Tavira – Sightseeing & Shopping
Sightseeing & Shopping in Tavira Sights | Attractions | Shops The historic center of Tavira invites you to
The East Algarve around Tavira has fantastic beaches to offer. Tavira is part of the so-called Sand Algarve with miles of white, flat sandy beaches – ideal for swimming. To the west of Faro lies the Cliff Algarve with its beautiful rock formations and many small beaches surrounded by cliffs. We have put together the most beautiful beaches around Tavira, but also on the cliffs (accessible by car) for you. The region also offers other natural attractions that are well worth a visit.
Tavira has a beautiful beach: The “Praia da Ilha de Tavira” (short: “Praia de Tavira”) can be reached by ferry from Tavira town center (departs daily from the riverside, within walking distance of the apartment); the crossing takes around 15-20 minutes. The small Ilha de Tavira, an offshore sandbank, stretches for around 11 kilometers and offers plenty of space. The fine, white sandy beach invites you to linger, and you can find refreshment from the hot summer days in the waves of the Atlantic. There are also small cafés and restaurants. Next to the Praia da Ilha de Tavira is the the beach Praia do Barril.
Ferry departure: Largo José Pires Padinha 172, 8800-346 Tavira
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Praia do Barril is next to the Praia da Ilha de Tavira beach and is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in the eastern Algarve. In the past, there was a small fishing village here. The highlight of the beach are the more than 200 old anchors, which are a reminder of the fishing history. To get to the beach, you need to drive to the village of Pedras d’el Rei, which is around 10 minutes from Tavira (directly behind the village of Santa Luzia). Park your car on the road towards Santa Luzia, for example. Cross the Canal de Tavira over the pontoon bridge and then take the train across the island; the little train runs daily between 9:00 and 18:15.
The Praia da Manta Rota beach is located about 15 minutes’ drive east of Tavira and is part of a kilometer-long white sandy beach area. There are parking spaces directly at the beach. Wooden walkways lead to the beach with fine white sand. In the main summer season, sun loungers under parasols are rented out here, while in the low season you can lay your towel wherever you like. The water is ideal for swimming, as the entrance is shallow and the waves are not too big. The beach also offers a great backdrop at sunset when the sky turns orange. Whether it’s a day at the beach or a long walk along the shore, Praia da Manta Rota is one of the most beautiful beaches around Tavira.
If you drive a little further east, you will come to Praia Verde – Praia da Manta Rota and Praia Verde are one bay and are only a few kilometers apart. You could also say that Praia Verde is another entrance to the sea.
It owes its name to the green landscape behind the white sandy beach.
There are some nice cafes and fish restaurants on the beach.
The Praia da Manta Rota beach is located about 15 minutes’ drive east of Tavira and is part of a kilometer-long white sandy beach area. There are parking spaces directly at the beach. Wooden walkways lead to the beach with fine white sand. In the main summer season, sun loungers under parasols are rented out here, while in the low season you can lay your towel wherever you like. The water is ideal for swimming, as the entrance is shallow and the waves are not too big. The beach also offers a great backdrop at sunset when the sky turns orange. Whether it’s a day at the beach or a long walk along the shore, Praia da Manta Rota is one of the most beautiful beaches around Tavira:
If you drive a little further east, you will come to Praia Verde – Praia da Manta Rota and Praia Verde are one bay and are only a few kilometers apart. You could also say that Praia Verde is another entrance to the sea. It owes its name to the green landscape behind the white sandy beach. There are some nice cafes and fish restaurants on the beach:
Praia Nova beach is located to the west of the town of Albufeira, close to the villages of Alcantarilha and Porches, and can be reached in under an hour by car from Tavira. The beach is known for its breathtaking scenery between the cliffs, fine white sand and a small white church perched on one of the cliffs (the Praia Nova beach is located to the right of the church, to the left there is another smaller beach which belongs to the Hotels next to it). A steep staircase between the cliffs leads down to the beach (approx. in the middle of the beach). There is a small parking lot directly on the cliffs (practically in front of the church).
Praia da Marinha is one of the most famous beaches in the Algarve. It is located between Albufeira and Partimão, not far from the towns of Porches and Lagoa and can be reached by car from Tavira in an hour. The beach is famous for the breathtaking rock formations that surround it. If you are not going to the beach for a swim (because it is so famous, it is unfortunately also very crowded), park your car at the beach parking lot and take a hike along the cliffs at the top, left or right of the beach.
Not far away from Praia da Marinha is the nice little town of Carvoeiro. The beach there is smaller and the sand is not so fine, but it is still worth a trip. The colour of the water and the view from the cliffs around is amazing! Carvoeiro offers many restaurants and cafés and is a lively little town.
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The 60 km² Ria Formosa Nature Park in the east of the Algarve – officially: Parque Natural da Ria Formosa – stretches between the beaches of Praia do Garrão and Praia da Manta Rota. The richest ecosystem on the Portuguese coast can be found here. The Ria Formosa consists partly of mudflats and merges into sand dunes. The wetland is determined by the tides and is home to a lagoon landscape of sand dunes and headlands in the estuaries of small rivers. The nature park is a popular breeding ground for numerous bird species and the waters are home to over 50 different species of fish. In addition to hiking, it is also possible to go kayaking in the Ria Formosa.
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Hidden in the green hinterland of Tavira is the Pego do Inferno, a small waterfall and lake in the municipality of Santo Estêvão, around seven kilometers from Tavira. It can be reached in around 25 minutes by bike. On the way there, you cycle past picturesque countryside lined with the famous orange and lemon trees. The waterfall is somewhat hidden and hard to find without Google Maps. You won’t see the waterfall at first, but only hear it and have to make your way through reeds and past orange trees. A small lagoon with a waterfall awaits you, where you can also swim in summer. You can also have a picnic at the edge of the lagoon. If you fancy a short bike ride and a little adventure, then a visit to the waterfall is worthwhile and makes a change from a day at the beach. You can easily rent bicycles for the day in Tavira.
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