Ferragudo.
The fishing village of Ferragudo is one of the most picturesque places of the Algarve. It's situated at the Rio Arade estuary, opposite the busy harbour city of Portimão and the nightlife hotspot of Praia da Rocha. At low tide the fishing boats lie scattered on the dry sand. The winding small alleys and crooked stairs everywhere give you a real impression of the original Algarve. You won't find any ugly concrete high-rise structures or anonymous hotel complexes, but nicely build luxurious villas, cosy apartments and well designed resorts.
Living here means taking everything easy. In front of the tiny whitewashed houses, frequently decorated with flowers, you can observe women doing their laundry. Around lunchtime you will smell sardines being grilled in the streets. The people are always friendly and ready to help, especially if you try to speak some Portuguese. It looks like time has passed by unnoticed.
In the small market, a popular meeting point for the older locals, you can buy fresh fish, seafood and vegetables