Fly&Drive Rondje Algarve | Portugal

About the destination: The Algarve’s capital and largest city, Faro is the starting point for many northern Europeans’ holidays in the sun. Yet tourists have not overrun Faro, it’s a large city, and its marvellous beach, floating on an islet outside the town, help the jaded forget their lot. Despite being just the arrival point for many holidaymakers, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it's an enticing city-break destination in its own right. Faro's Old Town is a little gem. It's small, quiet and wonderfully atmospheric. The Cidade Vella is crammed with tourists and locals visiting the handicraft markets or just wandering around looking at the old buildings, many of which show signs of the city’s Moorish ancestry. Leading into Faro’s Old Town stands the Arco da Vila, a gate originally constructed as an arched gateway with a bell tower atop and a statue of the city’s patron saint, St Thomas Aquina. In the centre there is a beautiful square, Largo da Sé that used to be the Roman Forum. It's lined with orange trees and it is flanked by Faro’s Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and a 16th Century convent that is now the Faro Museum of Archaeology. Se Catedral, Faro’s Cathedral, dominates the Old Town. The original Gothic church was built in the 13th century, but was severely damaged during an earthquake. Only the tower and a doorway remains from that era and the temple presents today elements of different styles like Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. From the tower you can enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the coastline. Faro has a beautiful marina which lies just to the north of the Old Town and is probably the busiest part of the city. The city of Faro is a busy cosmopolitan centre, offering plenty of things to do, whether it's a wander around the shops, relaxing at one of the many pavement cafés, or visiting some of the historic places of interest, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.

About the destination: Portimão is the largest town in the western Algarve. It has been an important port since ancient times because of its location at the mouth of the river Arade. Today it is a busy provincial town and a commercial fishing port. During the summer months the quay on the town side of the river is lined with boats offering game-fishing trips and coastal and river cruises. Praca da Republica is an impressive square in the centre of Portimao. There are a number of water fountains located in and around the square and plenty of benches to sit on and watch the world go by. Along one side of the square is the imposing Church of the Colegio. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição dominates the city center skyline. This historic building was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake retaining an excellent Manueline style door from the original 14th century building. The interior is impressive with walls covered in glazed tiles from the 17th century. Praia da Rocha, the main beach in Portimão, is very beautiful and exotic and has an excellent beach bar. A modern and new marina is also one of the attractions on the Praia da Rocha path, full of new bars and restaurants from where to watch the rest of the world go by Summertime is clearly the busiest time of the year, reaching a climax with a popular annual event in Portimão: the sardine festival in august. The mild climate of the Algarve, and many sunny winter days attract a multinational crowd in all seasons, exploring the regional markets, visiting historical sites, strolling along the river boulevard or just sipping a drink in a terrace bar.

About the destination: Sagres is situated inside the Algarve at the south-westernmost point of Portugal and of Europe. It is in Barlavento, western Algarve. Reach the Sagres region is entering a mystical atmosphere, surrounded by an untamed, unexplored dramatic landscape, where the sea and the mountains come together to form an unusual natural heritage. The beauty of its beaches, many almost deserted, and towering cliffs leaning over the sea, along with the historic grandeur constitute the principal. Visitors can also devote to nature defying the waves, admiring the sea bottom, climbing cliffs and exploring new paths. Sagres is one of the few places in the Algarve where wild nature, along with a rich historical and cultural heritage remains intact.

About the destination: Aljezur (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐɫʒɨˈzuɾ]) is a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,884, in an area of 323.50 km². The municipality comprises 4 parishes, and is located within the district of Faro

About the destination: Vila Nova de Milfontes is a civil parish in the municipality of Odemira of the Portuguese Alentejo region. The population in 2011 was 5,031,[1] in an area of 76.48 km².[2]

About the destination: The town of Mértola, on the banks of the Guadiana River, is one of the most welcoming of Alentejo. Visitors find in Mértola, a small village of white houses dotted illuminating the rugged landscape around it. For more than 500 years Christians and Arabs lived together in this place so it is not surprising that it is, today, one of the Arab Lusa places throughout the region. Although the Muslim heritage is dominant in Mértola, not in vain is remembered each year in the Islamic Festival Mértola and its gastronomy, for this Portuguese town of steep streets also passed the Phoenicians, Romans and Visigoths.

About the destination: Vila Real de Santo António (Abbreviated in Portugal as VRSA, usually called in Spain "Villa Real de San Antonio" or, in the provinces of Huelva, Cádiz and Sevilla, simply "Villa Real") is a Portuguese city in the District of Faro , Algarve region, with around 20,000 inhabitants.

About the destination: Tavira is a city and municipality, situated in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira. Tavira is a beautifully elegant town and almost surreal in aspects. Visitors can be forgiven for forgetting where they are, or even what year it is, as they step into this unique Algarve fishing town. The stretch of river front along the Gilão River is a great place to sit at one of the cafes and enjoy the very picturesque setting. The Roman Bridge (Ponte Romana) spans the river with low arches and creates gentle reflections on the water and at low tide you can see the fishermen searching for clams in the shallows. The gardens (Jardim do Coreto) near the bridge offer a pleasant shady place to sit. Tavira itself is a picturesque, relaxed, peaceful town with everything to hand and is a perfect holiday spot for couples and families and there are also lots of great places to visit if you want to venture a little further afield.

About the destination: The Algarve’s capital and largest city, Faro is the starting point for many northern Europeans’ holidays in the sun. Yet tourists have not overrun Faro, it’s a large city, and its marvellous beach, floating on an islet outside the town, help the jaded forget their lot. Despite being just the arrival point for many holidaymakers, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it's an enticing city-break destination in its own right. Faro's Old Town is a little gem. It's small, quiet and wonderfully atmospheric. The Cidade Vella is crammed with tourists and locals visiting the handicraft markets or just wandering around looking at the old buildings, many of which show signs of the city’s Moorish ancestry. Leading into Faro’s Old Town stands the Arco da Vila, a gate originally constructed as an arched gateway with a bell tower atop and a statue of the city’s patron saint, St Thomas Aquina. In the centre there is a beautiful square, Largo da Sé that used to be the Roman Forum. It's lined with orange trees and it is flanked by Faro’s Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and a 16th Century convent that is now the Faro Museum of Archaeology. Se Catedral, Faro’s Cathedral, dominates the Old Town. The original Gothic church was built in the 13th century, but was severely damaged during an earthquake. Only the tower and a doorway remains from that era and the temple presents today elements of different styles like Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. From the tower you can enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the coastline. Faro has a beautiful marina which lies just to the north of the Old Town and is probably the busiest part of the city. The city of Faro is a busy cosmopolitan centre, offering plenty of things to do, whether it's a wander around the shops, relaxing at one of the many pavement cafés, or visiting some of the historic places of interest, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.