TOP 7 Places to Live in the Algarve

TOP 7 Places to Live in the Algarve

Portugal is one of the best countries to live in the world, having already won some international titles such as the fourth “Best Country to Live in Retirement” (2022 Annual Global Retirement Index), one of the “Safest Countries in the World” (Global Peace Index) and one of the “Best Countries to Live” (Expart Insider).

A country so small in size and so rich in its diversity and offer as well as delights for its inhabitants and also for all those who visit us during the year and who often choose to make this their country to live in. Safe, peaceful, diversified and with the best gastronomy, Portugal becomes one of the best European countries with the best quality of life, standing out for its unmissable regions, the Algarve being one of them.
The southernmost region of the country stands out for its beaches with calm and crystalline waters, natural landscapes and for its Mediterranean diet. In this article, we suggest the TOP 7 places to live in the Algarve, taking into account its most popular amenities, services and activities.

1) Faro
The capital of the Algarve has all the characteristics sought after, being at an excellent distance from Faro international airport, from Faro Island with access by land and sea, the University, shopping centers, shopping streets and restaurants full of life, stage of the largest European Motard concentration and varied nightlife. It also offers a wide range of walking trails and birdwatching. All these factors make Faro an excellent option to live in the Algarve.
To buy a house in Faro, you can count on around €2,355/m2, which is lower than in its neighboring municipality of Loulé.

2) Vilamoura
A locality belonging to the parish of Quarteira known for its lifestyle and high couture. Stage for the best known casino in the Algarve region and the Best Marina in the World (The Yacht Harbor Association), Vilamoura offers the best restaurants in terms of gastronomy and aesthetics, Cerro da Vila (exposition of Roman ruins, with Visigoth and Arab remains), beaches phenomenal, excellent golf courses, perfect places for birdwatching, Colégio Internacional (a leading private school in Portugal), and even the most luxurious villas and apartments in the country.
The highest value per square meter in recent months: to live in Vilamoura, count on about €4,607/m2, a value justified by the factors mentioned above.

3) Quarteira
Best known for its wide promenade full of restaurants, ice cream parlors, pastry shops and varied shops, the parish of Quarteira becomes one of the most desirable places to live in the Algarve. Increasingly developed, the lifestyle of Quarteira begins to identify itself with that of its neighbor Vilamoura, with a first line of Praia desired by those looking for this location to live. Waking up and enjoying an incredible sea view is possible and is within your reach with the advice of the BUYME team of consultants.
Combining the best of Faro and Vilamoura, Quarteira has a good average price per square meter, stabilizing at €3,703.

4) Tavira
Tavira, a magical city in its essence and bathed by the Gilão River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the Ria Formosa. Quiet and close to several paradisiacal beaches, such as Praia do Barril, Tavira is still rich in history, with more than 20 churches and an incredible architectural historic center, as well as the Roman bridge and the medieval castle. There is nothing more pleasant than walking through these streets and enjoying every nook and cranny. Like other cities in the Algarve, Tavira’s gastronomy promises to make its visitors’ mouth water.
Despite all these fantastic features, Tavira still has an affordable price per square meter compared to other cities: €2,463/m2.

5) Albufeira
In this coastal area are the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, with about 20km of coastline, and the most incredible walking trails in terms of beauty. The historic center is also a doom, with the Algarve’s architecture being well known through its tiles and colours. Art and history lovers can visit the Museum of Archeology and Sacred Art, as well as the various churches throughout the city. Albufeira also has a Marina and is considered the safest and most sheltered in Portugal, it is a high quality tourist complex and a center of entertainment and leisure, with green areas, hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, and swimming pools.
Average price per square meter: €2,894/m2

6) Olhão
It started out as a fishing town with little else to do but over the years it has evolved exponentially, becoming one of the most sought after cities to live in. Rich for its fish and seafood restaurants, with Cubist architecture, Olhão has everything to offer its inhabitants and visitors. Through its pier, you can and should take tourist boats to discover the paradisiacal islands of Ria Formosa: Armona, Culatra and Farol.
As in the city of Faro, the value per square meter is €2,346. Neighboring cities no longer have financial differences when buying a house.

7) Lagos
Walled city surrounded by the most beautiful beaches and with incredibly beautiful trails. As in other locations in the south of Portugal, people settled here over 2000 years ago and the influences have been varied since then. The most important peoples to occupy this region were the Carthaginians, then the Romans and the Muslims until it was definitively under Portuguese rule in the 13th century, for this reason Lagos was the capital of the Algarve for two centuries.Value per square meter €3,195/m2.
Your real estate agency of choice, BUYME, has been operating in the real estate market for 25 years and is actively present in our TOP 7 places to live in the Algarve. Looking for a house or have a house to sell? We help. Our team of real estate and financial consultants meets all the conditions to make this process a successful one. We are waiting for you!

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