Find information on Almancil in our Travel Guide covering sights, foods and nightlife plus more...
Almancil, in the Algarve, is situated a few kilometres inland from the coastal resorts of Quarteira, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. Almancil is a traditional village possessing a great charm and having a wide range of facilities. It is a rather upmarket village with its many first class hotels, restaurants and boutiques. There are also a number of good golf courses in the area. The nearest beaches have long swathes of golden sand and provide a variety of water sports.
An Almancil holiday offers hot summer sun and mild pleasant winters. Those who enjoy the beach but dislike the bustle of a seaside resort will find that Almancil is a good compromise. The promise of a year round season of good golf is one of Almancil’s main attractions.
Almancil is popular with couples of all ages and with golfers. Families with young children would probably prefer a resort closer to the beach.
Almancil has hot dry summers and pleasant winters. Golfing holidays are particularly popular in the winter when British courses can be less than pleasant in the wind and rain.
Almancil is a charming village surrounded by pine forests and only a few kilometres from the coast. Although there is transport from the village, to make the most of your visit, car hire is recommended.
There is a range of accommodation including some first class hotels and villas with pools. Almancil’s restaurants cater for a wide variety of tastes serving wonderful fish and traditional Portuguese dishes as well as international cuisine. Almancil has a good number of exclusive boutiques and specialist shops. There are also craft and gift shops, and outlets for the locally produced pottery which makes a highly acceptable gift or holiday memento.
To the east of the village, and well worth a visit, is the eighteenth century Church of Sao Lourenco. The inside of the church is completely covered with the blue and white ceramic tiles so popular in the region.
To the South of the village are championship golf courses. Golfers should remember to bring their handicap certificate as this is a requirement on some courses.
To the west of the village is the coast with its many vibrant resorts. The sandy beaches, although ideal for children, have seas that can be rough and have strong currents and extra care needs to be taken. There are many water sports activities from paragliding to scuba diving and there is also Aqualand, an exciting water park. Fonte Santa, to the east of Quarteira, has a natural spring which, it is claimed, has healing properties.
An Almancil holiday offers a relaxing base in a charming village within in easy reach of golf courses, beaches, rivers and historic villages.
Nightlife in Almancil is fairly low-key. Evenings are spent strolling around the village and eating and drinking in the restaurants. Those looking for livelier evenings can make the short journey to the coast where there are many venues that party until the early hours of the morning.
Almanac has a range of shops including a number of fine boutiques. The local potteries supply charming ceramics which make excellent gifts and holiday souvenirs. The coastal area has many gift shops and there are also local markets where you can purchase mementoes. Popular items include pottery, leather goods, wickerwork, embroidered linens and jewellery
There are very many fine restaurants in Almancil providing a wide range of cuisine and catering for most tastes. Fresh fish and shellfish are high on the menu. Traditional fish restaurants sit alongside those serving international cuisine. It is common in Portugal to be served appetisers known as ‘covers’ while waiting for your food. Please remember that these are not free samples and will appear on the bill. Wines are an excellent accompaniment to dinner, while the almond liqueur or, for chocolate lovers the Alfarroba liqueur, is a great way to induce relaxation at the end of the day.
