Quarteira
A local beach resort with a popular fish market, long sandy beach and proximity to the purpose-built resort of Vilamoura.
Quarteira is a beach town of around 22,000 people on the central Algarve coast, roughly 20 kilometres west of Faro. It sits within the municipality of Loule but has a distinct identity as a working beach resort that caters primarily to Portuguese domestic tourists and a substantial community of foreign residents. The town occupies a long, straight stretch of coast backed by a promenade, apartment blocks and a handful of hotels, without the dramatic cliff scenery that characterises the coast further west.
The Praia de Quarteira, the town's main beach, stretches for several kilometres of golden sand, gently shelving and well suited to families. It is backed by a broad promenade lined with restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops, busy in summer and quiet in winter. The beach has lifeguard cover during the bathing season and consistently good water quality. East of the town centre, the beach continues towards the Ria Formosa system, becoming quieter and eventually reaching the tidal flats that mark the western edge of the lagoon.
The fish market at Quarteira, located at the eastern end of the promenade near the small fishing harbour, is one of the most authentic in the Algarve. Fresh fish is auctioned each morning when the boats come in, and the public can buy directly from the stalls afterwards. The variety depends on the season and the catch: sardines, horse mackerel, squid, octopus, sea bream and sole are all common. Several restaurants around the market cook fish bought that morning, and the quality is consistently high. A Wednesday morning market in the town centre sells fruit, vegetables, household goods and clothing.
Quarteira's eastern neighbour, Vilamoura, is a purpose-built resort and marina development that began construction in the 1970s and continues to expand. The Quarteira-Vilamoura conurbation functions as a single area in practical terms, though the character of each is quite different. Where Quarteira is Portuguese, functional and moderately priced, Vilamoura is international, manicured and expensive. The two are connected by a coastal path.
The town has a substantial year-round population, including a large community of British, French and Dutch residents attracted by the relatively affordable apartments, the beach, the proximity to Faro Airport (roughly 20 minutes by car) and the mild winter climate. This resident population supports shops, services and restaurants that stay open all year, giving Quarteira a less seasonal feel than many Algarve resort towns. The town is connected by bus to Faro and Albufeira, and the A22 motorway is accessible via the junction at Boliqueime to the north.
Highlights
- Daily fish market at the harbour with fresh catches auctioned each morning
- Long golden beach backed by a promenade of restaurants and cafes
- Year-round resident community giving the town a less seasonal atmosphere