CITY GUIDE

VILAMOURA

Everything you need to know…

Planning a holiday to Vilamoura? We’re here to help you plan your perfect break. From the best water parks and boat trips, to the best day trips – we’ve got all the information you need for an unforgettable trip.

Whether it’s a family getaway or romantic escape, our guide will show you where to go and what to do. You can also find out about upcoming events and festivals too! So whether you want some culture or just want some sun, InVilamoura has everything covered.

Check out the rest of our website now for more information on this fantastic beach and golf destination!

Vilamoura Marina 2021

If you are looking for a fun place to visit, Vilamoura in the Algarve is worth checking out. This area has so much to offer- from beautiful beach areas and great shops or traditional markets, you’ll never be bored!

If that doesn’t sound like your thing, then take a stroll through the marina or enjoy some live music at one of the many bars. 

A few years ago the resort’s managing company and owners launched a promotional campaign with the slogan: “I wasn’t born here, but it’s where I belong”. This one sentence really sums up how residents feel about this area. Here is a whole website of reasons to visit Vilamoura at least once and maybe (like us) never leave.

A world-class marina

The Marina is the heart of Vilamoura and the main attraction in this area. It is the largest marina in Portugal with over 800 berths and has won numerous awards over the years. A lively atmosphere surrounded by hotels and apartments, with plenty of waterfront shops, boat-trip operators, al fresco bars, ice-cream parlours and restaurants.

It is a beautiful place to just relax, people watch or admire the yachts and supercars which line the Marina in the summer. The Marina really comes to life at night with a great ambience – packed restaurants,  live music in bars, street artists, shops open until late and loads of people just enjoying the summer nights.

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Glorious beaches

Vilamoura Falesia Beach

The Marina is flanked on either side by two magnificent beaches. To the west the Praia da Rocha Baixinha (commonly referred to as Falésia Beach) and on the opposite side the Praia da Marina.

Both beaches have several amenities: parking, sunbed and parasol rental, toilets, showers, lifeguards, water sports, restaurants and bars. On the Marina Beach the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort or the Crowne Plaza Vilamoura offer amazing sea views over the Atlantic . The popular Purobeach Vilamoura is also located on the Praia da Marina. Falésia Beach with its unspoilt beauty is one of the best beaches in the country and hosts legendary sunset parties at the various beach clubs.

Portuguese food and wine

Seafood Cataplana
Seafood Cataplana and Chouriço

A healthy Mediterranean diet, fresh fish and seafood and fabulous restaurants overlooking the Atlantic Ocean are one of the reasons we love Portugal and the Algarve. The other reason is the Portuguese wine. 

Choose from one of the nine Vilamoura Beach Restaurants either on the Falésia Beach or the Marina Beach for the perfect summer meal. You will also find a wide variety of international cuisine around town: Mexican, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese and even Nepalese. 

5 World-Class Golf Courses in Vilamoura

The perfect weather, scenic terrain and 5-star facilities has made this destination not only Europe’s largest golfing resort but also one of the most successful. There are 5 world-class courses onsite and 7 more in the Golden Triangle (20-min drive). The Algarve region is home to a total of 36 courses, including Monte Rei which consistently ranks as one of the top 3 courses in Europe.

200,000 rounds of golf are played on Vilamoura Golf Courses each year. All five courses were the first in the world to be certified as environmentally friendly (ISO 14001 standard). 

Victoria Golf Course Vilamoura
Victoria Golf Course - Masters November 2021

The weather

300 days of sunshine is the unofficial slogan of the Algarve. You will see this statement on every publication about the Algarve and well, its true. Here is a photo of the terrible weather in January. These are professional windsurfers training for the Olympics in the marina during the winter. Learn more about the weather in Vilamoura here.

The location

Located in central Algarve, only 25km from Faro International Airport and 80km to the Spanish border. Makes an excellent base from where you can explore the beautiful Algarve. 

vilamoura

An eco-friendly "town"

Built in the 60’s by the visionary Arthur Cupertino de Miranda, this resort was conceived to be a leisure eco-town where residents and tourists could enjoy a lifestyle not available in large cities.

The town has about 11 000 permanent residents that enjoy blue flag certified beaches, a nature reserve, eco-friendly golf courses, extensive sports activities, leisure facilities, an international private school and other facilities all year round. 

Sports facilities and amenities

Sports facilities include the Tennis and Padel Academy, Vilamoura Equestrian Centre, sailing academy, surf school, extensive cycle lanes, outdoor gym equipment, jogging lanes and of course, all the golf courses.

Tennis academy vilamoura
Tennis and Padel Academy Vilamoura
Cycle lanes in Vilamoura
Cycle Lanes in Central Vilamoura
Wind surfing
Wind surfing and sailing athletes

Casino

Vilamoura Casino is another great attraction within walking distance of the Marina. Open all year round this mid-sized casino offers gambling, live entertainment, restaurants, nightclub, bars and poker tournaments.

Vilamoura Nightlife

One of the reasons this destination is so popular is due to the buzzing atmosphere on the marina and the nightlife. On the marina you will find a variety of bars and pubs with live music, dancing and entertainment. For the younger crowd the sunset parties on the Falésia Beach are a must – Nosolo Água usually has live Dj’s and some wild parties in the summer. For those preferring a Nikki Beach type scene, Purobeach on the Marina Beach is the place to go.

The Brewery Pub in Vilamoura
The Brewery Pub on Vilamoura Marina

Vilamoura Hotels and Accommodation

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a hotel in Vilamoura. International branded hotels such as Crowne Plaza (Marina Beach), the Anantara Resort (Victoria Golf Course) or the Vilamoura Hilton (Pinhal Golf Course) offer 5-star accommodation near the beach or the golf courses. The Tivoli Marina and Lake Resort are conveniently located on either side of the marina only a very short distance from the beaches – both are amazing luxury hotels with fantastic facilities in the heart of the resort.

Alternatively, there is a huge number of self-catering units in the resort ranging from studio apartments to luxury 10-bedroom villas. Read more about where to stay in Vilamoura here.

Events

Vilamoura usually hosts some major sporting events along the year: European Show Jumping Championship, International Sailing Tournaments and the European Tour “Portugal Masters”. The Algarve Stadium and Algarve Racing Circuit are two venues, only a short drive away, that have hosted events such as the Motogp Racing, F1 Grand Prix or the Portuguese National Football Team.

Events in the Algarve
Portugal vs Qatar 2021
Victoria Golf Course Vilamoura 2021
Portugal Masters European Tour 2021 - Victoria Golf Course

Most popular activities and attractions in Vilamoura