A sizeable 6-bedroom villa with the most impressive outdoor space, Villa Maravilha lies 9 km from Portimão and Alvor. The huge garden with its magnificent pool and hot tub enjoys beautiful views across the surrounding area, and the villa lies within easy reach of the stunning beaches which line the coast to the south.

Surrounded on three sides by a spacious terrace and a pleasant lawn area on the other, this villa’s 10 x 7 m swimming pool is a real treat. You have lots of sun loungers and a covered seating area, as well as a barbecue, and a large hot tub for the most decadent soak you’ll ever have. There is also a children’s pool for young visitors to enjoy.

Inside, you have a cinema room with an extensive collection of DVDs, a games room with table football, table tennis and games console. The main living and dining room is accessible via sliding doors from the terrace and offers a spacious seating area with large, chunky sofas, a flatscreen TV and fireplace.

The kitchen area is fully equipped with a dishwasher, coffee machine, wine fridge and a breakfast bar, while a separate laundry room takes care of the washing and ironing.

Six gorgeous bedrooms, several with terrace access, offer lots of sleeping choices. Three doubles have an en-suite with bath and shower, and a twin bedroom has use of an adjacent bathroom. A bedroom with a single bed, cot and bunk beds and another with bunk beds share the use of another bathroom and are useful for those travelling with children.

The beautiful marina of Portimão is an excellent place to visit, and this large city also provides plenty of shopping amenities and entertainment. Smaller Alvor is a pretty resort with a historic centre and a near never-ending sandy beach, while more excellent beaches can be found heading east to Carvoeiro. 

Water parks and golf courses provide more opportunities for outdoor enjoyment as you venture north in the direction of the Algarve’s ancient capital, Silves.

***Please note there is no air conditioning in the living room. One of the bedrooms upstairs has a mobile air conditioning.

Calm and peaceful, the village of Alvor provides a pleasant contrast to some of the Algarve’s livelier resorts. It’s still a popular choice, with its beautiful beaches, riverside cafés and traditional feel attracting many visitors.

It’s well-located for reaching other larger cities too, with Portimão and Lagos the nearest main towns. If you did want to party hard, the resort of Praia de Rocha is around 8 km down the coast. You will be able to enjoy a quieter evening down by Alvor’s harbour, where you will find some restaurants and bars – it’s pleasant indeed to enjoy a relaxed meal with friends and get to know the local cuisine in such a beautiful setting.

With its old city walls and castle, Silves was once the capital of the Algarve region, and reminders of its history are all around. It remains mostly untouched by the hand of modernisation, so it’s the place to go if you want to see Portugal is all about.

Silves’ centre is compact, with some cobbled streets and hills, notably the one leading up to the eye-catching red-brick castle. There are other sights to see too, such as the city gate and Ponte Romana Bridge, and guided tours are available. A covered market and plenty of cafés and restaurants make for pleasant places to spend some time soaking up the ambience.

If you are travelling to Silves from Portimão, around 14km away, you may be able to take a fishing boat tour from the harbour. These tours make their way up the Arada River, give you a couple of hours to see Silves, then return you to Portimão. Other activities include golf at the Silves Golf course, and nearby Lagoa offers fun for the children at the Slide & Splash water park.

Accommodation