Portimão, Portugal + Add a trip
- Not far from: Faro, Província do Algarve
on Sagres
City Life: Seafood, surfing and seafaring
This wild, windswept patch is Europe's most southwesterly point, a land the Romans thought was the end of the world…
Sagres in Portugal's sun-baked Algarve is part of a dramatic coastline once explored by Christopher Columbus and Henry the Navigator, two key players in the Age of Discovery. Henry's legacy encompasses a maritime school out on the promontory of this rugged shore, lined with whitewashed houses, hilltop villages and sleepy fishing towns. The beachy backdrop makes it heaven of the watersports variety; some of Europe's best surf washes up on these sands. The rest of the Algarve is more developed, but this remote corner has a national park to protect it - the Costa Vincentina runs up the West Coast and not much gets in its way. In Sagres itself, the Moors left their mark and there's lots of architecture to admire.
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Getting There
Automobiles
The main road leading south to the Algarve is the A2, or, closer to the coast, the N120. The A22 runs right along the bottom, up to the Spanish border. Hertz (www.hertz.com) has hire car centres in both Faro and Albufeira.
Planes
The region's main hub is Faro. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) fly in from all across the UK, including Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and London Stansted. EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) flights also depart various UK airports, including Newcastle and London Gatwick. International travellers are likely to need a change in Lisbon.
Trains
Comboios de Portugal (www.cp.pt) links up the land's railways. It has services which call it at most major cities, including Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto. In the south, the handiest stations are Faro and Lagos, reached by regional CP routes.
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Local Knowledge
Dialing
Portugal: 351; Sagres: 282.
Reads
Do go / Don't Go
This sunny spot sees little rain throughout the year. Temperatures peak between July and September, ranging from 26°C to 35°C. Spring and autumn are pleasantly twentysomething degrees, and winter never gets more nippy than around 10°C.
Cuisine
Taxis
Taxis don't really roam these parts and there aren't any ranks, so your best bet is to book one ahead. Try Táxis Salmonete on +351 282 624 501/450.
Tipping
Currency
Euro (€).
Packing
The Atlantic may look inviting, but it's temperatures aren't - anyone hoping to wade into its waters will be grateful for a wetsuit. The cliffside setting means things can get a bit breezy, so pack some lightweight sweaters and scarves.
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Worth Doing
Arts
And...
Shopping
Viewpoint
Something
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Diary
February Floats and festivities take over Sagres during its annual carnival. May Over on the waterfront in Quarteria, Dio do Pescador is a three-day seafood festival. August As well as the annual surf festival involving reggae bands and surfers, Festa do Banho takes place this month. It's an age-old tradition where villages descend from the hills to swim in the sea and sleep on the beach. September Annual fairs come to Raposeira and Vila do Bispo. October/November Time to get the binoculars out for birdwatching opportunities in the Costa Vincentina National Park.