The beautiful Algarve region on the sunny coast of Portugal is a popular family holiday destination. The historic town of Faro with quaint narrow streets and atmospheric shops is a great favourite, just a couple of hours from London and minutes away a huge wide sandy beach. A little further afield, the western part of the Algarve is a picture postcard collection of beaches and fabulous eroded limestone coves with golf courses everywhere you look. Many of the holiday resorts are in this area of the Algarve, and some have an Activity Park, Water world or Wild Life Centre nearby. You will find many of our holiday offers for apartments, hotels and villas in this very popular region. For a quieter but still very attractive option consider the sand-duned coastline and little villages of the eastern part of the Algarve. Most of it is a nature reserve and is one of the best places for bird watching in Europe. Check out our great selection of family holidays in the Algarve below or read on for some tips on attractions and days out.

Top Tips for that extra special family holiday in the Algarve

- Golf – the Algarve has some of the best courses anywhere in Europe, so if you want to learn with your kids, this is a great place. There are also many mini 18-hole golf courses like the Roma Golf Park in Vilamoura, which has two of them. There is even a 36-hole Crazy Golf course at Krazy World near Algoz with a swimming pool as well.

- ZooMarine is an oceanographic theme park in Guia focusing on awareness of the preservation of marine life with shows featuring sea lions, dolphins and eagles, although not altogether! Book beforehand if the kids would like a swim with the dolphins. It’s expensive but will certainly be their holiday highlight.

- If the sea is too tame or the pool getting boring, take the kids to one of Algarve’s many open-air water parks for spectacular rides and awesome wave pools. The largest and most popular are Slide & Splash Waterslide Park near Estombar, Aqualand west of Alcantarilha and Aquashow on the road for Quarteira.

- Make the most of the beautiful Algarve coastlines and grottos by taking a boat trip. There are tours and excursions from all of the coastal towns and you could maybe introduce the kids to a bit of exciting sea fishing.

- The Algarve has some lovely scenery and wild life areas, and a day out make a pleasant contrast to your beach holiday. Try a trip around the beautiful cliffs and coves near Lagos or the fabulous sand dunes above Faro. For bird watchers, both Ria Formosa Nature Reserve and Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim Natural Park are well recommended.