A holiday in the Algarve shouldn't be about spending all day every day on the beach. It is a diverse area with an eclectic mix of things to do, so get out there and do something different. To help you, here are 5 things you might like to try:

Visit one of its many interesting towns. If you think the Algarve is just a collection seaside resorts, you'd be wrong. It's full of history and interesting architecture. Silves is a quiet town in the central Algarve with plenty of history, including battles against the Carthaginians, Romans and the Moors. The town is dominated by a large sandstone Castle, which looks down on the red roofed town. Enjoy the fantastic views from the ramparts over the surrounding countryside carpeted with orange groves.

From Silves, take a boat along the River Arade towards the Atlantic Ocean and into the western Algarve. You'll end up in Portimao, a town perhaps most famous for its sardines. These are best in the summer, when they're at their plumpest and juiciest, and the air is awash with the aroma of these fish barbequing.

Wander down to the riverfront, to the famous Sardine Dock and take a seat at one of the restaurants there. Delight in a lazy lunch of grilled sardines and fresh crusty bread, washed down with a cooling glass of Vinho Verde.

Portimao is the main area in the Algarve for boat trips, cruises and Big Game fishing. All of these can be booked and boarded from the harbour or from the Marina in nearby Praia da Rocha. So, when your sardine lunch has been digested, why not join a high speed Rigid Inflatable Boat from the marina to watch dolphins.

If conditions are right and you come across a large pod it's an experience hard to beat. Sometimes these pods can be in excess of a hundred dolphins, so don't forget your camera! Of course there is no guarantee that you'll see any dolphins, but these guys know where to look, so the chances are quite high. Trips are also available from the marina in Lagos, Alvor harbour and also from Albufeira.

No visit to the Algarve is complete without enjoying an evening of Fado, or Portuguese folk music. It is music symbolic of the spirit of Portugal, and although it originated in northern Portugal, you'll find it performed of an evening in bars and hotels throughout the Algarve. Accompanied by guitars, the vocalist sings mournful songs of fate, loves lost and the general complications of life. An enjoyable experience even if you don't rush out and buy the CD afterwards!

After all these activities you'll be ready to wind down, and you'll find nothing more romantic and relaxing than the sunset at Sagres. A village at the most south-westerly point of the Algarve, it is a stark settlement, remote, rugged and windswept and is surrounded by scrubby countryside, dramatic cliffs and wild beaches. Take an evening to enjoy a seafood dinner at the Pousada (Government run hotel), then take a nightcap onto the patio and enjoy the beautiful views as the sun disappears over the cliffs of Cabo St. Vincente.

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