Disabled holidays in Portugal
offer warm Mediterranean climate, idyllic views and stunning coastal hideaways – Portugal is a destination suited to all wheelchair users.
A country so rich in culture and history portrayed through it's medieval castles and seaside villages,
there's so much for disabled wheelchair users to see and do that will quite simply take your breath away. There's also the magical clear blue sea and silky golden beaches.
It is a land of two halves. The north is home to rolling vineyards that overlook Costa Verda, while in the south, the
disabled holidays in Algarve
boast stunning, disabled accessible beaches, lush landscapes and exotic
Arabic influences. The charming island of Madeira
is famed for its botanical gardens, fine wine and beautiful scenery.
Many
Algarve
beaches are now classified as 'Accessible Beaches' meaning that not only do they provide ramps,
footpaths and walkways directly to the sand but also meet certain criteria for restaurant tables, bar and counter
heights. They also have first aid posts and disabled toilets and should be equipped with wheelchairs, walking aids
and other equipment capable of being used in the sea as well as on the beach.
Flight time to Faro airport is appromivately 3 1/2 hours.
When to Go?
The Algarve boasts long sunny days and temperatures of around 30°C in summer.
In spring and autumn, the thermometer lingers in the mid-20s, and even in winter you
can expect highs that hit a comfortable 20°C.
So if this has got you in the mood for a bit of sunshine, feel free to call us on 0800 622 6000 to speak to one of our experienced travel consultants about the best time to visit Tenerife.
Holidays to Albufeira are all about variety. You can try a different beach every day, idle away afternoons in the old town, and enjoy a night out on The Strip.
Albufeira is the place that put the Algarve on the map. The picturesque old town
teems with pavement cafes and boutiques, and the modern resort is lined by a main
strip, which sparks into action at sundown. The whole scene is framed by a
30-kilometre coastline of unspoilt beaches and little bays.
There is a warm and welcoming nightlife to be explored here too, with pubs and
nightclubs competing to offer guests the greatest possible night of their disabled -
friendly holiday.
Although the municipality’s tourist facilities and its nightlife are perhaps the
most famous in the Algarve, these continue to exist alongside another reality:
that of peaceful villages close-by where traditional handicrafts are still
practised, such as the manufacture of the hand-painted decorative tiles known as
azulejos, copper articles or rugs and mats made from esparto grass.
Transfer time from the airport is approximately 45 minutes.
Holidays to Alvor take you to a real fishing village and give you waterfront
restaurants, sandy beaches and easy access to the rest of the Algarve.
The shallow waters of the lagoon make swimming for people with mobility problems
more accessible and the disabled friendly boardwalk across the dunes are accessible for a stroll.
Enjoy a romantic meal on the quayside where the fish restaurants are among the best places to eat in Alvor, and serve up freshly caught lobster, monkfish and other sumptuous specialities.
With narrow cobbled streets leading to the harbour, and its own lagoon and river,
Alvor radiates old-world charm. Not only that, it’s got some of the best restaurants
in the western Algarve, as well as music bars to keep you entertained at night.
The beaches are pretty charming too with all golden sand, warm waters and sheltered spots.
Lagos is a fantastic town in the western Algarve that can certainly be enjoyed by all age groups. It is full of
historical interest with it's origins dating as far back as 2000 years BC when it was known as Lacobriga.
The older part of Lagos is still circled by the city walls constructed during the 16th century. Lagos is one of the
most visited cities in the Algarve and Portugal,
due to its variety of tourist-friendly beaches, bars, restaurants, and hotels.
Summer holidays in Lagos aren't short of a beach or two either. From tiny coves to larger stretches of rock studded
sand are tucked into the coastline around the old city.
Meia Praia, Luz , Porto de MĂłs all have the Accessible Beach flags near Lagos.
Just across the river, Meia Praia(
Accessible Beach) offers a long run of
sandy beach nicely sheltered from the north breeze.
This beach forms the other half of the previous walk from Alvor to Lagos.
It takes its name from being part of this walk as 'Meia' indicates the word 'half'.
The approach to this beach is from the town of Lagos and it's easily accessed.
Meia Praia is popular among windsurfers and surfers alike, as it faces the open
Bay of Lagos and it's protected to the west by Ponta da Piedade. The beach is possibly a
little longer than the other half at Alvor, and there are many small beach bars to satisfy
the thirst for those who wish to walk its length.
Moncarapacho is a small country town in the middle of an area which is home to orange orchards
and horticulture. It exudes a calm, unhurried atmosphere of people going about their business
in a relaxed and friendly way. The 'Centre' of Moncarapacho is a charming cobbled square
alongside the church where you can sit and have a drink or a meal beneath the jacoranda and
palm trees. The town offers all the basic facilities, including three good small supermarkets
and a small local produce market. There are also several decent restaurants and plenty of
pavement cafes.
Monte Gordo is a large town in the east of the Algarve The east is quite different from central and western Algarve
- being a lot flatter, and the beaches backed by sand dunes, not cliffs. The water tends to be a few degrees warmer
as well. It is great for all ages - the beaches are fantastic for children and access is excellent for people with
mobility problems. The flat cobbled pedestrian areas in and around the town make it easy for pushchairs
and wheelchairs.
Monte Gordo is a large town, spaciously laid out with wide streets. The high-rise hotels and apartment blocks are a
characteristic feature of the Monte Gordo landscape, but as you’ll see, they don’t detract from the overall feel of
the town because the town is so big and so well laid out. The town has an abundance of places to eat and drink, with
large areas of outside seating. Praia de Monte Gordo is supervised during the 'beach season' and is classed as an
'Accessible Beach'.
The main road through Monte Gordo separates the beach and promenade from the rest of the town. On the town side, the
road is lined with an array of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and on the opposite side there is a wide, open
promenade, with palm trees and benches and the golden sandy beach runs along in front.
Against the backdrop of the casino and the high-rise buildings either side, the beachfront is dotted all over with
beach bars, restaurants and kiosks. So if you fancy a drink or a bite to eat, you’ll certainly be spoilt for choice.
If you have younger children, the beach at Monte Gordo is perfect. It is so flat and wide that it’s really safe for
little ones and the water at this end of the Algarve is slightly warmer for a swim or a paddle.
Established in the 30s as a quiet and elegant resort, somersaulting in to the
mainstream in the 70s. Praia da Rocha is actually the
main beach in Portamao, but thrived during the 19th Century and became a lively
resort of its own. The vast beach here has long been the calling card.
But the rock-solid portfolio now includes a sweep of restaurants, bars and clubs, a
paved promenade, a marina, and a casino.
There’s still some 30s
architecture casting a backward glance to the past but, in the main, modern hotels
and apartments line up along the seafront.
The landscaped pedestrian areas at the west end of Tomas Cabreira Avenue has
proven to be a boon for visitors with reduced mobility
along with disabled holiday accommodation in Algarve, Portugal
Boasting a privileged and unique location, on the far south-westerly tip of Europe
and creating a bridge between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, PortimĂŁo
is a place which has a fantastic climate and a very rich natural beauty. It is a
land which holds its rural and maritime roots in high esteem. The biggest town in
the western Algarve and sitting on the bank of the Arade river facing Ferragudo on the opposite bank,
Portimao has a blend of 19th and 20th century buildings.
A visit to PortimĂŁo gives you the chance to discover a wide variety of beaches with many different characteristics and to enjoy them at any time of year. You will be pleasantly surprised by the extensive sands of Praia de Alvor, the little hidden bays, the cliffs and caves along the coast, the rocky beaches like Praia do AlemĂŁo, the lively buzz of the more family-friendly beaches and the unrivalled beauty of Praia da Rocha.
Sagres is remote, adventurous and unlike any other destination in southern Portugal. The small town is situated at the extreme western tip of the Algarve, a region of dramatic natural scenery; comprising of raging seas, towering cliffs and vast beaches.
There are lots of places to wine and dine
or simply have a snack - bistro style, pizzeria, typical Portuguese. There are
restaurants with fabulous views, there are restaurants in enclosed patios along the main street where you can watch the
world go by.
There are glorious sandy beaches protected by high cliffs. Sometimes the
wind blows, but the scenery is still spectacular! It has history.
It is quiet, but also very popular with surfers who, no doubt,
enjoy a get together in the evenings to discuss the best waves.
You can sit at a cafe in the square and read the paper, or
you can watch the local menfolk play boules.
Quarteira has the best of both worlds: authentic Algarve with its promenade, cobbled streets
and lively fishing community, and a world class resort with entertainment for all ages.
Despite the fast-paced development of the local tourism and hospitality industries in recent
years, Quarteira has managed to keep its charm intact.
The palm-lined Avenida Infante de Sagres promenade is Quarteira's equivalent of a
high street where locals and holidaymakers flock to people-watch, drink and dine,
and enjoy the lovely view out to the sea.
Quarteira's sandy Blue Flag beach is an accessible beach great for people
with limited mobility.
Thanks to the breakwaters, the beach is also considered one of the safer ones for kids.
Vilamoura is perhaps the most luxurious resort in the Algarve, and is certainly one of the most prestigious.
With holidays to Vilamoura, you get a buzzing marina filled with bars and restaurants, a sprinkling of Roman ruins plus a duo of sandy beaches.
Sample Algarve cuisine at the marina or find a bargain in the Quarteira gypsy market.
Accessible boat trips offer guests the chance to see Vilamoura’s coastline from a different angle. Here, visitors can watch for dolphins, try out some local fishing and choose from a number of different routes focusing on a selection of varied views and regions.
Vilamoura boasts 2 sandy beaches - Praia da Marina and Praia de Falesia. Sunloungers and umbrellas are dotted along both, and a long promenade between them brings in plenty of bars and restaurants.
The main island of the Azores, SĂŁo Miguel still maintains a unique charm where life
is polite and unhurried. It’s a great island for a first visit with easy flight
connections, a wealth of things to see and activities to do, and some of the
Azores’ most spectacular volcanic scenery.
From quiet fishing villages to remote crater lakes to boiling pools, this island
has it all.
Our experienced travel consultants can organise accessible tours in the Azores.
The island of Sao Miguel offers a variety of options with
4 days and 7 days tours with accessible excursions.
Visit a thermal bath in an accessible pool or take a boat trip in search of
playful pods of bottlenose dolphins or sperm, humpback or minke whales.
We have a variety of accessible tours in the Azores from "shopping and culture" tours to
activity tours, the choice is yours.
An area of Lisbon which shouldn't be overlooked by disabled wheelchair users is Balem.
This area is mostly flat, meaning many of the sights are easy for a wheelchair user to visit -
and there are many sights to see in Balem - filled with some iconic landmarks and many architectural and historical sights such as the Balem Palace and
an ancient monastery. This area is on most people’s to-do list when visiting Lisbon and it's absolutely perfect for a day-trip.
Here at Disabled Access Holidays our devoted sales team, with over 15 years combined experience, will help you find and book your dream accessible holiday.
They will guide you through your options and will help you make the best decision based on your needs and what you are looking for. Each disabled holiday
is tailor made to the client so no two holidays are the same.
We work alongside our sister companies Mobility Equipment Hire Direct who is the world's largest supplier of mobility equipment and Wheelchair Accessible Holiday Taxis the only dedicated taxi site to make your holiday as easy as possible as everything is packaged in.
Whatever your disabled holiday request is, we will be able to help!
Holidays to Albufeira are all about variety. You can try a different beach every day, idle away afternoons in the old town, and enjoy a night out on The Strip.
Albufeira is the place that put the Algarve on the map. The picturesque old town
teems with pavement cafes and boutiques, and the modern resort is lined by a main
strip, which sparks into action at sundown. The whole scene is framed by a
30-kilometre coastline of unspoilt beaches and little bays.
