Vilamoura is a luxury resort located in the western part of the Algarve. It’s known for its large marina, golf courses and casino, and for amazing sandy beaches. This privately owned resort was built in the 1980’s and has over the years become one of the finest resorts in Europe.
Why not start by learning the area's past in the Museum of Cerro da Vila. These Roman ruins are an archaeological and historical treat. The site had been inhabited by humans since the Bronze Age, but the Romans were the first to establish a large-scale, permanent settlement here in the year 27BC. Two large villas were built here, and today fragments of the walls can be seen alongside pieces of mosaic. You should still see the remains of the bathhouses.
The Marina is a great place for wandering around day or night. There are a number of boats that run excursions along the coast towards Lagos and beyond. On both sides of the marina are sandy beaches with several cafes and bars. Vilamoura is especially popular with sports enthusiasts as it has excellent facilities
Vilamoura is home to six different Golf Courses. These six different courses combined offer thousands of acres of the playground and are a great place to unwind and enjoy the sport. Some of the most popular golf courses are: Millenium, Laguna, Pinhal, Old Course. Algarve has been considered as the “Best Golf Destination in the World 2020”, adding to the vast collection of accolades and worldwide recognition. Learn more about it here.
This water park is located in Quarteira, just a few minutes away from Vilamoura. This giant water park has one of the biggest water roller coasters in the world and plenty of other slides and attractions perfect for all ages.
This Segway tour is ideal for you if you're tired of walking around and just want to enjoy the scenery without sweating!
You will be able to relax for about an hour and a half and see the ocean, the cliffs, and the beautiful Vilamoura and Quarteira beaches. You can spend your time and visit the local shops and restaurants, or merely remember them and visit them later.
This activity is enjoyable for people of all ages and fitness levels, and the helmet, segway and insurance are included in the price.
This is the capital city of the Algarve, it’s home to around 50,000 people which makes it a nice quiet destination to start your journey around the Algarve. Its old town is home to some historic, traditional roman and Portuguese architecture and beautiful coloured buildings.
Transportation Though Vilamoura does not have a bus station or train station, it is just a few hours away from the capital, Lisbon, and with many opportunities to rent a car, you’ll never feel too far from the action in this resort. You can get a bus from Albufeira to Armação de Pêra and Vilamoura for €4.25
Beaches Algarve is the home of blue flag beaches in Europe. Falésia is a unique beach with colourful red cliffs in the background. It’s located on the southern side of the resort.
Praia de Vilamoura is another beautiful beach with warm yellow sand and great clear waters. It’s not as popular and Falésia, so it is a perfect place for those who prefer quieter beaches.
Weather The Algarve is home to amazing weather with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year and with temperatures in the winter never really hitting below 10 degrees. This is what makes this coastal city the best winter resort! In Vilamoura between June to September, temperatures are at their peak, creating for some amazing days at the beach and even in the winter the temperatures are around 12ºC. The average annual temperature is 17.2ºC. The hottest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 23.4ºC and the coldest month is January with an average temperature of 12ºC.
Restaurants & Bars Villamoura is home to some amazing eateries with some restaurants holding Michelin stars! So if you are looking for a place with fine dining, then Villamoura is it!
Oliveira Dourada is a cosy restaurant on the northern part of the resort serving a wide variety of dishes from all over the world.
Willie’s Restaurant is a Michelin star restaurant and one of the best in the Algarve and is definitely worth the visit.
For something sweet why not head to La Creperie Marina de Vilamoura located in the heart of the luxury resort of Vilamoura, this restaurant serves some of the best crepes you will have ever tasted with a range of flavorful toppings to choose from. There are also delicious salads for you to try, in case you don’t fancy a crepe.
Airport The closest airport is located in Faro and is only a 30-minute drive away from Vilamoura.
Shopping As Vilamoura is a small resort in the Algarve, there isn’t a big shopping centre. However there are mini-malls like Oriental Shopping Vilamoura, and this mall has it all from basics to essentials for tourists.
