Quarteira, Algarve

Welcome to QuarteiraUncovered.com! Your tourist guide to Quarteira, in central Algarve, southern Portugal. For tourist information about Quarteira, its beaches, accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops, things to do and in fact, all things Quarteira, Algarve!

As a place of settlement, the area of Quarteira dates back at least to Roman times. King D. Dinis granted Quarteira its charter on 15th November 1297 and it became a city in 1999. From a simple fishing village, Quarteira has become one of the major tourist centres in the Algarve, famous for its golden beaches, its high quality fish and for its woods of stone pine.
 
Quarteira has seen a lot of development in recent years, leaving it characteristically high-rise in and around the town. Quarteira has still, however, managed to retain its Portuguese character and is particularyl popular with Portuguese holidaymakers. The best part is the lovely palm-lined promenade, Avenida Infante de Sagres, known as the "Marginal", where you can spend time relaxing with lovely walks along the seafront and on the outdoor terraces of cafés and bars all around.

The beautiful beach is rock-free and there are plenty of eating places with the Avenida Infante de Sagres running along behind it, which you can call on for refreshments. Quarteira still boasts a local fishing community and the fishermen can be seen at work at the western end of the beach. The catches are sold at the nearby fish market early in the morning and will end up on your plate for lunch or dinner the same day.

Quarteira offers a huge range of culinary delights, with the emphasis, of course, on the beautifully fresh fish and shellfish dishes such as grilled sardines, "cataplanas", "caldeirada" (a kind of fish stew) and prawns, to name but a few. 

Quarteira really is an ideal resort for a family holiday - apartments and hotels line the sea front so have fabulous views and easy access to the gorgeous beach and all the restaurants and cafés that line the 'Marginal'. The long sandy beach is ideal for children and the water here is calmed by a series of breakwaters, giving safer swimming conditions.

There are plenty of things to do around Quarteira if you've had enough of the beach! It is in the centre of some of the best golf courses on the Algarve - you could play a different course every day without travelling very far. For the energetic members of the family there are water parks, water sports of all kinds, karting, bowling, tennis and horse riding all close to hand.

Every Wednesday Quarteira has a big gypsy market that attracts visitors from all over the Algarve, so if you like to spot a bargain then this is for you!

If you prefer quieter activities take a leisurely stroll to Vilamoura along the beach front - it isn't far at all - and take in the sights at the marina! Apart from the extremely large, and no doubt hugely expensive, yachts floating on the water, there are plenty of shops to browse in and luckily, an equal number of places to stop for a cool drink!  It will probably take you longer to walk around the marina than to walk from Quarteira  but if you are still feeling engergetic, the beach (Falésia) at the western side of Vilamoura marina carries on all the way to Olhos de Água next door to Albufeira!

An easier way to see around Vilamoura is to get on the tourist train that trundles around the resort and one of the pick up points is in the car park behind Praia da Marina - the adjoining beach to Praia de Quarteira.

As you won't be far from Faro a day exploring the capital of the Algarve is a good day out (if you are not hiring a car, then a bus is only a few euros ). The marina is nowhere near the size of Vilamoura (nor are the boats!) but Faro also has history, interesting buildings, paved squares with pavement cafés and, of course, shops.  The old walled city (Cidade velha) with the 13th century Cathedral and the narrow cobbled streets; the tesouro (pyramid) roofs on the Bishop's palace; the view from the Cathedral tower over the city and the Ria Formosa - are not to be missed and is all in a very compact area close to the bus station so not very much walking is involved.

A ferry trip to Farol Island (Ilha de Farol) - the sandspit island nearest to Faro, takes about 35 minutes through the Ria Formosa and apart from seeing the ilha, the trip itself is very enjoyable as the boat chugs it's way through the channels and lagoons. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the view!

If all you want to do is relax, enjoy the sunshine, the beach and dinner at a restaurant at night, then Quarteira has everything you need. It is also an ideal resort for people with limited mobility with it's long, level promenade, easy beach access and all facilities within easy reach.