Montegordo lies in the east of the Algarve just five kilometres from the Spanish border. The transfer time from Faro is eighty minutes. Once a small fishing village, it has developed into a popular seaside resort. It has one of the largest beaches in the Algarve and claims to have the highest temperatures and the warmest water. A Montegordo holiday offers sun, sand, sea and enough leisure pursuits to satisfy most visitors.
Montegordo offers sunshine and warm seas with wonderful beaches of fine white sand. It is a fairly lively town with many small restaurants, pubs and music bars. It also boasts a casino. There are a many opportunities for water sports and also for golf.
Montegordo appeals to a wide variety of people from families to older couples. Although there are a number of lively bars and clubs the eighteen to thirty group who like to party through the night may find that the night life here is not to their taste.
Montegordo has hot dry summers and pleasant winters making it a year-round holiday destination. The summer is the most popular time with sun seekers and beach lovers flocking to its shores in their thousands.
Montegordo developed later than other resorts in the Algarve and as its popularity continues to grow so does its expansion. Situated close to the border with Spain, near the River Guadiana, it enjoys slightly higher temperatures than the more westerly resorts.
The bay at Montegordo has one of the longest beaches in the area with its fine sand stretching as far as the eye can see. The water here can be quite rough making it excellent for surfing and other water sports such as jet skiing and sailing, but not so good for young children and weak swimmers. A promenade borders the beach and there are many cafes and shops along its length. Further out from town the beach is backed by dunes and pine trees.
River cruises take you inland to the nature reserve and the bridge which gives access to Spain.
Night life in Montegordo can be lively particularly during the August festival but there are not too many venues where you can dance till dawn. The Casino is popular with its tables, slot machines and floor shows. The many small family restaurants provide a warm and friendly atmosphere in which to relax at the end of a sun-filled day.
Nightlife in Montegordo is fairly lively with pubs, music bars, clubs and discos. There are many small restaurants for those looking for more intimate evenings. There is also a modern casino with two hundred slot machines and tables offering a wide choice of games for those who enjoy a holiday flutter.
Montegordo does not have a wide variety of shops but it certainly caters for all your holiday essentials. There is also the usual number of gift and souvenir shops where you can buy your holiday mementoes. Popular items are pottery, leather goods, wickerwork, embroidered linens and jewellery.
The waterfront restaurants provide traditional fish dishes as well as fast foods, pizzas and pasta. The range of food accommodates most tastes and pockets. Some of the restaurants in the village centre have live Fado music. Fish and shellfish feature prominently on the menus with fish stews and grilled sardines being firm favourites. Chicken piri piri is another traditional dish that should not be missed. 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 relax at the end of the day.
