Tavira

Tavira is known as the Town of Churches, since there are 37 churches and other places of worship lying within its boundaries. Small enough to walk from one side of town to the other in 15 minutes, Tavira has the River Gileo running through it with the two sides linked by an arched Roman bridge.

There’s a wide range of cuisines on offer, with something to suit all budgets and tastes, though fresh fish and shellfish are high on the menu. Most of the nightlife can be found in the hotels, though Tavira does feature one nightclub and several bars.

Tavira has many historical sights, including the ruins of a moorish castle, an 18th century mansion, and the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo home to the tombs of Dom Paio Peres Correia and his seven faithful knights.

Tavira coastline is calm and peaceful, with some 11km of fine sandy beaches to enjoy, the two most popular being Tavira Island and Praia do Barril.

The Algarve has plenty of excursions on offer, with trips along the coast to nearby beaches, towns and other attractions, including the headland of Cabo Sao Vicente at the south westerly tip of Portugal and the Moorish city of Loule, or the ruins of the Moorish castle in Salir.

Sporting facilities throughout the region include tennis, horse-riding, hiking, cycling, a wide range of watersports as well as over 20 golf courses to choose from.

For some family fun visit one of the Algarve’s water or theme parks such as Lagos Zoo and Zoomarine with its dolphinarium, or Krazy World fun-park has two mini-golf courses, a swimming-pool, a children’s farm, crocodile park and bouncy castles, as well as the Aqualand, Slide & Splash and Aqua Show waterparks.