Our Marketing Manager Bex recently spent a week on the spectacular Algarve, exploring a resort that may not be on everyone’s radar, but certainly should be in future. Read all about her experience of Tavira on the eastern Algarve here.
As soon as I learned that the Algarve would be one of our new destinations in 2023, I knew it would be where my Husband and I would spend our summer holiday.
While I’m lucky enough to be able to visit our destinations in a work capacity from time to time, it’s never quite the same as spending a week or two on holiday and experiencing the destination at a relaxed pace, in the same way that our clients do.
Before we launched our direct flights to the Algarve I’d already spent a lot of time researching the popular and bustling resorts of the western stretch of coast from Faro to Sagres, but I didn’t know very much about the eastern Algarve area, closer to the Spanish border. Always keen to explore somewhere a little off the beaten path, this is where we decided to go.
The town of Tavira is around a 30 minute transfer from Faro airport, and has a population of about 28,000 people. Straddling the slow running Gilão river which flows into the shallow waterways and mudflats of Ria Formosa Natural Park, the heart of Tavira is the enchanting old town, where a maze of pretty cobbled streets are home to colourful ceramic tiled houses traditional to the area, small family run restaurants, boutiques, galleries and souvenir shops and over two dozen historic churches.
Pretty painted homes in Tavira’s old town
Often touted as one of the most charming towns on the Algarve and a blend of both Portugese and Moorish influences, Tavira is a quieter and more laid back choice than the well-developed resorts in the west, but it’s no less worthy of a visit and from the moment we arrived we were delighted with our choice. We’re reliably informed that this is where residents of the Western Algarve come to kick back, relax and escape the hustle and bustle on summer weekends.
Beach lovers need to work a little harder at this side of Faro, with the long stretches of soft golden sand accessed by the quick and low cost ferry that departs the town centre regularly, arriving at Tavira island in about 10 minutes. At 11km long there’s room for everyone on this sandbank beach, and visitors will find plenty of lounger and parasol rentals, convenience stores, restaurants and bars, with the option to stroll a bit further and easily find a glorious patch of beach all to yourself, a rarity in bigger resorts and well worth the extra effort to get there.
Bex explores the beach at Tavira Island
Attractions here are on the quaint side, but nonetheless we found plenty to occupy our week, and particularly enjoyed a visit to the town’s fascinating Camera Obscura which is located in a former water tower, a wander through the ruins of Tavira castle and its botanic garden, a Tuk Tuk tour to visit the lush farmland and vineyards surrounding the town, and a peaceful solar boat trip through the shallow waters of the Ria Formosa, heaven for birdwatchers with dozens of species passing through the salt flats and sandbanks each year, including the Greater Flamingo.
Ria Formosa Natural Park
We skipped it this time, but one of those little birds told me that there’s a fairly new 110 store shopping mall on the outskirts of town, with a multi-screen cinema and food hall, which offers the perfect air-conditioned day out of the heat for shopaholics.
Local speciality, octopus
We found the nightlife in the old town is on the relaxed side, perfect for us, and while peppered with al fresco bars ideal for people watching, is largely focused on dining in any of the excellent local independent restaurants. Tavira has a long history as a fishing town and that relationship reflects strongly in local menus. The freshest fish and shellfish along with local speciality octopus are widely available. We enjoyed some excellent (in both taste and value) meals during our stay and can particularly recommend O Tonel, Gilão and Terraze restaurants, all in the old town. Sundowners are best had on the rooftop terrace bar Nomad at the AP Maria Nova Lounge Hotel, open to non-residents.
As the sun went down on our all too brief week away we reflected on our choice of location. Tavira may not offer the iconic cliff lined coast of Lagos and Carvoeiro, the nightlife of Albufeira or the golf courses and glamour of glitzy Vilamoura, but it offered simply everything that we needed for a wonderful relaxed holiday on Portugal’s sunshine coast and should not be overlooked by anyone seeking the same.
FlyDirect offer a selection of hotels in and around Tavira that can be packaged with our direct flights to Faro. Search availability and book online.