Quiet, authentic places away from tourist trails.
Villages
- Albufeira — The Algarve best-known resort, with a string of sandy beaches and a buzzing old town.
- Cascais — An elegant seaside town of beaches, marina and a breezy old fishing core.
- Óbidos — A whitewashed village encircled by intact medieval walls and a hilltop castle.
- Faro — The Algarve capital, beside a lagoon of islands and birdlife.
- Sintra — A misty hill town of romantic palaces and gardens, a short hop from Lisbon.