Things to do:
• Visit Zoomarine, the sea life centre theme park, to swim with dolphins or enjoy one of the fantastic aquatic shows.
• For more fun, head to one of four water parks along the coast – Slide and Splash in Lagoa has rides for all ages. It currently occupies an area of 16,000acres and is considered the biggest of its kind in the country and alsa one of the biggest and best in Europa. ()located in Lagoa)
• Shop for pottery at Porches, a picture-postcard village near to Lagoa.
• Walk the ramparts of the 12th Century citadel in the ancient Moorish capital Silves.
• Head into the Monchique mountains and sample the crystal clear waters of an historical Roman spa.
• Take a boat trip to the rock sculptures and grottoes of Ponta da Piedade in the west, or the Vilamoura marina and sea caves to the east.
• Watch the sunset at ‘Fim do Mundo’ - Portugal’s own Lands End at Cape St Vincent.
• Shop until you drop at Forum Algarve shopping centre in Faro or Algarve Shopping in Guia –
World Superbikes & A1 Formula One Grand Prix :
Vila Penina is 15 mins drive from the new circuit 'Autodromo International do Algarve ' which will be one of three new venues on the schedule for the new season and will play host to the tenth round of the season in April 2009. It’s a fantastic facility and offers additional tourism facilities for visitors to the Algarve including a brilliant Go karting track, various motor racing driving schools, a technology park and sports complex
Construction was finished in October 2008. A1GP will be the circuit’s first international car race meeting, occurring on April 12, 2009.
Shopping:
The Portimao Retail Park is about 1 mile from the Vila and has more superstores etc that is good for your wallet. Portimao Retail Park is on the N125, in between the Portimao and Alvor Junctions.Carrefour, Moviflor, Radio Popular, De Borla, Staples, AKI, Decathlon...
There is a LIDL in Portimao centre, about 2 miles from Alvor. It's on the main north-sout road through town; if you take the Portimao road out of Alvor you will be within a couple of hundred yards when you get to the junction with that road. Across the road from Lidl is the Continente Shopping centre .This is where we tend to shop it is reasonable and they have a vast selection also there are other clothes shops etc and a nice food area where you can get a meal or just a drink
Golf:
Your nearest golf course is the famous Penina Resort – There is a great championship course plus a 9 hole course and an executive short 9 hole course to play.. Loads of trees so a bit cooler as well. As a 5 star resort it isn’t the cheapest option but its very attractive and close by (2 mins by car).
Other nice courses to consider are Morgado where there are two courses Reguengos and Alamos. The golf here is strategic – generous aff the tee but tight around the greens .. always enjoyable and very peaceful. Reguengos is the tougher course and longer than Alamos which is a very strategic test. (15 mins drive)
Palmares is arguably one of the Algarve’s prettiest courses near Lagos.. The clubhouse restaurant certainly has the best views of the Bay of Lagos – really spectacular. The course has a split personality with 5 holes of classic links golf on the beach and 12 holes of parkland golf.
Boavista is a nice course on the West side of Lagos. The course winds through undulating farmland with lovely views. Always in good condition and popular with guests of all playing abilities. There is quite of bit of walking between holes and the course is hilly so unless you have strong legs a buggy is recommended for sure.
Other Activities:
A1 Formula 1 Racing - 5 kilometres. Zoo Marine. Safari