Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal
Vilamoura offers a wonderful marina with an array of restaurants and bars.
Vilamoura
Vilamoura is a golfers paradise, with courses a plenty. In the centre of the resort you will find top quality hotels and a bustling marina. Catch a cabaret show or gamble the night away in the 5 star casino. Vilamoura is popular with golfers, families and couples of all ages. Transfer time approx 20 - 30 min.
Beaches
There are two beaches in Vilamoura, Praia da Rocha Baixinha which is to the west of the marina and Praia da Falesia which is really just an extension of Praia da Rocha Baixinha. There are plenty of bars to be found on the boardwalk and plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby. Falesia beach has been awarded a Blue Flag and both beaches are accessible via walkways and ramps.
There are plenty of watersports here for those who fancy doing something other than lying about the beach all day.
Things to Do
Vilamoura is a golfers paradise and there are many golf courses both in Vilamoura and in the surrounding area. The scenery is just great and that only adds to the enjoyment of playing a round of golf.
There is also the Roma mini golf park which is home to an 18 hole mini golf course and play area for children.
Many people can spend many a happy hour at the marina, just watching the world go by or you might prefer to hop on board one of the many boats and go on a cruise to explore the area from a different angle. The dolphin spotting boat trips are also popular and well worth it to see the dolphins playing.
Or if you prefer to see what's going on under the sea, then you can hire some diving or snorkelling equipment from the beach area or the marina.
Golf is not the only sport here, there is also cycling, hiking, horse riding, tennis, squash, lawn bowling and even a shooting club.
Out and About
There is a such a wide range of restaurants in Vilamoura and whether you are young or old, there is something to suit. There is a good range of European food as well as Portuguese cuisine and many of the restaurants will offer a good mix of everything. There are quieter restaurants and some larger, noisier restaurants too. A lot of the restaurants offer nightly entertainment too so you may get more than you bargained for.
The bars here are also very lively and some of them not only sell great food but also provide some great live entertainment. There are many lively bars situated in Vilamoura but some of the best are said to be situated down at the marina. There is everything from Karaoke to Jazz Club so you may as well visit them all to see what's best.
If you don't want to go back to the hotel after the bars close, visit one of the many nightclubs in Vilamoura. There are many nightclubs that open until the early hours of the morning and are used by both visitors and locals. If you don't want your night to end when the bars close but you don't want to dance the night away, then why not pay a visit to the casino. Although there is a disco in the casino, there are over 500 slot machines and a gaming room with at least 20 gaming tables eg poker and roulette.
The marina in Vilamoura is home to many, many shopping centres where you can just about find anything. You will find some beautiful jewellery, local handicrafts and many fashion boutiques so I'm sure you will be able to spend many an hour just wandering round the shops. There are of course many other shops to be found in Vilamoura but the majority are at the marina and you may just want to stop of at one of the cafes/bars for a light refreshment in between all that shopping.
So whether you are visiting Vilamoura as part of a large group or as a family with young children, there will be plenty to do to entertain everyone.
Nearby Attractions
Zoo Marine in Guia is a very popular choice for families with children and is the highlight of many a holiday. Visitors will be able to see dolphins, sea lions, seals, tropical birds and various birds of prey. There is also an aquarium with exotic fish and sharks and there is a 4D cinema too so there is plenty to keep everyone occupied.
Another good day out for the family is Krazy World at Algoz which has a small zoo, animal petting area, pony rides for younger children, crazy golf, playground and swimming pool. There is also a bar/restaurants for a spot of lunch.
For the more adventurous, there is Aquashow water park near Quarteira. The waterpark is part of a complex which also features a theme park and a hotel and the waterpark is only open in the summer months. There are lots of rides to suit all ages and there is also a lazy river if you prefer to just relax. There are restaurants, snack bars and even a gift shop for a little reminder of a great day out.
If you fancy a day out, take a trip to Faro, it's only half an hour away. There is lots to see here, such as the Praca de Dom Francisco Gomes and the Moorish Old Town or you could simply wander round the shops and markets to see what is on offer. Faro is also home to the dance world cup where the streets come alive with many colorful dancers.
You may want to visit Loule which is just a 20 minute drive away. There is a market every day apart from a Sunday and a big gypsy market on a Saturday morning. You may also want to visit the strangely shaped modern Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade which is situated on the hill to the west of the town. A section of the 13th/14th century castle walls still exists and you can walk along part of it.
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