Portimão Things to Do

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My first experience in Algarve was camping in a free campground just behind the beach (Oh, those good days with lots of free space in Algarve...). We couldn't support the heat (and the absence of toilets) and alternated, one day there and another in a hostel, leaving the tent in place.

I enjoyed the beach - small, secluded, safe, nice.

Many years later I went there with my family. No more free campgrounds, lots of construction, but the same nice beach easily accessed. The problem, that time, was an attack of thousands of black small insects from north Africa (not mosquitoes) that forced us to abandon the beach early than planned.

I will let you know about my third time in this nice beach west of Portimão.

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Portimão is not only a town, but the background of several beaches, each one of them with its village or tourist structure.

One of the best beaches is Alvor, with a wide sandy coast, and good infrastructures, not far from the city.

It's a good idea to take a boat and follow the coast, watching the marvelous caves and natural sculptures made by sea and wind.

We made it from Portimão, and had a great day, with a sardine barbecue in a beach only accessible from the sea. We strongly recommend it. But Portimão is not my favorite area in Algarve.

The link to AlgarveSol trips is not working anymore: I don't know if they suspended the cruises, concentrating only in the hotels or just cancelled advertising in the net. Anyway, there are other companies that you may try.

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This majestic building was constructed on the orders of Diogo Gonçalves who was a nobleman that made his fortune in the Far East and is buried in a Marble tomb inside the church. The Construction work continued from 1660 to 1707 and then the Earthquake of 1755 left the church needing major repairs. The facade is made up of three sections; The section corresponding to the church is higher than the other two and has a curved pediment. The right-hand section has a Manueline doorway of the16th century. The church, which is the biggest in the Algarve, consists of a single nave, like a large hall, and is typical of its kind. The high altar and lateral altars contain gilded canings (beginning of the 18th century) which are of interest for their profuse decoration, with a Renaissance statue of the Virgin and Child (16th century) and others dating from the 17th/18th centuries. It has side altars that contain a statue of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety) and a crucifixion of Senhor Jesus dos Milagres

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Although most of the Older building were destroyed in the Earthquake of 1755, this Historic building was rebuilt after the earthquake retaining an excellent manueline door from the original 14c building. The interior is quite impressive with walls coverd in Azulejos from the 17th c.

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Guided tour on a quad bike through the Algarve countryside
A fun-filled and exhilarating experience, alone or with friends and family,
everybody just keeps coming back for more. So go on …
No experience needed!

Along the side of the Harbour are many small statues like the ones that can be found in Alvor and many other Algarve towns. The bridge in the Background was constructed with the metal left over from The building of the Eiffel Tower.

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This waterpark, about 15 minutes drive east of Portimao is really good fun for everyone! I went here twice and enjoyed it just as much the second time around!

Prices are 16.50 euro for adults and 13.50 for kids up to 10 years old.

Try to bring your own food though, as the canteen is pretty average - typical poor quality burger and chips style affair would set you back about 6 euro.

My favourite ride in this place was the Blackhole - you go down it on rings with someone else, in a pitch black tunnel, scary but fun. The one I did once, and wished I hadn't, was the Kamikaze. Not for people who don't like the feeling of plummeting to a watery death from a great height...