Vale De Parra Holidays 2024/2025
Literally named ‘Valley of the Grapevines’, this picturesque village on Portugal’s sunny Algarve coast sits among winding vineyards only a stone’s throw from the action of Albufeira. With easy access to the beach, nearby nightlife and local wine tours, this quiet destination won’t fail to keep you entertained.
Vale De Parra Holiday Deals
A serene inland village
Take some genuine time out and relax in the serene wine growing region of Vale De Parra. This inland village has a few restaurants, bars and shops so you needn’t travel far to be fed and watered. It’s the ideal location away from it all, while nearby are stunning Blue Flag beaches and buzzing Albufeira. It’s also very close to Lagoa dos Salgados coastal lagoon, which is an excellent environment for bird-watching.
Time to dine
In the centre of the village is Primapasta restaurant – a cosy Italian that serves generous portions. Or try Cabanitas Bar for everything from English breakfasts to sports on TV and cocktails any time of the day. With a few other good options in Vale De Parra, just head south towards Praia Da Gale for plenty of places serving the seafood and Portuguese classics that have come to define Algarve holidays.
Wonderful wines and nearby celebrations
If you’re a wine lover, Vale De Parra is a great place to base yourself. Citrus groves and vineyards abound thanks to the warm southern sun, cool breeze and limestone soil of the Algarve. They give this destination the ideal conditions for quality winemaking.
There’s even a celebrity link with the local winery Adega Do Cantor. It takes its grapes from three vineyards, one of which being Quinta do Moinho, which is owned by Sir Cliff Richard. Book yourself a vineyard tour during your stay and you can be whisked away from your hotel to sample the delights of locally made wines such as Onda Nova.
If you’re visiting in February, time your visit right and you could pop over to the Loule Carnival, an annual three day festival of music and dancing in the streets. At this time of year you’ll be able to take advantage of some of our best deals on All Inclusive holidays to Portugal. Watch out though – it’s traditional for eggs and water to be thrown around the crowds!
Get your swimming trunks on
There are many fantastic beaches not far from Vale De Parra. These include small coves sheltered by multi-coloured cliff faces and rocky offshoots, to longer golden stretches where you’ll be pushed to find anyone encroaching on your space.
The closest beach, a five-minute drive away, is Praia Da Gale. You descend onto this sandy Blue Flag beach via cliffside steps and your instant reaction will be bliss. At five kilometres long it’s very family friendly with caves and rock pools for the kids, and parents, to explore.
You can relax on a hired sunlounger, or head to the watersports area for something a bit more adventurous such as parasailing, windsurfing, or the increasingly popular pastime stand-up paddle boarding. Restaurants serving delicious locally sourced fish top the red sandstone cliffs here, supplying you with views as moreish as the food.
Head to energetic Albufeira
Nearby you can discover the bustling town of Albufeira. During the day you can relax on beautiful sandy beaches including the most famous of them all, Fisherman’s Beach, which is located in front of the old town centre. They even have concerts here in the evenings. There’s also a shopping centre to browse, and plenty of places to pick up souvenirs and holiday bargains.
At night Albufeira really comes to life, with the bars and restaurants on the cobbled streets of the old town springing into action between historical monuments and buildings. You’ll also find places to eat and drink in the marina surrounded by candy-coloured architecture, yachts and fishing boats. Many of the venues serve traditional Portuguese dishes, as well as international food and some British favourites.
If you’re keen to party as much as possible, the Albufeira Strip in Sao Joao is the place to head to. This long street has plenty of cocktail lounges, bars and pubs, which lead conveniently towards the main nightclub area.