Portimao
What's the appeal?
Situated at the mouth of the Arade river, Portimao is one of the biggest cities in the Algarve with a population of around 50,000 – though this more than trebles in the tourist season. The city dates back to Grecian times and has a number of historical sites worth visiting if you want a break from sunbathing. But if beach life is your thing its close to a number of lovely ones, including the Praia de Rocha, which many people think is Portugal’s most stunning seaside spot. Portimao on Portugal’s south western coast is pretty easy to get to – you can fly to Faro from most UK airports in just under 3 hours – then it’s about an hours drive away