The Algarve is composed of 5.411 square kilometres with approx. 420,000 (Year 2004) permanent inhabitants. This figure can swell to well over 2 million people in the height of the summer. The Algarve administrative centre is Faro with its control over 16 Municipalities, which in turn govern a total of 77 Parishes.

The Algarve is often referred to as the “playground of Portugal”. The key attraction for almost two million tourists, who choose to spend their holidays in the Algarve each year, is the beautiful all year round climate. Boasting some 300 days of Sunshine, and some of Europe's most beautiful beaches and scenery, the Algarve is the perfect holiday destination.

With approximately 19 top - class golf courses, numerous tennis and riding centres, and facilities for almost all types of water sports under the sun, not to mention the marvellous and unspoilt beaches, the Algarve is a very popular vacation destination.

The length of the south-facing coastline is approx. 155 kilometres and stretches about 52 kilometres to the north on the west. At the widest point to the north, it is approximately 36 kilometres deep. Communication is mainly by road but there is single-track railway line running from Lagos to Vila Real do Santo António that also links to the line running to Lisbon and further north.

The beautiful blue flag beaches along this coast offer you kms of unspoilt beach to explore and enjoy by car, by foot or by boat. Most beaches offer sunbed and shade facilities and a few also offer a child play area where there is use of toys and games.

The old "EN125" main road runs along the whole coast and has now been greatly replaced by the new almost parallel motorway "A22" (also known as the Via do Infante). Starting at the border of Spain and stretching west to Lagos. Close to Albufeira it joins with the main motorway to Lisbon.

This motorway will take the visitor from the Spanish border at Vila Real de Santo António in the east to the historic town of Lagos in the west in a little over one hour of driving, thus now making the whole Algarve very easily accessible. There is one international airport located close to Faro and this conveniently lies in the middle of the Algarve coastline. Sevilla is only 3 hours by car should you wish to travel further a field from the Algarve, offering stunning city dining and shopping for all.

There are about 100 sandy attractive beaches washed by the Atlantic Ocean and due to the maritime shelf and water currents the sea temperature can often be surprisingly warm even in some of the winter months. Located on the tip of Europe with the vast Atlantic Ocean as its southern and western border, this enviable position gives this region possibly the most unpolluted climate in the European continent.