Why

Albuferia has excellent sandy beaches, great sunshine and pretty much everything you look for in a family holiday. The Algarve is a popular destination with families and golfers and is one of Europe's favourite holiday destinations. There is a wide range of family friendly accommodation available in all several reasonably quiet resorts and new infrastructure improvements including a motorway to Lagos and beyond have reduced transfer times.

Leaving aside the beaches there is lots to see and do with the kids including water sports, exploring a beautiful countryside, national parks, Zoomarine and great family boat trips.

One word of warning though is that you many of the best beaches are accessed via steps which in some cases can mean a long walk down steps or taking a lift. Check that you can take a buggy if your children are very young.

When and how

The climate is typically Mediterranean so avoid a high summer if you can travel outside of school holidays as you are likely to get better value accommodation. May, June and September are best as the beaches can get crowded in high summer.

You fly into Faro which is well served with flights from Ireland and the UK ranging from scheduled and budget flights through to charter flights. You can check special offers or deals here. Tour Operators also may have some charter flights if you are travelling from Ireland.

Most of the Irish tour operators feature the Algarve and you can look at some of the packages with operators such as Panorama, Sunway and Directholidays.ie. Hiring a car is relatively inexpensive and we would recommend that you do hire a car is so that you can explore this wonderful area even if it is just for a few days. You can book car hire here.

Family Friendly Accommodation

The Algarve has lots of family friendly accommodation options including apartments, family villas and hotels. You can check for special offers and deals here with booking.com.

Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort & Hotel Spa in Albuferia is set in lush gardens and situated right above the famous Santa Eulália beach and offers an exceptional view over the Atlantic Ocean. It has 189 luxurious rooms, including 27 suites, 2 suites Grande Real and 155 luxury resort suites which are essentially apartment of different sizes up to two bedrooms. There are three dedicated kids’ pools, a playground, games room and a kids club on site for kids from 3 to 12. Among other facilities, the hotel has a Spa Thalasso of 1000m² tennis courts, sauna, fitness centre, jacuzzi, hammam and outdoor swimming pools. You can book this  here with booking.com for special online offers and deals.

Sheraton Algarve Pine Cliffs in Falesia is encircled by pine trees and overlooking a white sandy beach with clear blue waters and offers the ultimate in comfort and leisure facilities. Families can stay in the hotel in interconnecting rooms and suites in the hotel or in apartments in the hotel grounds. The town houses have a lot of stairs and some may have bannisters that are not suitable for young children. It features the expected five star facilities and a manageable nine hole golf course with some stunning holes overlooking the sea.The beach is beautiful with red cliffs framing it but there are steep steps to the beach as referred to above.There is a lift but it only goes some of the way and buggy access is not possible.

There are fantastic facilities for children including several dedicated kids pools, family dining, beautiful grounds to run around, direct access to a stunning beach and a fenced and dedicated children's play area the Porto Pirata. This is an exciting space where children can enjoy a swimming pool, bouncing castles, a basketball court, karts and bicycles and a life sized pirate galleon. It also has minigolf and organised opt in activities for teenagers such as football games and a games room. The Porto Pirata kids club chargeable on site and is open from April to October for children from six months to eight years. Children can participate in activities such as arts and crafts, games, swimming or cycling and treasure hunts. There is a junior club for children between eight and twelve which also offers age-appropriate activities. Book this here with booking.com.

A great family friendly option for families who want self catering and some privacy is a family villa and you can check out the range of villas and special offers and deals here with and Meon Villas.

What to see and do with the kids

If you want to book some sightseeing and fun things to do with the kids before you go have a look at the excursions offered by isango which will save you time and hassle when you are on holiday and help you to plan what to see and do with the kids.

Sun and sea bathing on the golden beaches and in the warm, clear water is enough to content most holidaymakers. There are lots of other sporty things to do.Water sports of all sorts are on offer at the main beaches, from sailing and windsurfing to jet skiing. Golfers can try out the many golf courses.

Nearby Lagos has an ongoing flea market that sprawls through the streets. Lagos boasts numerous fascinating shops and boutiques, especially in the pedestrianised old city which is well worth a trip.

Take a tour of the vineyards of Quinta do Miradouro, a sprawling private estate in a secluded, quiet country area, with easy access to the Gale Beach. Tour the estate, see its golf courses and enjoy magnificent views of the sea and the Monchique hills.

Take a cruise along the Algarvian coast between the Marina of Albuferia and the beach of Carvoeiro. Experience the thrill of sailing in a traditional navigation boat, built for running in adverse sea conditions. Admire the sea views and discover enchanting rock formations including the magnificent white-sandy beaches of the Algarve.

While the chief attraction of the Algarve is the sun and the enchanting beaches, most protected by ochre-tinted cliffs, there are some interesting sightseeing possibilities too, like the new Virtual Archaeological Museum, the Municipal Art Gallery and a small museum showcasing Ming ceramics.

Take a drive inland and you will find a tranquil green countryside to explore full of almond, fig, orange and pine trees where little villages stand timelessly in the sun. The family can also do a nature safari inland.

Zoo Marine in Guia is a great day out with water slides, swimming pools, dolphin shows and an aquarium.Located outside of Albufeira, this is a fantastic day out for all the family. Top attractions include the dolphin interaction programme, the 4D cinema show that aims to teach children about the effects of global warming and deforestation, an aquarium filled with an aray of marine life and pools where visitors can simple rest and relax.

There are also lots of other theme parks such as Krazy World, Aqualand Algarve, and A Cova dos Mouros.

Families will enjoy a sail in pirate style on a Leãozinho, a brilliant replica of a pirate cruise ship with sails, on the Atlantic and discover some beautiful spots along the Algarvian coast. Keep an eye out for the dolphins who might just trail your boat.

Discover some beautiful beaches and snorkel in shallow waters and drive down to the western tip to do some Atlantic surfing.

For families wanting to explore the wild-side of the Algarve, there are a number of day tours tours offered throughout the region. From jeep safaris to canoeing through rivers, excursions promise to show off the very best of the Algarve’s wild life. Full day trips are suitable for families with children aged 11 and above, who love to explore the great outdoors.

Covering over 18,000 hectares Parque Natural de Ria Formosa is comprised of sand dunes, marsh lands,lagoons and fresh water lakes. It’s diverse group of inhabitants includes birds, fish, mammals and amphibians. Accessible by road or ferry from Faro and Olhão it makes a great day out for exploration. Visit the recuportation centre for birds, follow the self-guided nature trials and admire the park’s elegance on a ride in a traditional fishing boat. Cruise the waterways of the Parque Natural da Riau Formosa where you can do nature spotting or some trekking.

The Algarve is the perfect spot to see dolphins migrating from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. There are several companies that offer dolphin boat cruises which deport from Lagos, Portimão and Alvor. A boat ride is also the perfect way to enjoy the fine weather of the Algarve.

Water parks are aplenty in the Algarve and can provide a whole day of family fun with most of the parks open from early April to late October. Two of the top water parks in the Algarve include; Aqua Show Park (www.aquashowpark.com) located in Quarteira is home to the biggest watercoaster in Europe - 750 long and reaching up to speeds of 70mph. Aqualand, situated near to the town of Alcantariha - is another great water park - featuring a number of rapids, rides and water pools for all ages.

Some of the best beaches in the world can be found in the Algarve, with golden sands and clear waters. The 200km stretch of coast offers endless fun and and exploration for families. The calm waters of the East coast and the blue flagged and golden quality awarded beaches of of Barril, Tavira, Manta Rota and Altura highlight the quality of the beach and water enviromnents. These beaches are manned by lifeguards, have a number of restaruants nearby and are well equipped with shower facilities and sports equipment for hire.

The Algarve is an adventure playground – with magnificent views for horse trekking and bike riding you will never tire of things to do. Visitors are entised to enter its clear waters and try-out one of the many exhilerating water sports on offer. Why not take a surfing lesson or have a go at kiteboarding? There are a number of schools around the coast that are awaiting to show you the ropes.

For children who are eager to get beind the steering wheel the Algarve’s Karting Almancil  allows children to unleash their energy as they whizz around the race tracks. Locatated clsoe to Faro airport and only five minutes away from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo beaches. The complex offers entertainment for all ages, including racetracks for all ages, starting with Mini Formula 1 for children 3 to 6.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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