Tavira is a picturesque and historic town in the Algarve that's worthy of a visit on any Algarve itinerary. There are many amazing things to do in Tavira, Portugal, and it's easy to experience Tavira on a day trip.
Justin and I spent one day in Tavira on our road trip of the Algarve and quickly fell in love with this charming place. It's the perfect place to wander and explore, and make sure you venture both sides of the Gilão River.
Just a short distance away from the Old Town of Tavira lies Tavira Island, a dreamy beach getaway on the coast. Walk across a little bridge and ride the touristic train down to Barril Beach. There's even an intriguing art installation right on the beach itself.
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Things to Do in Tavira, Portugal
Tavira, Portugal is an amazing day trip destination in the Algarve. It's very walkable and you can see the main town and attractions in one day.
It's also not far from the Faro International Airport, and it makes for a great stop on any Algarve road trip.
I likely wouldn't make Tavira my home base for an Algarve trip as it's the farthest distance away from many other villages and towns. If you are looking to travel slowly and fully experience a place, staying in Tavira for a longer amount of time is an excellent idea.
To help you plan your trip, here's a map of the best things to do in Tavira, Portugal. I've marked the attractions, our top pick for lunch, Tavira Island destinations and where to park your car.
Tavira Castle (Castelo de Tavira)
Castelo de Tavira, or Tavira Castle, was first constructed in the 11th century by the Moors. It was repaired and reconstructed by King Dinis in the year 1292.
Tavira Castle strategically sits atop the Santa Maria Hill and it's surrounded by fortification walls. The castle, its walls and its towers overlooked the town, the river and the sea. It was once the home of the governor of Tavira.
The castle wasn't used as a defensive measure very much from the 15th century and on, though it was always an important symbol of Tavira. Tavira Castle was brutally damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and left in ruin.
The ruins of Tavira Castle remain to this day, and the site is completely free to visit. What was once the interior of the castle is now a beautifully landscaped garden.
Some of the best views of Tavira are from the ruins of the castle walls and towers. It's possible to climb short staircases to admire sweeping views of Tavira and the Gilão River.
Roman Bridge (Ponte Romana)
Despite being called the Roman Bridge, this famous bridge in Tavira isn't actually from Roman times. While it is the oldest bridge in Tavira, it dates back to the medieval time period.
This is a pedestrian bridge with seven arches spanning the River Gilão. Ponte Romana underwent construction in 1655 and then again in 1989 after it was damaged by a massive flood.
Cross the Roman Bridge while traversing from one side of Tavira to the other. Take some time to admire the beautiful views and this architectural structure itself.
Praça da República (Main Town Square)
Republic Square (Praça da República) is the main town square in Tavira. It's a central meeting place and hub for town activities for many centuries. For many years, it was a commercial center with temporary stalls and tents set up.
This is where you'll find Tavira's town hall building, a fountain and World War I memorial, and many cafes with patios.
Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura - Tavira Eye is a visitor's attraction in the Tower of Tavira. Standing at 100 meters tall, this structure used to be the town's water tower.
It's home to a camera obscura at the very top of the tower that offers 360 degree panoramic views of Tavira. During your tour, which lasts 30 minutes in duration, you'll learn about the culture and history of Tavira.
Then, you'll have the opportunity to view real time imagery from the camera obscura. It captures live images from the city and projects them onto a two meter horizontal screen. It's amazing to see this ancient optical device in use today.
Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo
Tavira is a town of churches. There are 21 churches in the city limits and a total of 37 in the region. Only 12 of the churches are open to the public, with one of the most popular being Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo.
Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo is Tavira's main church. It was reconstructed after the earthquake in 1755, though there are a number of original gothic panels that weren't damaged.
You can see a large collection of sculptures, paintings and art, as well as the tombs of Paio Peres Correia and seven knights who captured Tavira from the Moors in 1242.
Walk Around Tavira, Portugal
While you should definitely check out the places I've listed above (they are the best places to visit in Tavira), it's also important that you simply wander around. Go for a walk on both sides of the river.
Explore the little alleyways and alcoves, and get lost on the cobblestone streets. Discover small parks, gardens and statues. The Old Town of Tavira isn't that big of a place, so it's easy to go for a walk and see what you stumble upon.
I'll share some more of my photos taken on our walk around Tavira.
Have Lunch at Tavila Cafe
Tavila Cafe is a fantastic lunch spot in the middle of Tavira. There's an excellent outdoor patio where Justin and I enjoyed a meal and some beer.
The menu at Tavila Cafe is vegan-friendly with quite a few plant-based dishes clearly marked. The restaurant mostly serves tapas (small plates) so you can order a few things and share.
Some options include falafel, sweet potato fries, bruschetta, hummus toast, smoked tofu wrap, a hummus bowl, fried polenta, empanadas and sauteed potatoes.
Please note that they only accept cash here, and the restaurant is closed on Thursdays.
Visit Tavira Island
After you've spent the first half of the day in Tavira's Old Town, it's time to experience Tavira Island. It is an 11km barrier island that's part of Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Tavira Island is home to miles and miles of clean, sandy beaches and unspoiled nature. While there are threee beaches on Ilha de Tavira, we visited one that's easily accessible by car and a short walk (or tourist train ride).
To reach the main beach, Praia da Ilha de Tavira, you can take a ferry from the town center of Tavira. This is better for those without access to a car or those not interested in driving to the beach.
The pricing and the ferry schedule are available on the Silnido official website.
Tavira Island Bridge
After we parked the car, we walked across a short pedestrian bridge called the Tavira Island Bridge. There are pretty views all around. Before long, you'll be on Tavira Island and on your way to the beach.
Walk to the Beach
Next, it's about a 1km / 15 minute walk to Praia do Barril (Barril Beach). There's a flat path that leads directly to the beach or you can hop aboard the little touristic train that follows the same path.
We decided to walk to Barril Beach and then take the train back for the best of both worlds. Savor the peaceful landscapes of the protected wetlands of Ria Formosa.
Praia do Barril (Barril Beach)
Barril Beach is a massive sandy expanse that extends for several kilometers. It's quite a wide beach as well, so there's no shortage of space for everyone to enjoy it. If you walk down a short distance, there's a good chance that you'll have the beach all to yourself.
This beach was once a fisherman's village and the former houses are converted into restaurants and cafes right on the beach. The gentle waves of the turquoise sea are incredibly beautiful and calming.
Anchor Cemetery (Cemitério das âncoras)
You may have noticed a ton of anchors in that last photo. This is known as the Cemetery of Anchors or the Anchor Graveyard.
There are hundreds of rusty anchors here on the beach. The anchors mark the place where the fishermen brought their boats ashore.
In 1964, the tuna fishing community was abandoned and the boats were hauled ashore one final time. Their anchors were left behind in memory of the community as a public art installation and tribute.
Take the Touristic Train Back
You are welcome to take the little train to the beach and back. We decided to walk one way and take the train back to the car.
I'm so glad we decided to take the train. It wasn't only moments after we boarded that it started to pour rain! This had many tourists running to catch the train.
You can buy single or roundtrip tickets from a small ticket machine on either end of the train journey. The train runs back and forth between the Tavira Island Bridge and Praia do Barril all day long.
Getting There
The closest airport is the Faro airport, though you can also fly to Lisbon and drive down to the Algarve.
Here's where you can find great prices on flights to Faro or great prices on flights to Lisbon.
Pick up your rental car in Faro or Lisbon at the airport. We always use Discover Cars to find the best prices on car rentals.
Practical Tips for Tavira, Portugal
Tavira is a wonderful town with so many things to see and do. Here's some practical information to help make your visit totally seamless and enjoyable.
Where to Park
Within Tavira, we parked in a small parking lot on the north side of the Gilão River. It's marked as "parking" on Google maps, and I will mark it on the map embedded within this blog post.
It is free to park there, though the lot might get busier as the day goes on, particularly in high season. When we visited in mid-October, there were no issues finding a parking spot.
For Tavira Island, we parked our car on the street right near the Tavira Island Bridge (on EM1347). There are parking spaces along the road, and it is free to park your car there.
How to Plan the Day in Tavira, Portugal
I suggest that you spend the morning and lunchtime in the Old Town of Tavira, Portugal. Then, spend the afternoon on Tavira Island, soaking up the sunshine at the beach.
If you have some extra time or only wish to set aside a couple of hours for Tavira Island, you can easily spend the rest of the late afternoon and evening in the nearby city of Faro.
Where to Stay in Tavira
When Justin and I visited the Algarve for a week, we stayed in an apartment in Lagos called Casa Aurora. We loved staying at this spacious accommodation and thought Lagos made for a great home base.
It would also be lovely to stay in Tavira. If you're thinking about finding a hotel or accommodation in Tavira, please feel free to use the handy map below. Enter your travel dates for more precise details, and click each property to learn more / book your stay.
More Algarve Travel Guides
We spent one amazing week in the Algarve. Here are our travel guides that will help you plan your trip:
Want more travel tips and inspiration? Follow me on Instagram! I share daily adventures, whether I'm at home in Ontario, Canada, or halfway across the world!
Don't forget travel insurance!
Heading out of the country? Don't forget to get travel insurance. It's best to be covered in case of an emergency, cancellation or accident.
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