Bonjour lecteurs! Have you already booked your Summer holidays? Or are you more last-minute when choosing your next family adventure? If you want a European location in the sun, Portugal must be on your list. I can’t believe I never made it there before! But as Jet2holidays offers holidays to Portugal, I flew there last month for a mini break and absolutely LOVED it! We’ve been travelling with the brand pretty much every year, and we are always satisfied with the service. So check out now all the flights to Faro with Jet2 and embark on a beautiful family adventure. Here are 7 Cool things to do in the Algarve with the kids. In this family guide, there will be no aqua park! Just some beautiful must-see hidden gems…Regardez!
Visit the Market Town of Loulé
Sure, when I am on holiday with the boys, j’adore chilling by the pool with a cheeky cocktail or two. But there is nothing better than exploring nearby places and the culture.
Loulé is only a 25-minute drive from Faro, so it must be on your list. Start with le marché where the little ones can try some local food and other colourful items. It’s a bright vision full of scents.
Give them some cash to buy some souvenirs. Walk around the impressive indoor market with nearly 100 shops and stalls. Fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, honey…take your pick!
Don’t forget to stop by some of the local workshops funded by the local council. La raison why I fell in love with Loulé ? The way the area protects and develops its heritage.
Par exemple, la communauté Loulé Criativo is a beautiful initiative that values the identity of this territory.
The town is full of history and you can quick get a sense of its past as you walk along the streets, you may come across local artisans and workshops, promoting traditional arts. It is just so beautiful and unique.
I also feel it’s a great lesson to be taught to younger generations: we should be proud of our heritage and not let it die for modern commodities.
It was such a privilege to see local ladies palm weaving and knitting at the Casa da Empreita. I even bought a beautiful bag. It’s such a unique fashion piece that will work a treat in the Summer! Or stop by Teresa’s Pottery shop, which is full of sunshine.
Take it slow and spend the day in Loulé, walking around the colourful buildings, admiring the local workshops. Don’t forget to stop by the historic Café Calcinha, where you can try all sorts of sweet and savoury treats in this Art Nouveau restaurant.
Don’t forget to pick a cheeky Pastel de Nata. I am sure the little ones will love its sweet taste!
Take a Cooking Class at Taberna Lúcia Ribeiro
Is your bag filled with lots of fresh and yummy food? It’s time to think about lunch!
But why not make your own déjeuner from a local recipe? I could not recommend more a cooking class with the fabuleuse Lúcia Ribeiro at her taberna in Almancil. It’s such a fun experience that kids can join.
During my trip last month, I joined a class, where we made two cataplanas (a seafood stew from the Algarve) while enjoying some good wine. Oui, my cutting onions skills might not have been the best. But it was such a blast!
Lucia is truly passionate about good food and Portuguese recipes. It was the first time I was trying the Portuguese dish, and d it certainly did not disappoint. Plus, it’s so cool to degust your own food that you cooked together. It was really fun.
Her restaurant is très typique with fresh produce all over the place. What would be your favourite? A fish version or a meaty one with grilled chorizo? It was absolutely délicieux!
Take a Hike on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
After all this yummy food, we needed to burn it all off. If you have a family of adventurers who are not scared of a walking challenge, you need to stop by the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
It’s not even that long (only 6km), but such beautiful views from there… Climb up and down along the hanging valleys and the ravines. The coastline is quite impressive and I am sure the children will enjoy seeing the waves.
The trail offers such a diversity of geoforms and even mini caves.
Settle down in the sunshine, take the breeze in and admire the cute secluded village of Benagil in the middle of the trail. Observe the wildlife and don’t forget to enjoy an ice cream when it is over. It’s actually quite relaxing to be by the sea at such heights.
Go on a Jeep Tour
Now here me out. This one might not be for toddlers. But if you have older children and teens with you, they will certainly love a jeep tour.
We hopped on with Alsafari Jeeps tours to discover some hidden gems in the Algarve and it was was quite something. The rain did not even spoil the fun as our tour guide was telling us all about la région and its histoire.
Whatever you fancy, a food tour or a little stop with some wine in the middle, you will discover the area a different way. Personnellement, I loved learning more about the origins of tea (it’s Chinese unlike some might believe…).
But driving around lost villages in the mountains was also quite spectacular.
We even had a pit stop in Paderne and I must say that the colourful homes were quite dreamy…
Our guide tour also told us more about the rich fauna and flora in the Algarve while we tried some local liquor. Let the little one run around the fields in the sunshine while you savour a bit of Amarguinha, the almond based liquor from the region.
Go on a Boat Trip
If, like us, being in the water feels like your element, you should book a boat trip. Observe the maritime life in the shade of the boat. There is something quite relaxing about it.
As our tour took us along the lagoon, we stopped by 2 islands. We had lunch at the Ilha da Culatra, but I think I preferred Ilha do Farol, with its array of colourful holiday homes.
Now, it was the low season, so it looked a quite atmosphérique to walk in the empty place. But I would imagine it can be more vibrant in the summer.
Either way, you have plenty of boat tours options by the marina of Olhão. You can even go on a dolphins boat tour! I am sure the children would adore it!
Explore Olhão
If you make it there, have a wonder around Olhão in the late afternoon. It’s so charming in evening lights.
As you walk along the cobbled streets, admire the architecture with its shades of blue, pink and white.
It’s quite dreamy! If anything it reminded me a lot of Perpignan in France. How majestic does this church look?
You could feel that the Easter weekend was in the air.
I also recommend you stop by the Pure Formosa Concept Hotel for its fabulous rooftop bar. We sat down with a cocktail while looking at the sunset and it was quite magique!
Plus, parents need a rest too on holidays. So sit down and relax with a set of cards or other board games to play altogether.
The children can order a lemonade and splashing their feet in the pool!
If you like a family-friendly restaurant and rooftop bar in the Algarve, the Hotel 3HB Faro is quite a cool spot too. It’s obviously a hit with families in the evening. Sit down altogether round some yummy burrata…
Quinta do Lago
I hope you are enjoying this family-friendly Algarve Guide. Now, I know that golf might not be for everyone. But why not sign the kids off to explore and be sporty with papa while you sip some good wine at the gold club? They’ll definitely love bringing their mid size stand bags to get in the game.
]If this is your vibes, then Quinta do Lago is your spot! It remined me so much of Sotogrande!
Book a table at Casa de Lago, where you can enjoy the fresh catch of the day. It’s très chic! The little ones can tell you all about their sporty exploits while you savour some fish. The terrace is absolutely sumptuous! It feels relaxing, but very élégant at the same time. Trust me, you will fall in love with this place.
Where to Stay in the Algarve
While in the Algarve, you need to find an elegant pieds-à-terre that is also family-friendly. During my recent trip, I stayed at the W Algarve with Jet2holidays, and I was absolutely wowed! Over the years, I’ve checked out some lovely hotels in the sunshine.
But this is another level of beauté and service. Sérieusement, it’s stunning! As soon as we arrived, we were looked after like VIPs with champagne and the warmest welcome. This is truly my idea of heaven!
What else do you want? Mum can have a classy night at the bar and pause for many Instagrammable photos, while the little ones can have fun at the pool.
Even better, the hotel is right by a secluded beach only known by the locals. So it’s definitely a winner! My family room was beautifully decorated and so spacious!
I also recommend you book a treatment at the Spa. It’s quite something. You can book a session for €22 and you can relax for a few hours while overlooking the resort.
Book now a family room for a très spécial stay in the Algarve. The hotel is part of the Jet2holidays indulgent escapes portfolio for une raison...
It’s truly stunning, and it has it all for your family to relax with style. More about it later on the blog!
Whatever you fancy, a full week in the sunshine or a mini break kids-free, there are so many flights from London Stansted Airport to choose from all year round.
Once more, it’s un succés with Jet2holidays and I can’t wait to come back to the Algarve with the boys one day!
You can find more family-friendly travels with Jet2holidays here:
- 8 Places to Visit Near Split, Croatia
- Unmissable Things To Do On The Costa Dorada in Catalonia
- The Most Fun Activities to Do in Benidorm
- Our Break in Crete with Jet2holidays
- Our Easter Family Break in Crete
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Jet2holidays. I was kindly invited on a press trip, but we love its family packages and have travelled with the company for years! All opinions are my own.
