Portimão is a charming resort where you can escape the pressures of everyday life and enjoy a relaxing holiday in the sun-kissed Algarve.
Formerly a centre for fish processing and shipbuilding, this delightful city - the largest in the western Algarve - has developed into a marvellous holiday destination.
This coastal city on the right bank of the Arade River is more laid-back than some of the Algarve's bustling resorts and is ideal for holidaymakers wishing to stay clear of any hustle and bustle.
Portimão features a glorious beach and promenade, tree-lined plazas, historic buildings and an impressive range of bars, restaurants and shops.
The resort's beach - Praia da Rocha - runs for 1.5 kilometres and its sands slope gently into the sea, making it ideal for families with young children.
If you want to soak up the sun on a more secluded beach you can pay a visit to nearby Praia do Vau, a little gem which oozes natural beauty.
Portimão has an abundance of excellent restaurants to tantalise your taste buds and there are plenty of lively music bars and nightclubs where you can dance the night away when the sun goes down.
Key cultural attractions which are definitely worth checking out are the Museu de Portimão which celebrates the region's fishing heritage, the gorgeous Azulejo tile paintings in the Jardim 1º de Dezembro and the medieval Fort of Santa Catarina de Ribamar.
The Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar are another historical landmark - visitors will be vowed by 18 burial monuments which date back 5,000 years.
If you are a water sports enthusiast you'll find plenty of action in Portimão with surfing, jet-skiing, flyboarding and kayaking among the options available.
You can also take a boat trip out to sea to watch pods of bottlenose dolphins and children can get down to some swashbuckling action on the Santa Bernada, a replica pirate ship.