Alvor is a fishing village, located on the banks of the river Rio Alvor in the southern region of Portugal. While you will love its beautiful setting, with paved paths and palm trees lining its riverfront, your little ones will be enthralled by the array of activities for them to do under Portugal’s warm sunshine.
The riverfront is a bustling area full of life to entertain your kids. After they’ve finished admiring the fisherman as they dock their boats, there are plenty of beaches for them to play on and many coves for them to explore. Even in the summer you will easily find a nice spot where you can lie down and chill on the soft sand.
It is the perfect family-friendly holiday destination.
In Alvor, you can easily keep your offsprings entertained, bond as a family and build wonderful memories. In fact, there’s a whole load a family fun you won’t want to miss…
Spend a Day at the Beach
Accessible via the beach pathway, there are two major beaches near Alvor’s city centre.
Nothing brings a family together like a good old-fashioned bucket and spade. Alvor Beach and the Beach of the Three Brothers boast lovely golden sand – perfect for building sandcastles. You can cycle down the pathway, swim in the lagoon formed by the Alvor River and even try out some of the water sport activities on offer. A perfect day out which can be topped off with an ice cream at one of the many cafes and bars.
Go to a Waterpark
There is a brilliant water park in Lagoa, Albufeira which you can easily reach by bus.
My favourite memories as a young child still include slipping down a water slide’s curvy wet chute and making a brilliant splash as I reached the end. Your kids can enjoy the same thrill at Slide and Splash waterpark. It has something for the whole family, including three main slides, interactive games and even a hot jacuzzi. Best of all, you can have all this family fun while staying safe. The park is very child-friendly, with all the rides and play areas supervised by trained lifeguards. So, you can sit back and relax (even treat yourself to a refreshing drink!) knowing your kids are in secure hands.
Insider Tip: Remember to bring some extra cash as you will have to pay an additional €5 for a sun lounger and will need coins for the lockers.
Slide and Splash is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Entrance costs €27.
Take a Canoe Trip on the Alvor River
Alvor offers extraordinary natural sights which are difficult to access by foot for those with little legs, but if you don’t want to miss out, why not take a family canoeing trip along the coastline? It is perfectly safe as you are given lifejackets. You will get to see Alvor’s beautiful beaches and caves, while learning to work as a team and row the boat in a straight line (it might take a while to stop going around in circles, but at least you will have a fun memory to share!).
Check out Lagos Zoo
If you’re looking for somewhere to take your kids, Lagos Zoo should definitely be on your radar. You can discover over 120 different species that will fascinate your little ones. From colourful tropical birds to giant porcupines, from kangaroos to bats, there are animals of all shapes and sizes. Make sure you don’t miss (my personal favourite) the silly monkeys!
Insider Tip: To save money, bring your own picnic. There are several tables and benches where you can eat.
Lagos Zoo is open daily from 10am to 7pm. An adult ticket costs €16, while a child’s entrance is just €12.
Visit the Pedagogical Farm
For a budget-friendly day out, nothing beats the Pedagogical Farm in Portimão. There are loads of fun activities for your kids – and entrance is free! They’ll discover how to care for a vegetable garden and how to make bread, and even get the chance to interact with the various animals. They’ll meet the goats, chickens and cows, and with a bit of luck there will be special summer holiday activities on too.
The farm is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and from 10am to 5:30pm on weekends. Entrance is free!
How To Get To Alvor
The easiest way of getting to Alvor is by flying to Faro (FAO) Airport. There are several low-cost airlines that provide a direct three-hour flight from London to Faro airport, including Ryanair, easyJet and Monarch. Prices range from £60 and £120.
After a long flight with young kids, you don’t want the additional headache of waiting for a hire car and driving yourself to your destination. It is much easier to book an airport transfer with Shuttle Direct. They offer shared transfers, which are less expensive, as well as private transfers for which you can request child seats when you book. Whatever you choose, a friendly driver will greet you with a smile, help you with your bags and safely take you to Alvor in just over an hour.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct provides efficient and comfortable airport transfers throughout Europe and North Africa. They offer a fixed low price, perfect for anyone on a budget! Visit their user-friendly website to book a private or shared transfer in advance, so you can get everything organised for your trip before you depart.
