarded with uncrowded cities and moderate tarifs for food, hotels and private villas and apartments. Portugal has a rich culture, a landscape wreathed in olive groves, superb beach resorts, wistful towns, vineyards and wheat fields.
Portugal occupies the western part of the Iberian Peninsula and is 35,655 sq miles. The country is crossed by three large rivers that rise in Spain, flow into the Atlantic, and divide the country into three geographic areas. The Minho River, part of the northern boundary, cuts through a mountainous area that extends south to the vicinity of the Douro River. South of the Douro, the mountains slope to the plains around the Tejo River.
The Portuguese have a close affinity to the sea; for centuries their famed mariners led the way in the exploration of Africa and the Americas, and opened trade routes to the East. The country became a strong colonial power, and remained so until the mid-20th century, resulting in distinctive foreign influences on the local culture and architecture. From Africa, for example, was imported the now traditional, sentimental fado music, which is one of the country's unique experiences for visitors, particularly in the cafés of Lisbon.
In recent years Portugal, long overlooked on the list of the world's top vacation stations, has been investing time, money and effort into ensuring it is discovered by the world's travellers, just as once it was the Portuguese who discovered the world. This new age of discovery is paying off, as increasing numbers of visitors arrive each year and hotel and resort construction has exploded. From the visitor's point of view the compactness of the country makes it easy to take in all the best elements: sandy beaches, scenery, history, wonderful cuisine, lively entertainment, charming handcrafts, thrilling nightlife, country fairs, excellent sporting facilities and warm, friendly people.
From the cobbled winding streets of Lisbon's medieval citadel to the cork forests in Alentejo, and from fishermen mending their nets on remote beaches to the shopping malls and sophisticated glitzy resorts, Portugal is a country well worth discovering. |
|
Local Area Weather
Faro, PORTUGAL |
 |
Mostly Cloudy |
17°C
Feels like: 17°C |
| |
Day |
Night |
| Fri |
 N/A |
 Showers |
| Sat |
Showers |
Showers |
| Sun |
Showers |
 Mostly Clear |
| Mon |
 Partly Cloudy |
 Cloudy |
| Tue |
Cloudy |
Cloudy |
|
