Resting on the western bank of the Arade River in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, the town of Portimao looks taken straight out of a travel brochure. Its idyllic beaches, temperate azure waters, and elegant marina dotted with rust and rose coloured buildings make for an exquisite holiday destination.

This small city is also a shopping mecca, with a profusion of malls, retail parks, designer stores, and boutiques to suit every style and budget preference. Crowning the coast is the white-sand Praia de Rocha, one of Portugal’s most renowned beaches, backed by a boulevard of bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs creating a vibrant hub of nightlife.

For fantastic views over the city of Portimao, head up the lofty staircase leading to the 15th-century Santa Catalina fortress, perched atop an ocean cliff.