Quarteira holidays

Quarteira holidays land you on the Algarve’s ‘Golden Coast’. This old working fishing village charms holiday-goers with an authentic Portuguese atmosphere and bags of beaches awarded the Blue Flag for excellence. Quarteira hotels and holiday apartments are pretty swish, too…

Traditional Portugese experience

The fact you might not have heard of this place tells you a lot about what Quarteria’s like. This mid-sized town on the southern coast of Portugal gives you the best of both worlds. It has lots of fly-and-flop faves, like the palm-studded promenade that runs along the Avenida Infante de Sagres promenade, but it’s also stuck to its traditional Portuguese roots. Local restaurants and cuisine focus on fresh seafood rather than burgers and chips, giving a nod to the town’s history as a working fishing village. And in the evenings, you’ll find locals going for strolls along the seafront, rather than party-goers hitting the clubs.

Beaches in Quarteira

As far as city shores go, Quarteira Beach is pretty impressive. This swathe of shoreline comes with Blue Flag certification, thanks to its peach-coloured sands and the leafy promenade that stretches out behind it. Sunbathing spots are in good supply year-round, as it’s nearly 2 kilometres long, and you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to places to stretch your legs. Villamoura Marina walks take at least a couple of hours, and take you along a bustling boardwalk ‘til you reach a cluster of fancy yachts.

Perfect for golfers

Google ‘things to do in Quarteira, Portugal’ and taking a set of clubs to the nearest green will be up there with the top search results. That’s because this place is on the cusp of five different places to practise your putt, known as the Vilamoura championship courses. If you’re keen to stay in your swimming cozzie, though, the Aquashow Park waterpark is a popular place to spend the day. Or, stay in Quarteria to go horse-riding or shopping – there’s a weekly handicraft market, where you can pick up leather goods, trinkets and beachwear. Stick around in the evening, and you can sample Quarteira’s nightlife, too. It’s got a buzz, but it’s much less rowdy than nearby Albufeira.