Holiday Delights for the Whole Family
The Algarve region in southern Portugal is known for its picture perfect white sandy beaches, red-brown cliff formations in turquoise-blue waters, and colourful cliff-side houses. The surrounding area of the regional metropolis of Faro combines all these attractive features, but has much more to offer for the whole family. We introduce you to the highlights of the city and its surroundings.
Minigolf on a Different Star
Every child should play a game of mini-golf with their family at least once a year, just to experience that incredible great moment when you’re finally, finally, better than your parents. A good opportunity to do so is at the “Adventure Minigolf Park” in Albufeira, about half an hour’s drive from Faro. The green playing surfaces are so precise and futuristic in shape that you could easily imagine being on a different star. Those who need a boost after all the aiming and hitting can sit comfortably in basket chairs on the sun terrace of the park’s restaurant and sample the pizzas and burgers.
Sandy Legends
With all the miles of beaches around Faro, it seems logical that the world's largest sand sculpture park is just an hour away from the city. Whether it’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Amy Winehouse, or the ice queen Elsa, you’ll not only meet carefully sculpted legends at “ Sand City”, but also mystical creatures and oversized kitty cats Our special tip: Stay until it gets dark. When the whimsical sculptures are colourfully illuminated, this place seems even more magical than it already is.
Yayyyy! A Cool Down!
The ten-hectare “Slide and Splash” water park is packed with the craziest slides in the Algarve. The park boasts slides like the “Black Hole”, a creation that does its name justice and for which you have to be at least 90 centimetres tall. Here you hurtle through the darkness towards an initially tiny beam of light at the end of the tunnel. Are you also happy with less intense adrenaline rushes? Then the “Jacuzzi” could become your highlight of the day. For little guests under the age of 12, its straight to the shallow waters of “Tropical Island”, where slides in the shape of funny monsters and dragons can be conquered.
Slide and Splash
Family Research With a Difference
Close to the city centre of Faro, you’ll come across a bright yellow house that at first glance looks like Pippi Longstocking’s Villekulla Cottage. In fact, this is where the “Centro de Ciência Viva do Algarve” is located, or “Centre for Living Sciences”. A family trip there isn’t only worthwhile because you learn interesting facts about the underwater world of the Algarve, you can also slip into a white coat yourself, cook with solar energy, or look at the world through a microscope.
First the Ferry, Then Relax
To make the family day at the beach a special experience, pack your beach bag full of Pastéis de Nata in the early morning (Caution - highly addictive!), make your way to the harbour and take the Faro Ferry to one of the many small and remote islands in the middle of the sea. A special experience is a visit to the seven-kilometre-long Ilha da Culatra. This is where you’ll find typical wide, white sandy beaches with easy access to the water. There is also a 47-metre-high lighthouse that has defied stormy weather since 1851, showing passing ships up to 25 nautical miles away the safe route.
Photo credits
- Header - Photo by PIKSEL on Getty Images
- Paragraph 1 - Photo by SimonSkafar on https://www.gettyimages.ch/
- Paragraph 2 - Photo by Jodie Griggs on https://www.gettyimages.ch/
- Paragraph 2 - Photo by Mitch Diamond on Getty Images
- Paragraph 3 - Photos from PROSANDART, LDA.
- Paragraph 4 - Photos from Slide&Splash
- Paragraph 5 - Photos from Centro Ciência Viva do Algarve
- Paragraph 6 - Photo by Carlos Neto on Shutterstock
- Paragraph 6 - Photo by Drew Altukhov on Getty Images