Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
Ponte de Piedad in Lagos, Portugal

Alentejo & the Algarve southern Portugal

Southern Portugal, encompassing the Algarve and Alentejo regions, offers stunning coastlines, historic cities, and picturesque countryside.

Whitewashed fishing villages on low cliffs overlooking sandy coves were transformed in the 1960s, and now its central coast between Lagos and Faro is lined with villas, hotels, bars and restaurants. The region's western Atlantic coast and rugged interior are less developed.

The principal city in Algarve, Faro,  offers visitors the perfect combination of modern amenities and natural beauty. Shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities abound, and scenic gardens and open spaces provide pockets of relaxation throughout the city. There’s a pretty Old Town section in Faro worth exploring as well.

The Alentejo region is vast, occupying nearly a third of Portugal. The southern, or lower Alentejo Baixo, is characterized by a rolling landscape, has the most beautiful plains panting with olives trees you’ll ever see. Évora the regional capital, is the obvious starting point, and you should allow two days to discover this enchanting destination, the historic center of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The surrounding area lends itself to a convenient circuit, and any tour should take in medieval Monsaraz and its evocative 13th-century castle. From its weatherworn ramparts, you can gaze over another impressive landmark, the enormous Barragem de Alqueva, the largest manmade reservoir in Europe.

The Upper Alentejo, Alto Alentejo, embraces a significantly different geography to that of the region's southern half and offers a dissimilar but no less appealing sightseeing experience.

From Evora start to explore the picturesque villages like Estremoz and Évoramonte before arriving at Vila Viçosa, where you can join a guided tour of the town's sumptuous 16th-century Paço Ducal, the royal palace.

Once an important center for textile, tapestry, and silk manufacture, Portalegre offers the chance to visit the last remaining factory still in use and browse a fascinating museum dedicated to the industry.

The terrain north of Portalegre is notably more rugged as the road climbs up the Serra de São Mamede, a remote range that's home to an abundance of flora and fauna. This is classic hiking territory, and if time permits and you've come prepared, indulge in a spot of hill walking. In fact, if you want to explore further, it's worth considering spending a couple of days at the pretty spa town of Castelo de Vide. A rewarding detour is its near neighbor, the medieval hamlet of Marvão, dramatically set at over 800 meters on a granite escarpment. 

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What our customers say

4.8 Stars
66 Reviews
Bradleyboy62
11 months ago

My travel partner and myself have just returned from our trip to Switzerland ( May 2024 ) and wanted to put in writing our utmost gratitude to Katelyn Mulgrew and the team from Entire Travel Group for the professional, prompt and extensive service provided from start to finish. Kate was there with us every step of the way and answered any question or concern we had in a patient and understandable way, which left us with reassurance and confidence. Switzerland Grand Tour was amazing with picture postcard scenery at every turn. Every aspect of the booking was flawless, from the hotels, transportation and documentation it all worked seamlessly. Hotels were comfortable, central, welcoming and contained everything a traveller could need. Train travel throughout Switzerland is the only way to go, you just get on sit down and relax while enjoying the ever changing and spectacular scenery. I have, and, will be recommending Entire Travel Group to all my friends for any of their travel needs and, will definately be using them as my go to company for any future adventures. Thank you again to Kate and the team for helping us tick this item off our bucket list.

Jo Power
12 months ago

My husband and I just returned from the most amazing trip that Zoe Condon compiled for us. Everything was perfect. From first enquiry to trip complete, Zoe was always available to answer questions big or small and offer helpful knowledgeable tips. If you are looking to visit Canada do yourself a favour and ask Zoe, her knowledge is 2nd to none. I look forward to dealing with both Zoe and Entire Travel Group for future holidays.

Graeme Medley
1 years ago

My wife & I recently returned from a once in a lifetime experience to Canada. We were so fortunate & blessed that Zoe Condon was such a truely wonderful Travel advisor to make our journey so very special. We undertook the “Winter Views & Colourful Hues” and can only describe it as a Magical Winter Wonderland experience. Everyday was full of amazing experiences & adventures that will remain in our memory & hearts forever. As for Zoe, what an incredible asset she is for the Entire Travel Group. She is so caring, helpful, patient & always so professional in delivering “top shelf”customer service. We can never thank & praise Zoe enough……so grateful & Canada blew us away. 🇨🇦❤️ Special mention also for Zoe’s compassion & concern in helping us during a family grief period.

isla Court
4 months ago

Lisa organised for our family a perfect trip to Rangiroa. We stayed in a beautiful overwater bungalow and pool villa for our teenagers. We were impressed by Lisa's knowledge of French Polynesia and the connecting flights from Australia. Would highly recommend!

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