Marvel at Portugal's Algarve.

Serene, sheltered coves and long stretches of beaches full of tourists. Thrills and spills at the aqua park, or peace and quiet on the golf course. A leisurely stroll around the old town or a pub crawl down the strip. Yes, these are all extremes – but travel to Portugal the Algarve and you will find all these things there.

Albuferia has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, and the fact that it enjoys about 3000 hours of sunshine every year makes it almost a year-round destination. It is well known for its lively atmosphere after dark, yet this is not all it has to offer. It perhaps for this reason that the young and old feel equally at home here.

While tourism has become the area's main source of income, it is not all high-rise apartments and tacky restaurants. It is quite the opposite in fact. The area is split into old and new. The old town retains much of its charm, with winding narrow streets and white-washed houses. Fisherman's Beach is ever popular, where the men at sea work away while sun seekers soak up the rays on the shore. A train is available at low cost, which runs from the new town to the old town, giving everyone the chance to see the whole of what Albuferia has to offer.

Golf is another string to the Algarve's bow, and is one of the many reasons people keep returning to Portugal. Vilamoura is famous for its golf courses and casino. It is built around Portugal's largest leisure marina, which is home to some fabulous private yachts. It is not unusual to see a celebrity or two hanging out at the casino or spending some time in the area's designer boutiques. There are at least 19 golf courses across the Algarve, and golfing holidays to this part of Portugal are ever popular, as they have been for the past three decades.

Faro is home to the Algarve's airport, and is also the administrative centre of the region. It is a university town, and home to a number of museums and some beautiful buildings. There really is more to Faro than winding streets. Those who choose to stop here, maybe en-route to the Algarve, will find a town full of charm and history. While Faro is kept young by its student population it is a working city, and while it promises lots of fun after dark, it is a place of history and sightseeing rather than just fun in the sun.

Walking holidays are also popular in Portugal, with many guided walks available in Madeira, the Algarve and the capital city of Lisbon.

From the historic sights in Lisbon and Faro and walking holidays on the tiny island of Madeira, to the glitzy casino nights in Vilamoura and the party nights on the strip in Albuferia, it is clear there is an abundance of holiday types to suit the young and old.