The Praia Da Luz Area

To the west of Lagos, Praia da Luz has retained much of the original charm of the small fishing village it once was. Ideal for those seeking peace and relaxation, Luz is quiet, picturesque and well-suited for family holidays with its long sandy beach.

For an absolutely fantastic guide to Praia Da Luz please visit www.luz-info.com.

Sightseeing:
The Algarve is acclaimed for its sporting facilities, especially superb golf and tennis with professional coaching. There are many top golf courses in the region, some for the most demanding of golfers. See Europe's western-most point Cape St Vincent, or for the real Portugal drive inland and visit the atmospheric old town of Silves, the Moorish capital, dominated by its impressive castle. The town of Sagres is where Henry the Navigator founded his famous Navigation School. You could visit the ruins of a Roman city near Vilamoura.

Beaches:
The Algarve boasts 47 Blue Flag beaches awarded in 2003, recognising high environmental, sanitory and safety standards. The Atlantic waters lap over 100 miles of beaches on the Algarve coastline, and Luz is particularly suited to the active holidaymaker with a watersports centre.

Eating Out:
The Algarve is renowned for its wonderful seafood, giant prawns, lobster and grilled sardines. Specialities also include spicy chicken piri-piri - charcoaled grilled chicken with a spicy marmalade. For those who prefer something milder, Catapalana is a delicious stew of meat or fish. And not forgetting the famous green wine - "vinho verde".

Nightlife:
A lively nightscene is available in some of the larger towns of the Algarve, but Luz enjoys a more quiet and peaceful atmosphere with just a few bars and a disco.

Shopping:
Trawl through the open-air markets carrying local handicrafts at bargain prices - you'll find plenty of ceramic ware and tiles. Or explore Albufeirais old town, Vilamoura and Faro for more sophisticated shopping. Visit the Saturday market in Loule for local produce and handicrafts.

Unique Experiences:
* Go on a cruise on the River Guidiana
* Go on a day trip to Seville or picturesque Lisbon
* Attend the Algarve Music Festival in July.

Activities

Sports: Tennis Water sports Water park Horse riding Golf within 30 minutes drive Fishing

Great for: Walking holidays Winter sun holiday Beach or lakeside relaxation Cycling holiday

Algarve Region

The Algarve, being the southern most region in Portugal, well known for its micro climate, is a popular destination for tourists. The Algarve's Islamic heritage is still noticeable in many cultural, historical and architectural aspects. Visitors can appreciate a wide range of arts and crafts, not least pottery. Simple but delicious foods based on an Mediterranean diet with plenty of fresh fish and shellfish.

There are Theme Parks nearby (within 30-40 min drive) that will amuse the kids for hours on end:

Zoomarine - Entertainment park with seal and dolphin shows, parrots, aquariums, merry-go-rounds, pool and restaurant.

Krazyworld - A combination of small zoo with crazy golf.

Aqualand - Aquapark with water-chutes, swimming pools for adults and children.

Slide & Splash - It is considered to be the biggest of its kind in the country, and one of the biggest and the best in Europe. Considered to be the better of the two water parks.