Faro

Lapped by the wild Atlantic, surrounded by fragrant orange plantations and pretty tracts of national park, lies Faro - an eclectic jumble of ancient-meets-modern, where Moorish villages, Roman ruins and classic Renaissance buildings live happily alongside modern facades and a busy harbour.

The ramparts of the Old City hide Renaissance arches and the large main square, once a bustling Roman forum, is dominated by a 13th Century Sé cathedral and an 18th Century Episcopal palace.

Not to be overlooked are the city's museums, including the rather macabre Capela d'Ossos (Chapel of Bones) at the golden Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo - the main exhibit being its walls, which are lined with the skulls of some 1200 monks.

Faro's proximity to the airport makes it the ideal spot if you want to leap off the plane and dive straight into sun, sea and sand.

If you've tired of relaxing on golden beaches, have exhausted the extensive range of water sports on offer or simply fancy a bit of culture, the town's beautiful Italianate theatre offers a full programme of theatre, dance and music.

For a change of pace, head for the lagoon on the edge of the town. You can practically walk to the outer islands via the swathe of sandbanks that dot the water. Here you will also find the Cabo de Santa Maria lighthouse. You can also take a short bus or ferry ride from near the Arco da Porta Nova in Faro to Praia de Faro, where you'll find miles of golden sand and a plethora of watersports.

Faro is also the gateway to the rest of the Algarve, with easy access to picturesque local villages and historical towns. An hour's drive takes you to Albufeira, a working fishing village where you can watch the brightly coloured boats by day and then party in the Algarve's best nightclubs and bars by night.