Set within 360 acres of perfect grasslands and natural beauty, Penina Hotel & Golf Resort is the original home of golf in the Algarve, and a ten-time host of the Portugal Open. With three golf courses - including the Algarve's first 18-hole Championship course, this luxury five-star hotel leads the way in high-class service, luxury amenities and Portuguese charm. Perfect for exceptional golf breaks, relaxing family holidays and corporate retreats.
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Alvor
Extraordinary Algarve Beach Resort
Away from throngs of tourists, the just-remote-enough resort town is situated halfway between Portimão and Lagos. It’s got everything to make you forget about the rest of the world – parents and leisure travellers will love its slow, languorous vibe, birdwatchers will be glued to their binoculars and the vast range of activities will keep the kids entertained. Best of all, its refreshingly uncrowded & family-friendly beach Praia de Alvor has room for everyone, even in the height of summer. You never have to rush out early in the morning to scout for your own little patch of sand – it’s like the beach is yours.
It doesn’t take too long for the town’s charmingly sedate pace to rub off on you. The traditional white-washed houses and winding cobbled streets encourage leisurely strolls that lead you to the palm tree-lined riverfront Largo da Ribeira. While you’re there, try the sensational seafood at Restaurante Àbabuja or Zé Morgadinho. If that’s not to your taste, there are plenty of other options to choose from – Italian, Indian, English pubs, or cafes. If the plan is to do nothing at all – watch the fishing boats drift by, ice cream in hand. It’s deeply meditative.
Family Fun & Birdwatching at the Beach
Within walking distance of the riverside is the main beach of Alvor - Praia de Alvor. Located just a 10-minute drive from Praia de Alvor is the Penina Hotel & Golf Resort which offers a free seasonal shuttle bus service and easy-access beachside car park for its guests.
To the west, the beach is backed by ochre-coloured sandstone cliffs looking out over a stretch of cotton-white sands and iridescent water. Make your beach day as charged up or as delightfully mellow as you’d like it to be. Seek adventure with water sports like kayaking, kitesurfing, jet skiing, and windsurfing or sink into your sun lounger with a book and cocktail(s) to keep you company. If you decide to walk east towards Praia dos Três Irmãos, you’ll be met by dramatic craves and grottoes that are a sight to behold (and Instagram).
The 3-kilometre Alvor boardwalk that runs along the entire length of the beach is every photographer’s dream. Expect blissful sights of the region’s diverse birdlife, freshwater marshes, lagoons, salt pans, and vast sand dunes. An added bonus? There are plenty of lively restaurants and cafes along the way for if you’re feeling peckish. From the boardwalk, you can also make your way to the Ria de Alvor Nature Reserve which is home to thousands of migratory and resident birds, including flocks of the greater flamingo.
Boat Trips and Child-Friendly Sightseeing
Alvor also offers plenty of guided boat tips – and even privately hired ones don’t make you dig too deep in your pockets. Perfect for a magical seaside proposal. Early-risers can take advantage of the morning fishing trips, and romance-seekers can set off on a sunset voyage. A highlight for families is a two- and half-hour trip to the picturesque, bucket-list-worthy Benagil Cave.
Other family day-out ideas include a visit to the Zoomarine park which offers a whole range of activities from amusements to zoological presentations with dolphins and tropical birds. It’s only 30 minutes away. Also nearby is the Zoo de Lagos, which not only has about 150 different animal species but also animal feedings, penguin beaches, and a lot more fun activities. You can easily spend a whole day here.
Our Hotels in Alvor
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