A place in my heart: Tavira, Portugal

Elena Chong, Cheapflights intern

Where? Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Why? For beautiful deserted beaches that stretch on for miles, lively local nightlife and a feel of the ‘real’ Algarve, away from the concrete skyscraper hotels and overcrowded beaches. One aspect of Tavira that separates it from the rest of the Algarve is its diverse mix of architecture – Roman, Moorish and Portuguese features abound. There is a stunning Roman bridge that crosses the river, and the ruins of an old castle, which has panoramic views over the town. With 37 churches to visit, Tavira is not short on old buildings.

Where would you stay? There are a few lovely hotels but I would recommend renting a house in the town. You can choose from fine 18th-century houses to villas with their own swimming pools, or my favourite, a traditional Portuguese house. These have whitewashed walls, beautifully decorated chimneys, and if you’re lucky, a courtyard at the back where you can while away the summer evenings with friends and a bottle of wine.

Best meal? Tavira was once a major fishing town so it’s not surprising that it has many fantastic seafood restaurants to choose from. However, the tastiest (not to mention cheapest) meal I had out there was fresh mackerel bought that morning from the market and slowly grilled on the barbeque.

Best way to spend an hour? Take the ferry from the centre of town to Ilha da Tavira. This eight-mile sand bar is the perfect place to lay back and sunbathe or jump around in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. I also decided to try snorkelling around the rocks to the east of the main beach. In spite of the freezing water, I still managed to see a huge variety of sea-life, from delicate tropical fish to a huge pink sea cucumber. I would definitely recommend it, although perhaps a wetsuit would be advisable!

Top tips? About five miles away from Tavira is the Pego do Inferno waterfall, literally “pool of hell”. The reality is anything but. The waterfall flows into one of the most beautiful natural pools I have ever seen. The water is crystal-clear and warm, and the pool is surrounded by lush greenery. There are also plenty of diving points into the pool from the surrounding rocks, and the brave can even jump from the top of the waterfall into the water, an exhilarating yet nerve-wracking experience.

Comments

[Thomas Wilshaw]

I would agree with all of the above,but also suggest a trip to the beach at Praia Lotta 6 miles to the east for miles of beautiful unspoilt sands and a quaint beach-side bar/restaurant.

[Matthew]

I have visited the lovely town of Tavira on many occasions over the past few years and must say that in terms of the invaluable advice imparted this article is one of the best I have read. In accordance with Ms Chong, I would strongly encourage anyone to visit this authentic, lively fishing village.

[Lynne]

I was in Tavira just last week. We were staying in Spain but popped over the border for a look. It is a lovely town with plenty of good reasonably priced restaurants. I found the shops cheap and my kids loved the oce cream kiosks in the town centre. Well worth a visit.