Things to know about and do around Quinta do Lago

[summerdaysgain]

Hello. We are off to Quinta do Lago in a weeks time and I can find very little about this on line. My normal sources of information (tripadvisor, lonely planet etc) are worryingly short of information. Other then the resort itself there what is there to do? Can anyone suggests restaurants to visit and trips to take? Any other useful information. We will have a car. Thanks.

If you drive to Olhão about 20 mins away you can park up and catch a boat to some really beautiful beaches. It's a bit of a trek but definitely worth the walk when you get there.

I go there with my in laws and there really isn't very much to do - the beach is beautiful, there are nice restaurants (although expensive), and we generally have very chilled out breaks there, catching up on sleep! We do the odd day trip up and down the coast when it gets too boring

We spent a lovely few days there last year. It's a very expensive area so there are lots of pricey activities and restaurants if you are prepared to pay - we were trying to do it a bit more on the cheap! To get to the beach you walk across an amazing bridge that goes over the nature reserve so getting there feels like an adventure in itself. There are various activities on the lake - we enjoyed paddle boarding and the children had a blast on a kind of inflatable course which was fairly reasonable. Will have a think about what else we did.

One evening each week in summer there is a 'Picnic in the park' where you take your food along to one of the golf courses, which is brilliant. Lovely atmosphere, live music, free activities for the children, we had a great time. It is advertised around the place so should be fairly easy to find out about.

OP you're just a few minutes away from Vale do Lobo, where there's some lovely restaurants and loads of evening disco type stuff outside the restaurants for kids.
You'd have to look into parking, though.

Do you have kids? If not there are some lovely Michelin * type restaurants nearby.

Wow great responses - Any recommendations for particular Vale do Lobo restaurants or for Quinta do Lago ones. Will certainly check out the picnic.

Loule (15 mins). Go on market day. Small nice shops and cafes

Tavira (30 mins) lovely square bars fish restaurants. Nice sand bar beaches you reach by bost and near to Rio de Formosa national park

Silves. (40 mins) Castle a bit rubbish but i like the town.

Vilamoura is nearby (15min) go for meal out and wander in marina

Lots of gorgeous restaursnts around Almancil. Its a rich, not very traditional Portuguese area you're staying in and there are lots of 'international' or fusion style restaurants rather than standard portuguese fare. So yku vet lots of variety.

Have fun. Im off to Portugal (lisbon) next week.

Thanks - bit of a change of subject but children in tow. Is there a "best" water park to go to? Thanks.