In the immediate surroundings of Vila Aljosul, there are lots of small towns and cities.
Tavira, also called the Venice of the Algarve, is definitively worth a visit from your side.
But also the old city centre of Faro, Olhao with her famous covered markets, the pittoresque fishing village Fuseta, or the cosy village of Moncarapacho invite you for a visit.
Towards Spanje it is nice to visit Alcoutim, Castro Marim or Ayamonte directly across the Spanish border.
The Ria Formosa - created by a tsunami in 1755 - is the fourth largest nature park of Europe.
It covers with her numerous lagunes and islands almost the entire Eastern Algarve.
It is really nice to explore it by boot, or to visit the countless islands along the coast.
Small ferrys go almost continiously up and down to the somewhat larger islands, where you can also find beautiful and well equiped beaches.
The Ria Formosa is also home for the largest colony of the protected sea horses in Europe.
All year long on sundays there are in many places local markets.
In the summer it is almost a "must" to visit the medeval festivals of Castro Marim or Silves.