Vale de Parra Holidays

Vale de Parra – on Portugal’s popular Algarve – translates to Valley of the Grapevines, so you won’t be surprised to find this peaceful inland village nestled among vineyards and citrus trees. It’s a quiet place, with just a few shops and restaurants, but you’re in the right place to take advantage of nearby Albufeira’s lively nightlife. One of the region's best beaches is nearby, too.

The nearest beach to Vale de Parra is Praia da Gale, about five minutes’ drive away. The golden sands here stretch out for five kilometres, so there’s plenty of room to fit in sunloungers and umbrellas, not to mention beachside restaurants. It’s big on watersports, so you can pick from things like windsurfing, parasailing and jet-skiing – or do a bit of snorkelling to spot squid. You’ve got lots of other great beaches close by as well – all with the trademark red sandstone cliffs that make this area so popular.

The old part of Albufeira is just 15 minutes’ drive away. Wander round the cobbled streets and you’ll come across the Capela de Misericordia, an ancient Moorish mosque which was turned into a chapel in 1499, as well as the 18th-century Church of Sant’Ana. And to learn more about the history of the area, you’ve got the Albufeira Archaeological Museum. Alternatively, the 15th-century castle and Gothic-arched cathedral of Silves are less than half an hour away.