Mark’s Tavira guidebook
Good quality Food shopping
Pingo Doce
Rua Silva DominguesBest Tavira Supermarket
Shopping
There are two Pingo Doce - the essential visit for best quality produce, fresh fish counter in particular is excellent. One is located on the outskirts of town just off main roundabout of n125 between A22 and Tavira centre.
The other is newer and harder to find on the way to the Gran Plaza on the opposite side of the town port in a converted warehouse. Look for the opposite side of the large bridge over Gilao from the side the house is on and track left about 100m.
Large late night indoor shopping centre with a mixture of retailers with large food court of restaurants
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MEO Tavira - Gran-Plaza
247 R. Alm. Cândido dos ReisLarge late night indoor shopping centre with a mixture of retailers with large food court of restaurants
Lidl
1 Largo de Santo AmaroEssentials and good value food shopping
ALDI Tavira
Rua de São PedroOn outskirts of town, reliable budget food shopping
Very accessible, centrally located small local supermarket for essentials like water, beer, fruit, veg. Your Tesco Local equivalent 5 mins from the house.
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Minipreço
N125Very accessible, centrally located small local supermarket for essentials like water, beer, fruit, veg. Your Tesco Local equivalent 5 mins from the house.
Neighborhoods
Famed for its Octopus cuisine the promenade here offers a wealth of sea food restaurants with views over the salt marshes
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Santa Luzia
Famed for its Octopus cuisine the promenade here offers a wealth of sea food restaurants with views over the salt marshes
Beach
The old town (not to be confused with the new town inland) and home to the best beach in Eastern Algarve. It also has a number of very good local restaurants (too many to name) and a weekly outdoor market. Parking either Fabrica side or in front of town walls. Views from atop the church across the sandy beaches are spectacular and yet it remains largely undeveloped and unspoilt one of the reasons it was voted in Top 10 beaches in the world recently.
Access out to the beach is by foot and expect to wade up thigh deep out to the sandy dunes. Motor boats do collect beachgoers from Fabrica side. There is a small beach kiosque selling beer and snacks but other than that this is a remote beach paradise so bring your lunch, a sun umbrella and spend the day.
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Cacela Velha
The old town (not to be confused with the new town inland) and home to the best beach in Eastern Algarve. It also has a number of very good local restaurants (too many to name) and a weekly outdoor market. Parking either Fabrica side or in front of town walls. Views from atop the church across the sandy beaches are spectacular and yet it remains largely undeveloped and unspoilt one of the reasons it was voted in Top 10 beaches in the world recently.
Access out to the beach is by foot and expect to wade up thigh deep out to the sandy dunes. Motor boats do collect beachgoers from Fabrica side. There is a small beach kiosque selling beer and snacks but other than that this is a remote beach paradise so bring your lunch, a sun umbrella and spend the day.
The closest beach by distance can only be accessed by river boat between Tavira old town and Ilha de Tavira for 2 euros a head which runs half hourly from March to October morning to night (although check times as if you get stranded you will have to way for a 15 euro water taxi home).
Once there you will discover a self contained island with beaches on south side and a host of bars, restaurants and shops. High season these will remain open until late as there are residents in the form of holiday homes and campers, so keep an eye on the time as you will end up stranded.
Can get busy high season but some lively terraced beach bars with live DJ sets make this fun for large groups.
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Tavira Island
The closest beach by distance can only be accessed by river boat between Tavira old town and Ilha de Tavira for 2 euros a head which runs half hourly from March to October morning to night (although check times as if you get stranded you will have to way for a 15 euro water taxi home).
Once there you will discover a self contained island with beaches on south side and a host of bars, restaurants and shops. High season these will remain open until late as there are residents in the form of holiday homes and campers, so keep an eye on the time as you will end up stranded.
Can get busy high season but some lively terraced beach bars with live DJ sets make this fun for large groups.
A lovely sandy beach that involves a 5 minute 2 euro train ride out to from Pedras Dei Rei resort. Or walk the half mile with beautiful views. Nice cocktails bars and restaurants and changing facilities from families.
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Praia do Barril
A lovely sandy beach that involves a 5 minute 2 euro train ride out to from Pedras Dei Rei resort. Or walk the half mile with beautiful views. Nice cocktails bars and restaurants and changing facilities from families.
Tavira has great unspoilt beaches but can be less inaccessible . So sometimes you just want one that you can just get to easily . If it’s a no frills local beach you can drive up to look no further ..
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Cabanas de Tavira
Tavira has great unspoilt beaches but can be less inaccessible . So sometimes you just want one that you can just get to easily . If it’s a no frills local beach you can drive up to look no further ..
Sightseeing
Most of the night time activity in Tavira takes place either side of Tavira's oldest landmark. On one side the main square and town gardens leading to the old indoor market where the majority of open air entertainment takes place with outdoor concerts events, bars and cafés, ice cream vendors running long after midnight The opposite side opens to a network of side streets which can be referred to as the restaurant quarter with most of the authentic restaurants touting to get your business for the evening.
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Ponte Romana
Ponte RomanaMost of the night time activity in Tavira takes place either side of Tavira's oldest landmark. On one side the main square and town gardens leading to the old indoor market where the majority of open air entertainment takes place with outdoor concerts events, bars and cafés, ice cream vendors running long after midnight The opposite side opens to a network of side streets which can be referred to as the restaurant quarter with most of the authentic restaurants touting to get your business for the evening.
English sports bar and Terrace
Not a tacky as it sounds and off season this can be one of best meeting places as it has the best sun terrace on the north side for great river views . A host of live sports and good cuisine from neighbouring jointly owned restaurant, Run by an Irish family always full and with some great live performers this is your reliable look no further go to for a taste of home from home.
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The Black Anchor
46 R. Borda d`Água da AssecaNot a tacky as it sounds and off season this can be one of best meeting places as it has the best sun terrace on the north side for great river views . A host of live sports and good cuisine from neighbouring jointly owned restaurant, Run by an Irish family always full and with some great live performers this is your reliable look no further go to for a taste of home from home.
Entertainment
Cinema within the shopping centre showing films in English with Portguese subtitles. Although be warned kids films are voice translated.
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MEO Tavira - Gran-Plaza
247 R. Alm. Cândido dos ReisCinema within the shopping centre showing films in English with Portguese subtitles. Although be warned kids films are voice translated.