Algarve, one of Europe's best loved destinations, is located in the westernmost region of continental Europe and the very south of the Portuguese mainland. The Algarve covers an area of roughly 4,995 km and has a resident population of 395,218 inhabitants spread across 16 municipalities.

It is divided into three geographical areas, all of them with extremely beautiful scenery: coastal areas, upland areas and the central area consisting of a hilly limestone landscape. With its shores lapped by the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal region stretches over 220 km and is clearly divided into two quite distinct areas of outstanding beauty: the western coastline, essentially rocky, and the southern coastline, formed by long extensions of fine golden sand beaches.