The Algarve is best known for its luxurious resorts.
But for those not attracted to a resort lifestyle but who want a second home within a community, there are plenty of alternatives, such as the pretty fishing port of Lagos.

This town, with a population of 27,000, lies at the west end of this unspoilt stretch of coastline and in the past 18 months it has undergone massive redevelopment.“The last phase of the big marina project is being built out of an old brick factory and European Union money is going into a new town centre park, a two-storey underground car park and cafes on the seafront”, says local agent Luís Ledo of Casas do BarlaventoOther plans include building a new footbridge so that visitors can cross over the river to the beach, and creating a man-made lake in the main seafront square and a beachside center with clubs and bars.