If you’ve been looking forward to a summer break outside of the UK, flying direct from Cornwall Airport Newquay into Faro Airport with Ryanair means that you can get away from it all in just a few hours.
Whilst there are many resorts and areas very near to Faro Airport, if you go a little further afield you can find a very different type of holiday in Portugal. Here we look at some options to inspire you to book that break for Summer 2022.
Go on a Wine Tour of the Algarve
The Algarve is well known for its wine production and therefore your break can easily be centred around different vineyards within the region. Throw in some fantastic local restaurants, an abundance of local produce and seafood, and your gastronomic holiday is complete!
Because perhaps the Algarve is not as well known in terms of wine tours as, for instance, parts of France and Italy, vineyard owners have had to be a little more creative in attracting new custom. At the Quinta dos Vales vineyard you can blend your own wine, as well as taking in their sculpture gardens. Quinta do Barranco Longo, in Algoz, is opening a state-of-the-art wine cellar, roof top restaurant and wine tasting room in 2022, which lovers of the estate’s fine quality wines will appreciate.
Whether you like to see more traditional methods or innovative ways of bringing wine making into the 21st century, there are lots of options that will allow you to create your own wine tour. Alternatively, there are a number of private tour businesses in the Algarve that now offer to do all the hard work for you and organise the whole trip, so you can simply relax, be driven from vineyard to vineyard, and enjoy a glass or two.
Surfing in Sagres
The wild beaches of Sagres and the surrounding area are just over an hour away from Faro Airport but feel a world away from the more built up areas in the Algarve. Whilst the area has always been a favourite with surfers, who make the most of the point that which the Med hits the Atlantic Ocean, it is increasingly becoming more popular with families and older couples looking for an alternative from Algarve resort breaks.
The rugged coastline, sandy beaches and laidback vibes are reminiscent of Cornwall, but with a very Portuguese flavour. Here you can mix things up – surfing, music, good food and drinks on one day, then enjoying some of the ancient buildings dotted around the area on another.
Because of its location on the Western tip of Portugal, the way the wind hits different beaches means that you’ll reliably find some surf while you are there, but there is always the option of heading out of Sagres itself to investigate beaches further afield.
Even if you have no interest in surfing but love the laid back feel that comes with the sport, Sagres is a great place to spend your holiday. There are yoga retreats, great restaurants and live music venues in the town, as well as some really upmarket hotels and resorts if surf lodges aren’t really your thing.
Lisbon City Break
Lisbon is under a 3 hour drive or train journey from Faro Airport – yes this may seem like a long journey at the other end of your flight but the opportunity to visit Portugal’s Capital City and enjoy the completely different atmosphere makes it well worth the effort.
A Capital City on the coast is always a special experience and Lisbon is no exception. While it is walkable, it is hilly and so it’s therefore a great idea to make the most of the vintage tram system to get around.
If you love history, Lisbon is a great mix of feeling as though you are stepping back in time with the likes of the Sao Jorge Castle, a hilltop castle overlooking the city, and the Jeronimos Monastery, an ancient structure that took a century to complete. Combine the history on every corner with fabulous traditional bars and restaurants, the old fashioned tram system and you could simply revel in the feel of being in another era.
If you like a more modern city break, head for the Time Out Market Lisboa, where you can not only mingle with the locals to buy your produce but also visit over 50 different restaurant concepts from some of Portugal’s most famous chefs. In the evening you can make the most of Lisbon’s fantastic nightlife, with everything from cosy wine bars to live music venues and busy nightclubs available to those who enjoy the variety of entertainment that only a city break can bring.
Ryanair flies to Faro, Portugal, twice a week from Cornwall Airport Newquay between March and October.
Lisbon tram