Porches Holidays

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General Things To Do

Porches Holidays – Country peace and quiet, but close to superb beaches.

Sat on a hill on the edge of the oldest east-west road in the Algarve, Porches is as picture-postcard as you could wish, with the traditional white houses with filigree chimneys of the region. You probably wouldn’t choose it for a beach holiday, unless you hire a car, but you would if you wanted peace and quiet and the chance to explore.

This is a couple’s holiday or for those who want to explore the paths and trails criss-cross the beautiful countryside. If you love long country walks and cycle rides, or discovering the country on horseback, a holiday in Porches is exactly right for you.

Most people can’t resist taking home a souvenir of the distinctive hand-glazed blue, green and turquoise pottery the town is noted for, a continuation of the original Iberian and Moorish designs. But you can also sample a local product while you are on holiday, because Lagoa, five kilometres away, is the centre of Algarve wine production, and most vineyards have tours and tastings. The regional wines are aromatic, smooth and velvety, ideal for a relaxing glass in the fading light of day.

When to go to Porches

The tranquil hill-top town is a world away from the larger, more tourist-oriented towns of the Algarve, so you won’t have the school holiday crowds that you could find elsewhere. The high summer months are going to be pretty hot, probably too hot to really enjoy the beautiful countryside that surrounds the village, but spring and autumn will be ideal, warm enough for lightweight clothing for your excursions during the day, but needing a cardigan in the evening.

The weather in Porches

As April’s 19º turns into May’s 22, the countryside comes alive with a display of colourful wild flowers. This is a favourite time for golfers, when the greens actually are green after the winter rains. But take a sweater, as it can still be a bit chilly at night. The twelve hours of sunshine a day during summer have been known to rise to 40º, but that’s rare, and daytime temperatures are usually around the high 20s, when the cool breezes drifting off the Atlantic can still entice you to wear a light sweater at night.

As the heat of the summer subsides into Autumn, temperatures of 17-19 ºC are still very pleasant, and with the coming of winter you can also expect light winds and rain.

Getting the best deal in Porches

With Porches being an all-year-round resort and not depending on beach holidays, you may find that deals aren’t as good as you can get at larger resorts – but that doesn’t mean you won’t get them. Don’t forget that while Porches may be a great place to avoid the hustle and bustle of school holiday crowds elsewhere, most of the flights that go into Faro, the only international airport on the Algarve, will be catering for these holidaymakers, which will be reflected in the price.

The more out of season you can travel the better the deal, so check our special offers below and keep an eye on our late deal offers.

Airport and transport need to know

You won’t go short of a flight to the Algarve. Ten airlines operate from twenty-three airports in the UK and Ireland; Aerlingus and Ryanair from Cork (ORK), Thomson Flights, flythomascook.com charter and easyJet from Edinburgh (EDI); from Liverpool (LPL) you can get there with Ryanair or easyJet and from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Faro with Monarch, flythomascook, Jet2.com and Thomson Flights who, along with Flybe will get you there from Exeter Airport (EXT).

With the Algarve being one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations there is lot of competition between on-line private hire companies and metered cabs to take you to your hotel or villa. A pre-booked car for four people will cost around 50€ (£40) from Faro airport to Porches, and while there is a fast and efficient rail service it is probably to your advantage to book a car or shuttle bus.

Best beaches near Porches

Porches is a short drive inland from Armação de Pêra and its beach, which is very long and runs along the main road in front of the hotels and apartments. The beach is classed as an Accessible Beach, so has access and facilities for disabled people. The are plenty of cafés and restaurants both alongside the beach and on it. At the Nossa Senhora da Rocha, at the western end, the beach terminates in caves and curious rock formations.

Praia Grande, Salgados and Galé are different names for the same huge beach that runs from Armação de Pêra all the way to Albufeira. It is enormous, so there is plenty of room for everyone, even at the height of summer! When it reaches Albufeira, it becomes the Praia dos Pescadores, named after the fishermen who still mend their nets there, and is one of the best known and most popular in the Algarve. It is long and flat with calm waters, which makes it ideal for families and swimmers. On New Year’s Eve it hosts a huge firework display, and is where many of the Algarve’s summer parties are held.