Tavira is a charming town on Portugal's eastern Algarve coast, offering visitors a more authentic Portuguese experience compared to the busier resorts further west. With its historic central district, pristine beaches nearby, and wealth of sights and activities in the surrounding region, Tavira makes for a fantastic holiday destination.

Located just a short hop from Faro Airport, Tavira rewards visitors with its historic charm, natural beauty, and fewer crowds. A week is the perfect amount of time to explore this fascinating town and its surroundings. From its riverside historic centre to the protected natural park islands just offshore, Tavira offers much to see and do.

This one-week itinerary highlights the best of Tavira and the surrounding region, ensuring a full experience of all that the Eastern Algarve has to offer.
Related articles: Tavira introduction – Tavira beaches

The following is a suggestion for a one-week holiday to Tavira. It balances must-see attractions with ample free time to uncover your own local favorites at your own relaxed pace.
• Day 1 – Explore Tavira's historic centre
• Day 2 – Visit Praia de Tavira (beach trip)
• Day 3 – Day trip to Vila Real de Santo Antonio, with optional visit to Ayamonte across the border in Spain
• Day 4 – Visit Praia do Barril (beach trip)
• Day 5 – Day trip to the fishing villages of Santa Luzia and/or Cabanas
• Day 6 – Explore Faro, the Algarve's capital
• Day 7 – Discover Olhão's markets and maze-like alleyways

The interactive map below displays this suggested holiday tour (note: Zoom inor out to see all of the pionts)

The following section will detail each of these days and provide links to further information.
Note: A rental car is not needed to explore the eastern Algarve as there is a regular and inexpensive public transport that connects all of the major towns of the region.

Tavira is a delightful maze of cobbled streets and small plazas that lead from the slow-flowing Gilão River. A day of sightseeing can be easily spent exploring the town and discovering the rich and varied history of Tavira.

During the Moorish era (10th-12th century) Tavira was an important trading town, and imposing castle and old city walls stand as remnants of the once formidable fortress and era. In the 17th century, Tavira became the Algarve's largest port, evident today in the grand mansions along the riverbank, funded by maritime merchant wealth.

Beyond the castle and riverside mansions are over 36 churches, numerous scenic viewpoints, and the bustling daily market filling the atmospheric Praça da República. Though compact in size, Tavira abounds with historic sites and charm, just waiting to be discovered.

The suggestion for the second day is for a relaxing day on one of Tavira's beautiful beaches. The finest beach close to Tavira is the Praia de Tavira, and is blessed with soft golden sands, calm sea waters and a pristine natural setting. This wonderful beach is situated at the eastern end of the Ilha do Tavira, a sandbar island with a 10km unbroken sandy coastline.

The Ilha do Tavira is separate from the mainland by the waterways and mudflats of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, and is connected to Tavira by a regular ferry service.
Related articles: Praia de Tavira guide - Tavira beach guide

Vila Real de Santo Antonio sits on the banks of the mighty Guadiana River, at the very eastern side of the Algarve.

This peaceful town has a grandeur that does not reflect its size or status; there is an impressive central plaza, ornate buildings line the harbour, and there are numerous examples of fine Baroque architecture. Amazingly, Vila Real de Santo Antonio was constructed in less than two years, during the great building era of Portugal, which followed the earthquake of 1755.

A day trip to Vila Real de Santo Antonio could include crossing the Guadiana River by ferry and exploring the Spanish town of Ayamonte. An alternative is to wander the shaded pine forests south of the town (the Mata Nacional Litorais de Vila Real de Santo Antonio), which opens out on to the deserted beach of Praia de Santo António. Tavira is connected to Vila Real de Santo Antonio by the regional train and has a journey of 30 minutes.

For a more active day, you could clamper through the treetops and high rope courses of Parque Aventura: http://www.parqueaventura.net/vrsa/
Related articles: Vila Real de Santo Antonio introduction

The Praia do Barril is a unique and beautiful beach found along the Ilha do Tavira sandy shoreline. Barril beach was the location of a small tuna fishing community that was abandoned in the 1960s, and is the setting for one of the most unique monuments of the Algarve, the Cemitério das Âncoras (Anchor Cemetery). This memorial comprises of over one hundred rusting anchors aligned in the sand dunes that surround the beach.

The Praia do Barril is connected to the mainland by a mini-train, which used to transport supplies to the fishing community, while the former fishing huts have been converted into beach restaurants and shops. The beach of Praia do Barril has many similarities to the Praia de Tavira, and is a great location for a relaxing day on the beach.
Related articles: Barril beach guide

Cabanas and Santa Luzia are two traditional fishing villages that lie along the calm waterways of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa.
Santa Luzia is to the west of Tavira, and the village's fishing fleet specialises in the fishing of octopus (Portuguese= polvo). The restaurants that line the harbour have perfected the cooking of the fresh octopus. Departing from the harbour of Santa Luzia is a ferry to the Praia da Terra Estreita, one of the quietest beaches of the region.

Cabanas lies to the east of Tavira, and is one of the most peaceful holiday destinations of the Algarve. The town is favourite with retirees and long-stay visitors, who are drawn by the unhurried ambience and numerous social cafes and restaurants. Similar to Santa Luzia, there is a ferry which crosses the waterways to a pristine beach, the Praia de Cabanas.
Both Santa Luzia and Cabanas can be walked or cycled to, if you wish a more active day.
Related articles: Guide to Santa Luzia

Faro is often sadly overlooked as a tourist destination, but the city has a surprising amount to see, and makes for a good destination as a day trip. The historic centre is encircled by ancient city walls and inside cobbled streets lead up to the Gothic Se Cathedral.

There is good shopping in Faro, and the pedestrianised streets have a calm and unhurried atmosphere and are filled with family-run businesses. One of the more bizarre sights of Faro is the Capela de Ossos, a chapel that is decorated with the bones and skulls of former monks.

Faro is a popular location from which to explore the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, and there are numerous daily boat tours of the saltwater lagoons of the fragile ecosystem. Also departing from Faro are ferries to the sandbar islands, and includes the fishing community on the Ilha da Culatra or the completely deserted island of Ilha Deserta.
Related articles: Faro introduction - Day trip to Faro

Olhão is a busy commercial fishing centre, with a rich seafaring and fishing heritage. Olhão offers a very different atmosphere to all the other towns visited during this holiday, as, while the whole of the eastern Algarve appears to be relaxing, Olhão is hard at work.

Olhão has a scenic harbourfront and a pretty historic centre lined with traditional fishermen's houses. It is worth starting the day trip early to visit the lively fish market, which is housed in a Moorish inspired building. Olhão is connected to Tavira by the regional railway.

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