activities
Activities
beach life and water sports
There are many beaches in and around Tavira, all are safe with warm Atlantic water and moderate waves. They stretch from Faro to the west and beyond the Spanish border to the east with endless sand dunes.
BEACHES
The nearest one is just 2 km south of the city with easy access with a beach ferry next to the apartment or a bike ride over a pedestrian bridge. Others are reached by bike or car going east or west.
WATER SPORTS
You can do paddling, windsurf, kitesurf and stand-up paddling on the beaches, with some reserved for water sports. For deep sea fishing there are boats in Tavira and Olhão that do tours.
GETTING TO THE BEACH
The Ilha de Tavira beach ferry has an hourly service from the city centre and a twice hourly service from a pier nearby. For the other beaches like Praia do Barril and Praia de Cabanas are reached by bike or car, some 5-8 km to the west and east.
Golf Golf Golf
golf courses
Algarve is golf heaven. There are six courses within 20 km and another fifteen within 50 km of Tavira. The courses are ranging from accessible and friendly local courses to world-class courses that host tour competitions. Golfers on all levels can find their challenge.
GOLF COURSES
The nearest courses are to the east: Benamor, Quinta da Ria, Quinta do Cima, Nicklaus-designed Monte Rei, Castro Marim and Quinta do Vale. To the west are the well-known Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, São Lorenzo and others that are also spectacular courses.
GOLF WEATHER
Climate is ideal year round with 320 days of sunshine and summer temperatures around 25-30 degrees and winter temperatures of 15-20 degrees.
GREEN FEES
Greenfees vary a lot depending on course and time of year. Peak season rates are €40-90 with the most exclusive courses above that. There are often packages with useful greenfee discounts, e g through Golf in Portugal.
Nature
nature, hiking and biking
Nature in the Algarve is beautiful and the surroundings around Tavira is no exception.
NATURE ON LAND
Nature in the Algarve is beautiful with coastal landscapes and rich lagoons teeming with birdlife and marine life. In the inland there are smooth hills with trails for walking and mountain biking surrounded by orange and olive groves, forests and springs with waterfalls like the Pego do Inferno. All are accessible from near the town.
NATURE BY THE SEA
The Atlantic is a rich source of biodiversity the the area. The shallow lagoons act as nurseries for fish and birds and the ocean is rich with larger fish and mammals. The salt pans just outside Tavira, the river and lagoons are great places to watch birds and fish. There are also guided boat excursions to watch dolphins, sea horses and birdlife in the sea and lagoons.
BIKING
There are plenty of quiet roads around the area for road biking. Portuguese drivers are respectful of cyclists, as in many Mediterranean countries. Staying near the coast will give you flat rides and if you go more inland you will get to the smooth hills and great vistas. Wherever you go there will be friendly cafés with coffee and snacks. There are many trails for mountain biking too.
City life
city life
You will stay right in the centre of a small town with roots back to the Romans and Moors. The narrow streets are lined with cafés, bars and restaurants and often the seating extends into the street. Even so, it’s a town where noise levels are rarely loud except when the Portuguese football team wins a big match. The houses are mostly two-stories and many go back several centuries as Tavira was the main port for the trans-Atlantic trade for a period. The Gilão River cuts through town and the most beautiful views are overlooking the river.
FOOD AND DRINK
You can explore all sorts of foods, from traditional Portuguese grills to seafood specials and more modern restaurants. The local produce is as fresh as they come. Local growers grow fruits, vegetables and olives. The fishermen bring fish and seafood daily and sell at the market at the edge of town. Prices at restaurants are surprisingly accessible. The wines are mostly Portuguese and of excellent quality and price.
CULTURE
You can walk the town to explore its old roots. The old ‘castelo’ goes back to the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Muslim moors that controlled the south of Iberia from the around 750. In 1239 Tavira was reconquered by the Christians from the north, the castle was then finished, and the Santa Maria church added. There is an old monastery too, now converted to a pousada hotel and restaurant.
CITY WALKS
You cross the river on the Roman bridge into the east side of town and walk the narrow lanes and small squares, all with small shops, cafés and restaurants. When you cross back to the west side where the apartment is there is a market hall that was the former market but is now an open court with shops and restaurants. In the the narrow cobbled streets around the apartment there are bougainevilleas and small shops and craftsmen and artisans.