Located at Europe’s westernmost tip and boasting 100 miles of Atlantic coastline, Algarve could be Europe’s most famous secret. This region boasts Europe’s best beaches, Europe’s best golf courses, some of Europe’s friendliest folk, and Western Europe’s lowest cost of living. It’s also Europe’s newest tax haven.

Algarve has been Live and Invest Overseas’ the World’s #1 Retirement Haven for several years running now… That’s a distinction we don’t bestow lightly or easily, but our editorial team has a lot of experience at this… We’ve been rating and ranking the world’s best places to spend time in retirement for 30 years now—we can tell you from firsthand experience, the Algarve really nails it.

A safe region, with very little crime and a laid-back lifestyle for expats, this destination caters equally to families and retirees with its culture, cuisine, Blue Flag beaches, historical cities, and so much more. And the Algarve is also a world-recognized golf destination… at last count there were 42 courses in less than 100 square miles.

Thanks to its 3,300 hours of sunshine per year, more sunny days than almost anywhere else in Europe, the Algarve has a longstanding reputation as a top summer destination among European sun-seekers and a top winter retreat for those looking to escape Northern Europe’s coldest months. Plus, Portugal has the lowest cost of living in Western Europe, on average 30% lower than other countries.Bottom line, the Algarve offers an opportunity to savor the best of an old-school, Old World lifestyle at a very affordable cost. Here you can enjoy the best the Continent has to offer, from medieval towns and fishing villages to open-air markets, local wine. This is a land of cobblestoned streets and whitewashed houses with lace-patterned chimneys surrounded by fig, olive, almond, and carob trees.

Here on Portugal’s Algarve, the seafood is fresh, the people are pleasant, the service is friendly, and the wine is affordable on every menu.

Beyond Europe, the Algarve is largely ignored as a retirement haven. If you’re looking for a Continental lifestyle and don’t have the budget for France, Italy, or Spain, Algarve could be your answer.