&lt;p&gt;Does your idyllic Portuguese lifestyle feature whitewashed buildings, clustered round a pretty bay or harbour, overlooking a golden beach with fishing boats bobbing in the sea?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The good news is this needn’t be a dream. The Algarve can match anywhere in the world for pristine golf communities, but just as popular is its selection of picture-postcard resorts that began life as fishing villages. We’ve picked five of our favourites – ideal for anyone who wants a slice of authentic Portugal on the doorstep of their new home.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Carvoeiro, Central Algarve&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Transfer:&#160; Approx 45 minutes to Faro Airport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/wi0fiwjx/shutterstock_137161157-2.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Carvoeiro&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights: &lt;/strong&gt;Bursting with the wow factor, Carvoeiro is a trophy destination located conveniently between Lagos and Albufeira. The focal point is the bay, tucked between sandstone cliffs topped by traditional white buildings that track the cliff-line down to the sandy beach, where fishing boats still land a daily catch. In the gentle hills behind are low-rise developments and villas. The old fishing village is the hub, with its waterfront restaurants and narrow streets, but Carvoeiro is also popular as the gateway to fantastic coastal walks and a choice of other unspoilt beaches. For golfers, the local area is home to Pestana’s Vale da Pinta and Gramacho golf courses.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/carvoeiro&quot; title=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/carvoeiro&quot;&gt;Browse all property for sale in Carvoeiro &amp;gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;----------------------------------&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Fuseta (Fuzeta), Eastern Algarve&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Transfer:&#160; Approx 30 minutes from Faro Airport. Good train links also.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/xhrgbugc/fuseta-mid.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Fuseta&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights:&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;Oozing authentic charm, life in Fuseta revolves around its bustling quayside which feeds into the Ria Formosa estuary. Fishing boats come and go while small ferries head back and forth to Ilha da Fuseta, protected as part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and prized for its sweeping white beaches. This small white town also has its own beach on the lagoon, just five minutes’ walk from the centre. Unspoilt by tourism and with a year-round local population, Fuseta is popular for its pretty old quarter, excellent fish restaurants, fresh food market, beautiful coastal scenery and water sports.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/fuseta&quot; title=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/fuseta&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Browse all property for sale in Fuseta &amp;gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;3. Cabanas de Tavira, Eastern Algarve&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Transfer:&#160; Approx 40 minutes to Faro Airport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/tvlpuvhh/shutterstock_1224840040.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Cabanas&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights&lt;/strong&gt;&#160; Five minutes from the treasured white town of Tavira, Cabanas is a blend of traditional fishing village – they still catch tuna there - with upcoming family resort. Also within the Rio Formosa Natural Park, its unspoilt waterfront has a glorious boarded promenade, overlooked by low-rise restaurants, shops and properties. Water taxies leave from there to ferry you across the lagoon to the treasured Ilha da Cabanas, home to stunning Cabanas Beach. Behind the old fishing community are small modern tourist developments. The adjoining village of Conceic&#227;o has more tourist properties and amenities, as well as the Benamor golf club.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/cabanas-de-tavira&quot; title=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/cabanas-de-tavira&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Browse all property for sale in Cabanas de Tavira &amp;gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;4. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Alvor, Western Algarve&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Transfer: 55 minutes to Faro Airport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/tjmnr0r0/shutterstock_518544484.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Alvor&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights&lt;/strong&gt;&#160; Another picturesque gem, Alvor’s historic charm is complemented by its special location. The old town with its fishing harbour is on the edge of the protected Ria de Alvor lagoon, but the sea is also just a few hundred metres away across scenic dunes. A scenic boardwalk connects the town with its beach at Praia de Alvor. Narrow cobbled streets hint at Alvor’s Moorish past, but a focal point of the town is its pretty palm tree-lined waterfront, with fish restaurants and the pretty Largo Ribeira square at its centre. Located midway between Portim&#227;o and Lagos, each town is less than 30 minutes’ drive away. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/alvor&quot; title=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/alvor&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Browse all property for sale in Alvor &amp;gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;----------------------------------&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5.&lt;/strong&gt;&#160; &lt;strong&gt;Burgau, Western Algarve&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Transfer:&#160; Approx 60&#160;minutes to Faro Airport&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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        &lt;img src=&quot;/media/c3zarqc5/burgau-mid.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Burgau&quot; class=&quot;no-full-width max-width-100&quot; /&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Highlights:&#160; &lt;/strong&gt;Our most tucked away resort, Burgau is located west of Lagos where the Costa Vicentina Natural Park begins and the coastline gets wilder. This cosy village nestled between limestone cliffs was once a haunt of smugglers and strolling through the sleepy narrow streets it’s easy to see why. The lifestyle here is calm and very traditional, much like the local fishing boats that land their daily catch on the beach. More active types will enjoy the dramatic coastal walks, while the Parque da Floresta golf resort is also close-by.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/burgau&quot; title=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/property-for-sale/burgau&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Browse all property for sale in Burgau &amp;gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;----------------------------------&lt;br&gt;&#160;&lt;br&gt;We hope you enjoyed our five favourite postcard resorts - if you want to know more, read our guide to all the most popular destinations in the Algarve - &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/algarve-area-guide&quot; title=&quot;https://www.idealhomesportugal.com/algarve-area-guide&quot;&gt;click here.&lt;/a&gt;&#160;&lt;/p&gt;

Top 5 Picture-Postcard Algarve Resorts

We’ve picked five of our favourite picturesque Algarve resorts, all of which started life as traditional fishing villages. If you want a slice of authentic Portugal on the doorstep of your new home, read on...