Self catering accommodation and holiday homes in Algarve.

It depends on the holiday you want. The central strip from Lagos through Albufeira to Vilamoura has the most restaurants, nightlife, resorts and the famous cliff beaches, so it suits first-timers, families wanting facilities and lively groups. The west around Sagres and the Costa Vicentina is wilder and quieter, good for surfers and walkers. The east around Tavira and the Ria Formosa is calmer and more traditional, with warm shallow lagoon water reached by ferry to the sandbar islands. Golfers tend to base themselves around Vilamoura and the Golden Triangle.

For reliable beach weather, roughly May to September, with July and August the hottest and busiest. Many people prefer late spring and early autumn — May, June, September and October — for warm days, calmer resorts and better value. The Algarve is also one of Europe's mildest winter-sun spots: coastal daytime temperatures often sit in the mid-teens Celsius with plenty of sunshine, which is why golfers, walkers and long-stay visitors come between November and March. Sea temperatures are warmest in late summer and along the sheltered eastern lagoon coast.

You can manage without a car on the main coast. A railway line runs the length of the Algarve from Lagos in the west through Faro to Vila Real de Santo António near the Spanish border, stopping at towns including Tavira and Olhão, and regional buses connect the resorts. Note that a few stations, such as those serving Albufeira and Portimão, sit outside the town centre, so buses are often more convenient there. That said, a hire car — easy to pick up at Faro Airport — gives you far more freedom to reach the remote west-coast and back-country beaches, which are poorly served by public transport.

The most photographed cliff scenery is on the central coast around Lagoa, Carvoeiro and Lagos. Praia da Marinha, near Carvoeiro, is often named among the region's most beautiful, with sculpted golden cliffs, arches and clear water, and it sits on the Seven Hanging Valleys (Sete Vales Suspensos) coastal walk. Nearby Ponta da Piedade, just south of Lagos, is a headland of grottos, stacks and arches best seen from a small boat or kayak. Carvoeiro itself is a pretty former fishing village tucked between cliffs.

Very much so. The central resorts have the widest choice of family accommodation, water parks and organised activities, while the eastern Algarve around Tavira and the Ria Formosa offers calm, shallow, warm water that is well suited to young children — and the ferry ride out to the island beaches is an adventure in itself. Bear in mind the exposed Atlantic beaches on the west coast can have strong surf and currents, so they are better for older children, surfers and confident swimmers than for toddlers.

It is one of Europe's leading golf regions, thanks to its mild climate, the number of courses in a small area, and its resort infrastructure. The greatest concentration is around Vilamoura and the neighbouring 'Golden Triangle' of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, which between them hold a cluster of well-regarded championship courses. The shoulder seasons and mild winter make golf possible for much of the year, which is a big part of the Algarve's appeal to visiting players.