Villa Vasco enjoys an excellent, central location in Albufeira, close to restaurants, shops, a shopping centre and the buzzy, hedonistic neon ‘Strip’. Though close to the ‘Strip’, the villa enjoys a quiet location where you can truly relax.

There are some fabulous beaches in Albufeira and the surrounding coastline including Praia da Oura, the closest to the villa, Praia do Peneco, Praia da Coelha, Praia de Sao Rafael, Praia da Falesia, Praia dos Arrifes, Praia do Castelo and Praia de Santa. Albufeira’s town beach of Praia do Peneco is reached through a tunnel through the cliffs or by taking an elevator from the beautiful promenade where you will enJoy sensational sunset views. Tourists enjoy the journey to the beach. At low tide you can take some seriously long beach walks along the golden sandy coastline, admiring the red cliffs that back most of the beaches along the way. The fabulous Praia da Falesia is almost 6km long and takes roughly two hours to walk!

The Old Town’s cobbled warren of narrow streets is lined with cosy restaurants, whitewashed houses and excellent, unique shops. It is very pretty in the evenings, adorned with colourful flowers and plants. There are over one hundred restaurants in Albufeira, many serving super fresh fish straight from the marina and some with gorgeous roof terraces so that you can enjoy a sea view. The marina is a contemporary, top-notch tourist destination brimming with luxury yachts, colourful fishing boats and trendy, chic restaurants as well as some welcome entertainment for the young ones such as bouncy castles and bowling.

When you are fully relaxed from some beach days or strolls on the golf greens, you may want to visit some characterful towns and villages including Loule, Silves, Almancil, Sao Lourenco and Faro Old Town. They all have their own charms together with historic churches and castles, markets and charming restaurants. There are thrilling adventures to be had in the local theme parks, zoos, water parks and high ropes adventure courses.

Almancil is charming and typically Portuguese. It is sprinkled with charming cafes, restaurants, galleries displaying the local pottery and many artists workshops. The neighbouring village of Sao Lourenco boasts the most attractive church in probably the whole of the Algarve. It is decorated with characteristic blue tiles telling the life of its patron saint, beautiful azulejo work dating back to 1730. Very close to the church is the local centro cultural which hosts a range of art exhibitions and musical performances.

Silves is very scenic and boasts a rich history. Built on the banks of the River Arade, Silves is a charming town with plenty of outdoor cafes and scented orange groves. It is dominated by one of the best-preserved castles in the Algarve.

Albufeira is one of the Algarve’s top hotspots. It’s a charismatic beach town with an energetic and busy vibe where every type of holidaymaker can find something to enjoy. Not only is it family friendly and bursting with great activities for kids and teens, there is also a buzzing nightlife scene on the downtown strip for adults travelling on their own.

If you’re after something a bit more cultural, there is also a beautiful Old Town where all the best restaurants and historical sites can be found. For those looking to get a little bit extra out of their Albufeira stay, Vidamar Resort in the Salgados area offers all the perks of staying in a self-catered villa plus the amenities of a luxury resort.

Not far from there you’ll also come across the beachy Sao Rafael as well as Galé where the sandy stretches and deep blue waves will have you thinking you’re on the set of a photoshoot. Golf lovers might want to head to Amendoeira Golf Resort, located a quick fifteen minutes from Albufeira, which is perfect those who like a good game while still staying close to town.