Vilamoura Algarve

Vilamoura is one of the most prominent holiday and golf resorts in the Algarve, the southernmost region of continental Portugal. The centre has been built around the world famous Vilamoura Marina, where many top hotels are located. Vilamoura is situated on the Atlantic coast and belongs to the parish (freguesia) of Quarteira in the municipality (concelho) of Loulé. Together with Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo it forms the “Golden Triangle” of the Algarve, so called for its exclusive real estate and service offerings.

The centre of Vilamoura is only few minutes’ drive from the national road EN125 and the A22 motorway (exit 12). The train station of the Linha do Algarve, a single track railway line, is quite a distance from the city itself, but there are several stations of the EVA busses.

Casa de Campo Cantinho da Serra

Holidaymakers have the choice of almost 500 different properties in Vilamoura and its surroundings. Our offers include hotels and apartment hotels of all categories, holiday apartments & villas and resorts.

Several top hotels are situated on the marina of Vilamoura, such as Tivoli Marina Vilamoura and The Lake Resort, offering great views of the vibrant scene on the promenade and of the endless beautiful sandy beach. Golfers will find many first class hotels and resorts with direct access to their attached golf courses, such as Pestana Vila Sol, Tivoli Victoria, As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa and The Residences Victoria.

Hotels and apartments in the neighbouring city of Quarteira stretch mainly along the beach promenade with great views to the beach between Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo. An ideal place for families with kids is the Aquashow Park Hotel, adjacent to the famous water park, the biggest of its kind in Portugal.

• Golf Courses Nearby

Vale do Lobo Ocean Course

Vilamoura is a true golfer’s paradise: six great courses of different profiles are within the resort and seven more in the vicinity in Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. Some have already been hosts to international tournaments such as the Portugal Masters and the Portugal Open.

Praia de Vilamoura, the main beach of Vilamoura, lies near the marina and stretches until the fishing port of Quarteira. The long sandy beach is flat and has an excellent infrastructure. The casino and several hotels are nearby. On the western exit of the marina two very popular beaches extend along the low plain of the stream Ribeira de Quarteira, set against the backdrop of red sandstone cliffs. You can walk there along the dunes and cliffs for kilometres until Pine Cliffs near Albufeira.

Those looking for water sports will enjoy the facilities and services of Vilamoura Marina, the largest recreational port in the Algarve. The esplanade is flanked by palm trees, and has any number of restaurants, bars and shops. It is the starting point for boat trips along the coast to visit the caves near Albufeira, as well as for excursions to see dolphins and for deep sea fishing trips. A "Sunset Cruise", an evening cruise aboard a yacht into the setting sun will be a journey to remember.

In the neighbouring town of Almancil you find the Almancil Karting fun park, opened in 1992 by legendary Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna, who had a property in Quinta do Lago. The AquaShow, a water and amusement park situated between Almancil and Quarteira, is the largest of its kind in Portugal.

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The municipal market (Mercado Municipal) near the fishing port of Quarteira is considered one of the best places to buy fresh fish and seafood in the area. On Saturdays farmers from the Alentejo region come and sell their produce here. Tourists enjoy the busy ambience in and around the market and the opportunity to discover more about the country and its people.

Completely different is the scene that unfolds on Wednesdays near the campsite of Fonte Santa, located on the outskirts of Quarteira in the direction of Almancil: At this market, mobile vendors from all over the Algarve come to sell their wares, especially textiles and leather goods. Haggling is expected here!

In Quarteira and Almancil there are a large number of  shops  that satisfy the sophisticated demand of property owners and their guests staying in the  luxury resorts of Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura. There are fashion stores, interior design shops, and those specialising in regional products. For gourmets, the area offers an extraordinary variety of excellent restaurants serving local delicacies and international cuisine.

Gallery Map

Every year, usually in February, the Avenida José Costa Mealha in the centre of Loulé becomes the stage for a colourful Carnival Parade which is reputed to be the most magnificent parade in the country and attracts thousands of people from near and far.

In summer it is the White Night that brings a special ambience to Loule - the streets in the city centre take on a white glow at night and participants are invited to dress in white and come along and enjoy the entertainment from bands, jugglers,  and street theatre groups, who are also all dressed in white.

Another highlight on the local calendar is the Festival MED, an international music festival, which takes place in the historical centre of Loulé in late June.

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Archaeological remains suggest that the area was first populated at the time of the Romans. On the low plain of the Ribeira de Quarteira, a stream watering into the Atlantic Ocean west of the place where today the marina of Vilamoura is situated a Roman residential site "Cerro da Vila" has been excavated.  A small museum forms part of this archaeological site.

In the 1960^th the success story of Vilamoura as one of Europe’s largest golf and holiday destinations began with the construction of the marina and the first golf course.

Actual weather conditions may significantly differ in the various locations due to the winds on the Atlantic coast. Therefore we are publishing more specific and detailed weather data and 72h weather forecast for selected spots on the Algarvian coast, including wind speed and direction, altitude of waves and rating for surfers as a special service to our visitors interested in water sports. According to our own experience, and based on judgement of the locals, this is the most accurate weather information currently available for the Algarve.

Weather in Vilamoura and Quarteira