Alvor Information - Algarve Holidays

A pretty fishing village near Portimao - your Alvor Information Guide

Alvor Information Guide

Alvor is a small fishing village situated a few kilometres west of Portimao in the west Algarve. From Faro airport it will take you around an hour to drive here.

To call Alvor unspoilt would be untrue, but it has retained a lot of it charm with its narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, which run down the hill to the harbour. Once a thriving fishing port, it is now a popular Algarve tourist destination, which bustles during the summer months, but come the winter is a very quiet place. There has been a fair amount of development here, from cheap apartments to luxury hotels, making the area an eclectic mix of old and new. Most of the Alvor hotels are to be found on the south-east side of the village and all around there are villas and apartments available for rent.

Alvor has a pretty little harbour, which is a pleasant place for a stroll or to sit in one of the waterside bars for a drink and watch the world go by. In the evening, it�s worth getting a table outside or on the roof terrace of one of the restaurants here and watch the sun go down. Early in the morning, this is where the fishermen land their catch to sell it at the fish market here.

The town itself has a number of good restaurants and bars, and nightlife tends to revolve around these and entertainment provided by hotels. If you�re after nightclubs, there is one here, but you are better off travelling a few kilometres east to the busier resort of Praia da Rocha, where there�s plenty. This lack of nightclubs is one reason Alvor is popular with families and older couples.

You don�t come to Alvor for the shopping, unless it�s for souvenirs. There are plenty of shops peddling crafts, ceramics and other tourist tat and there are quite a few small supermarkets in and around the town. For other shopping, like clothes, you are best visiting nearby Portimao which has a much larger and better selection of shops.

Alvor is situated next to a natural lagoon which opens out to the sea at the Alvor Estuary. The Ria de Alvor feeds this tidal lagoon replenishing it with clean water, making it a great place for swimming and canoeing. The lagoon and the surrounding marshlands are a protected nature reserve area which is very popular with bird-watchers.

Beaches - Alvor Information Guide

Alvor beach is a 5 minute walk from the centre of the village centre. It stretches west from the Alvor estuary, for about 4 kilometres, where it turns into Torralta beach. The beach is great for families as it is a safe wide-open beach with a gradual gradient. The beach is also popular with windsurfers, although there are other water sports on offer. Unlike many beaches in the Algarve, the beach is backed by sand dunes, so no steep steps through the cliffs to negotiate, a fact that will not escape you if you have a young family and buggies to transport.

Travelling a little further east are the beautiful coves of Tres Irmaos and Prainha and the lovely beach of Praia do Vau, before reaching the bustling resort of Praia da Rocha resort, which is just south and really a continuation of Portimao.

Things to do � Alvor Information

If you are staying here for a few days, do take the time to enjoy the sun going down at the end of he day over the lagoon. You won�t be disappointed.

For a bit of history visit the Parish church, the Igreja Matriz, at the top of the hill. It dates back to the 16th Century, and is worth visiting for its impressive Manueline door (Portuguese late Gothic architectural style named after King Manuel I) and some fine blue azulejos tiles inside.

For the more sporty amongst you, there are a few decent golf courses in the area, within a few minutes drive. These are Alto Golf course, Penina and Morgado

Horse riding is very popular in this part of the Algarve and there are a few Algarve Horse Riding centres in the area, whether you fancy learning or perhaps participating in a half-day hack. If you fancy it then you can try one of the following:

Centro H�pico M�ridien at Penina, the Centro H�pico Vale de Ferro or the Horse Shoe Ranch, both at Mexilhoeira Grande or the Centro H�pico Belmonte in Portim�o. For addresses and contact details see our Algarve Horse Riding Centres directory

Restaurants � Alvor Information

Alvor is renowned for its fish restaurants, of which there are quite a few. All tastes are catered for, and if you fancy meat instead you won�t be disappointed. There are restaurants dotted about all over, but a good selection on the main road running down the hill to the harbour, where the more expensive restaurants are to be found. There are also a few burger joints, a feature that you can�t escape in an expanding tourist resort.

Here is a selection of restaurants you might like to try:

Guedes Tipica Restaurant - Alvor
The restaurant, which is good value for money, serves plenty of fresh fish, although there are good meat dishes as well. If you can, get a table on the roof terrace and enjoy the views of the Ria do Alvor. This restaurant in an old building with a green door can be found left off the main street to the harbour.
Address: Rua dos Pescadores
25-8500 Alvor Algarve
Contact Tel: 282 458 528

Fisherman�s Rest Restaurant
This restaurant is down near the Alvor harbour. It is a very popular restaurant and serves some excellent fish and seafood. It is open all day, and worth booking in the evenings during the summer months, as it is very popular.
Contact Tel: 282 458 170

Fonte de Pedra Restaurant
This country restaurant is a little outside Alvor, about 9km north in a village called Alcalar, home of an archaeological site. Inside it is decorated in a rustic style. The menu is good value for money and is a mix of Portuguese and International. At the weekend there is also live music.
Contact Tel: 282 471 034

Hellmans Restaurant
Situated at the harbour and overlooking Alvor bay, with great views toward Lagos, particularly if you can get a table on the rooftop terrace. Menu is Portuguese and International cuisine with fish a speciality. It is open evenings daily, but closed during the winter months
Contact Tel: 282 458 208

Vagabondo Restaurant
For a change from the many great fish restaurants, Vagabondo is the place to go. Located on the main road down to the harbour, they have an extensive selection of meat dishes, with barbecued meats and kebabs a speciality. It is a very popular haunt, so booking is essential, particularly in the season. Outside is a patio garden surrounded by Almond and orange trees, and it�s well worth getting a table out here during the warm summer evenings. It is open evenings daily, but closed on Sundays in the winter.
Rua Dr. Frederico Ramon Mendes
Alvor
Contact Tel: 282 458 726

Getting here and around � Alvor Information Guide

Alvor is a small place, and if you�re happy with the beach and restaurants that�s fine. If you want to get out and explore, there are buses available to Portimao and then other towns in the Algarve. It�s probably best is to hire a car, and if you do, you�re only an hour from Faro airport. If you come by train from Faro, then the nearest station is Portimao, where you can get a bus to Alvor. Buses also go to Portimao directly from Faro. For further information on Algarve Transport options, click on the link.

Useful Alvor Information

Alvor Tourist Information Office
Rua Dr. Afonso Costa, 51
8500-016 Alvor Algarve Portugal
Contact Tel: 282 312 145

Alvor Disatnces
Distance from Faro to Alvor: 70 kilometres

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