10 Fantastic Things to Do in Portimao, Portugal
Despite being a modest market town, there are so many wonderful things to do in Portimao. Located on the banks of the Arade River, Portimao is one of my favourite towns in the Algarve.
I loved how authentic it was. It’s simply a typical Portuguese working town. While I was there, I didn’t feel too overcrowded by tourists like you often do in other parts of the Algarve.
The Algarve as a whole, is much busier, of course. One of the best places to visit in Portugal, it’s incredibly popular with travellers around the globe.
Its signature rocky coastline is a beautiful draw, it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and a selection of quaint towns and cities along the coastline. The second largest of these Portuguese coastal towns is Portimao.
The town is a collection of peaceful squares lined with small shops and cafes (try the delicious pastel de nata), marvellous beaches, a thriving local market, tasty restaurants full of fresh seafood dishes and great shopping opportunities for both tourists and locals.
In fact, whether you enjoy the chilled-out city life, historical monuments or relaxing on the beach, Portimao would be a perfect place to visit in Portugal.
My favourite travel resources for Portimao
✅ Here’s the hotel we stayed at during our time there
✅ This is the best boat tour in Portimao.
✅ To see the best of Portugal, I highly recommend hiring a car.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Portimao, Portugal?
When it comes to what to do in Portimao, the town has everything from beaches to museums.
If you’re planning a trip to the Algarve, I definitely recommend spending some time here. So, here are the 10 best things to do in Portimão.
1 . Explore Praia da Rocha
As Portugal is one of the top beach destinations in Europe, Portimao’s beaches are easily first on this list. The overall winner is Praia da Rocha. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve and is located just a 6-minute drive from Portimao.
The stretch of soft white sand goes on for 1.5-kilometres. The beach is framed by Portugal’s signature red and yellow rocky outcrops and limestone cliffs tipped with tufts of grass.
A gorgeous photography opportunity, you can walk to the top of the cliffs for views of the bay below.
There are also a few delicate coves to explore giving even more photography masterpieces. Visit off-season for tourist-free photographs of these cliffs – Portugal is also still quite warm in the autumn, so it’s a great October travel destination.
However, as with any popular beach, it can get quite busy. But it’s long, so you might be able to find a quieter spot if you explore the length.
The water slopes very gently into the sea, making it an ideal beach to visit with children. They’ll have a wonderful time splashing about in the shallows and building castles in the soft sand.
There are also plenty of surrounding amenities – toilet and shower facilities to wash the salt and sand out your hair, a selection of cafés and restaurants if you prefer to dine with a view or grab a snack before you get back to sunbathing.
There are also beachfront accommodation options, perfect for those ocean-view rooms and waking up to the sound of the waves.
2. Visit the Portimão Museum
For a slightly different side of Portimao, head to the town’s museum. It’s full of knowledge and fun facts about Portimao’s past; everything from fishing and sardine canning to the archaeological collections that were found in the Algarve.
The museum is arranged in chronological order and goes back as far as Roman times. However, there are also Islamic artefacts, features from the Algarve’s boat-building heritage and a movie depicting how the town used to be.
The entrance to the museum is €3 and children under 15 are free, however, you can also get a combined ticket which includes entrance to the Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar. The open-air museum features 18 burial monuments spread over around 10 hectares that date back 5000 years.
3. Wander Around the Marina de Portimão
When it comes to what to do in Portimao old town, the marina is a peaceful place for a leisurely stroll and one of the best places to visit in Portimao. It sits at the top part of the town, next to Praia da Rocha and overlooking the Arade estuary.
You can sit and watch the waves rocking the many small motorboats, yachts, and other watercraft around the harbour. Alternatively, you can get out on the water yourself, as you can hire Jet Skis or get surfing lessons in the area.
As well as watersports, the Marina is a splendid place to dine. The boardwalk is decorated with a collection of fresh seafood restaurants, trendy pizzerias and creperies.
Plus, during the summer months prepare for glorious nightlife with nearby beach parties, popular bars and people dancing in the street.
4. Admire Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Portugal is full of majestic whitewashed churches and Portimão old town is no exception. In fact, one of the more remarkable things about this Portuguese Igreja is that it’s one of the only buildings to survive the great earthquake that shook the town in 1755.
The church has also retained many of its 14th-century characteristics including an ancient Manueline door. Most of the rest of the building dates back to the 17th century. Inside the church is ornately decorated with azulejo panels and an impressive gilded altarpiece.
5. Visit Mercado Municipal de Portimão
Experiencing life the way the locals do is one of the top things to do in Portimão. For a great example of this, head to Mercado Municipal, the town’s traditional market.
It’ll likely be bustling with locals buying every type of fresh food imaginable. You’ll also be able to sample more authentic Portuguese cuisine.
If you’re staying in self-catering accommodation during your time in the Algarve, this is the perfect way to save some money on your trip and stock up on some tasty delicacies.
A traditional port town such as this would have an incredible seafood section. So, if you love fresh fish, definitely make a stop there. The market also sells, fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, deli products and baked goods. Don’t forget to pick up some yummy custard tarts!
6. Explore Fortaleza de Santa Catarina
The perfect place to stop after a spot of sunbathing in Praia da Rocha, this ancient fortress is located on a cliff behind the beach. A rather intriguing structure from the 1600s, the Fort of Santa Catarina was actually built by the Italian military engineer Alexandre Massai.
Created for the town’s defence, the fortress has been rebuilt a few times, so not much of its authenticity remains. However, it’s still a great photography opportunity and the panoramas from the top are second to none.
7. Visit Praia de Alvor
The second of the beautiful beaches on this list Praia de Alvor is another of the best things to do in Portimao. It’s actually located five kilometres west of the town, yet the vibe there is completely different to Praia da Rocha.
Praia de Alvor doesn’t have such a bustling tourist feel to it. There’s only one tourist destination on the entire bay and it’s at the very far east. The rest of the beach is peaceful, beautiful and quite remote, yet it’s still framed by Portugal’s infamous golden cliffs.
There’s a raised boardwalk that spans the entirety of the beach and it’s really nice to take an evening stroll from one end to the other. Walking along the sand is also nice, especially in the evening with the sun setting behind the ocean.
The further west you walk, the more empty the beach becomes until eventually, you’re left with nothing but sand dunes, cliffs and a coastal lagoon fed by the Alvor River.
8. Take a Day Trip to Alvor
Whilst you’re at the Praia de Alvor, it’s a perfect opportunity to take a day trip to the neighbouring village. When we were in the Algarve, we actually stayed in Alvor.
There are some great things to do there – it was a quiet, peaceful place to stay with a few intriguing historical sites and a beautiful beach.
The little fishing village is a combination of authenticity and tourism. Some restaurants are clearly catering to international visitors but there are also plenty of traditional eateries tucked down its tiny streets.
You could easily spend a few hours wandering the winding cobbled paths of Alvor, marvelling at its whitewashed buildings and buying handmade trinkets from local stores. But, if you’re only there for a day, make sure to visit the Igreja do Divino Salvador which is a stunning little find.
9. Visit the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
For all the fans of motorsports out there, a trip to Portimao’s autodrome will surely be one of your favourite things to do in Portimao. The F1 standard race track is not even a decade old and ideal for an adrenaline-filled morning.
Located 8km northwest of Portimão, the track has held everything from the World Superbike Championships to the Algarve’s Classic Car Festival.
If you’ve ever wanted to take a charged supercar out for a spin, this is definitely the place for you. They have track days during the week and if you’d feel safer in a cart than in a car, you can also test your driving skills on the go-kart circuit.
10. Eat and Drink Some Delicious Food
Portugal is known as one of the best cities for foodies across Europe. It’s also one of the best places if you’re travelling around Europe on a budget – both the attractions and the cuisine are delightfully cheap.
Famous mostly for its seafood, Portimao’s fishing heritage truly pays off. One of the region’s top dishes is Bacalhoada. It’s a kind of salt fish stew that appears on pretty much every menu in the city.
However, the trick here is finding the most authentic recipe possible. I tend to avoid tourist restaurants or anything that has a photograph of the dish on their menu.
Bacalhoada is truly delicious, but Portimao also serves seafood in an astounding amount of other ways, from fried to breaded to cut into chunks in a pie. My personal favourite was the Cataplana, a delightful seafood stew that reminded me of the Spanish paella but substituted rice for potatoes. Truly delicious!
Furthermore, if you happen to be in the town in the first week of August, then be sure to check out Portimao’s sardine festival. It’s held on the Ribeirinha, and the waterside stalls grilling sizzling mounds of fresh fish are enough to make your mouth water.
If you’re not a fan of seafood, then a few fish-free must-tries include the ‘Bifanas’ (pork sandwiches), ‘Caldo Verde’ (kale soup) or ‘Frango no churrasco’ which is effectively a delicious Peri-Peri chicken dish.
Sampling delicious cuisine is definitely one of the best things to do in Portimao. Don’t forget drinks too as Portimao is also a great wine-making region. Make sure you help yourself to a few glasses of local red or white.
Where to Stay in Portimao
There are so many wonderful hotels in Portimão, many within easy reach of the beautiful beaches of the Algarve. There’s a great range of accommodation options from fancy 5* hotels to comfortable self-catering apartments. Here are some of the top picks for accommodation:
- £££ – TURIM Presidente Hotel – This beautiful beachfront hotel is located right next to Praia do Vau. It features stylish rooms, including some large suite-style rooms with adjacent living spaces, a fantastic restaurant, ocean views, and a swimming pool. Perfect for relaxing!
- ££ – Hotel Santa Catarina Algarve – This 3* hotel is ideal for travellers who want a pretty nice, beachfront hotel at an affordable price. The staff are incredibly welcoming, the rooms are comfortable and clean, and it’s located just 50 meters from Praia da Rocha Beach.
- ££ – Pelican Alvor – This was where we stayed. The rooms were perfect, giving us a large living space and a very comfy bed. We also had a mini kitchenette and drinks-making facilities. Despite being a self-catering apartment, we got the bed and breakfast option, and the breakfast in the mornings was delicious.
- £ – Clube Vilarosa – For a fantastic aparthotel that gives you the convenience of a hotel with the home-from-home feel of self-catering, Clube Vilarosa is a great choice. With comfortable studios, 1-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, plus a communal area with 3 swimming pools and a restaurant, you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable trip.
Where in Portugal is Portimao?
Portimao is located on the Western side of the Algarve, at the mouth of the Arade River. It’s one of the largest towns on the coast; surrounded by gorgeous beaches and with easy transport links to other destinations in the Algarve,
is Portimao worth visiting?
In my opinion, yes, Portimão Portugal is 100% worth visiting. It’s the ideal place to base yourself to see the best of southern Portugal with beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and cultural attractions.
You can visit the ever-popular Praia da Rocha, see the beautiful churches, shop at traditional markets, and eat delicious food. It’s the best blend of authentic and more touristy things to do, and I absolutely loved my time in Portimão.
How Far is Portimao From Lisbon?
Portimao is quite a distance from Lisbon – around 114 miles (183 km) away. It is possible to travel from one to the other, however. There are no direct trains between Portimao and Lisbon.
So the best way to travel between the two is by bus which takes around 3 hours 15 minutes and will cost between €15 – €20.
This is how we travelled from Lisbon and it wasn’t too bad at all. You can take a train, but this will take over 4.5 hours and involve a line change.
Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Portimao, Portugal
Overall, Portimao is a fantastic place to base yourself to explore the Algarve. It’s surrounded by traditional Portuguese towns, beautiful beaches, and wonderful restaurants.
You can see pretty much any side of southern Portugal from more authentic market towns to the tourist-centric resorts.
It’s easy to travel around the Algarve from Portimao (if you can work out the buses!). Plus, there’s a great range of things to do, from museums to boardwalk walking trails, and sunbathing to the lively marina and markets.
If you’re after a great place to visit in Portugal, I highly recommend Portimão.
PS. If you want more inspiration for places to visit in Portugal, I highly recommend Sintra and Lisbon.
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Been several times beautiful stunning coast Jardins da Rocha great apartments with amazing views from higher floors.