Vilamoura
Vilamoura is reputedly the largest private holiday development in Portugal and probably the largest in Europe. Vilamoura is set amid quality hotels and masses of apartments and villas. This is a holiday play ground offering everything for the holiday fraternity, from sunbathers lazing on the 2 sandy beaches, to the avid golfer playing on one of the 5 Vilamoura golf courses.
Within Vilamoura is the well known marina to all yachtsmen alike, you will find moored up alongside the marina walk boats from large ocean going yachts and power boats to the simplest of fun boats. All around the marina are restaurants, bars and shops exactly what you need for a good night out, it is quite safe for children as there are few cars using the private road around the marina. You will also find the charter companies located mainly on the western side of the marina, several companies are located here and you are able to book your day excursions for both fishing and sightseeing trips. During the summer months you may be lucky to be around the marina when the 5 star Marina Hotel located at the far end has a great fireworks display, also on New Year, but be aware sometimes at this time of year they hold the firework display the next day?. “I am sorry there is no rhyme or reason to the days they hold these displays”.
Vilamoura is also very well known for its 5 golf courses owned by the Irish company “Oceancico Group” the most well know is The Old Course originally designed by the master himself Frank Pennink, this course is laid out along the lines of a classic British Design, one of solitude and tranquillity. On the 25th April 1997, on the reopening the original owners of the course Lusotur organized a Charity Pro Am. In the year of the Ryder Cup to be held at Valederama, Spain, Lusotur lured Seve Ballesteros Captain of the Ryder Cup Team to Vilamoura. The list of players included Ian Woosnam, Constantino Rocca, Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, this line up included 3 of the Ryder Cup Team and its Captain. This Pro-Am was in aid of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and individuals paid to be able play with one of the top professionals. All of the invited professionals agreed that The Old Course was indeed one of the best Courses on the Algarve, and had it been a little longer it could have been on the European Tour. The other courses are Pinhal, Laguna, Millennium and Victoria, which hosts the European Tour competition each year in November called the “Algarve Masters”.
Vilamoura also boasts a wide range of other sports facilities, Browns Sports Centre, Vilamoura Lawn Bowling, horse riding centre, tennis centre, nature reserve, cinema which has English speaking films and a casino which during the main summer months the large restaurant has a nightly floor show.
Have a look around vilamoura with our location map and information on places in Vilamoura...
