The Algarve may be best known for its family-friendly beach holidays and golf courses — and there's no doubt you'll find fine examples of both here — but there is far more to this tourist favourite. Its dramatic coastline, where sandy beaches are backed by striking rock formations, can be explored from land and sea.

While the region is more costly than some of the interior villages of Portugal, living in the Algarve is comparatively cheaper than in Lisbon or some Western European countries. You will need to secure residency to live in the Algarve if you are a non-EU citizen.

To sum it up; the sun-kissed Algarve region for sure is home to some over-developed tourist hot spots, but outside the busiest mid-summer months it's possible to find your holiday paradise from this region, without having to share it with too many other visitors.