Of course, in the Algarve , you are spoiled for choice when it comes to water-sports. With so many superb Algarvian beaches to choose from, any form of watersport you can imagine, chances are you can do it here!

Virtually all the major coastal resorts offer surfing, wind-surfing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, dinghy sailing, snorkelling, scuba-diving, boat trips, fishing trips (including big-game fishing), and paragliding.

Football  

As in many other European countries, Soccer is a major preoccupation. When an important match is on TV, whole towns seem to grind to a halt, the streets become deserted and the bars become full of men (usually) all eyes glued to the TV in the corner of the bar. Sad, but a fact of life.

The main teams in Portugal , and whose names you will hear repeatedly, are the Lisbon clubs of Benfica and Sporting, and FC Porto in Porto . In the Algarve , the major team is Farense whose stadium is in the centre of the city near the hospital in Faro.

Every year during the winter months, the Algarve is visited by several top European foorball teams, that regard the mild climate as ideal for training.

Portugal , being the host for the European Cup in 2004, is very busy at the moment finishing off infrastructure works for the event. A brand new large stadium is being built between Faro and Loulé in the area of St. João da Venda.