Tavira

Arguably the Algarve’s most charming town

Tavira has a beautiful, historic centre with wide cobbled avenues, shady plazas, a maze of narrow streets with lots of little boutique shops, family run restaurants and of course plenty of bars where you can enjoy an alfresco drink. It has a wonderfully relaxed and friendly feel and huge charm and character.

Tavira has a long history and there is a strong Moorish influence on the town’s architecture, including its castle, two mosques and several palaces.

In terms of property expect private villas with large plots. If you are looking for a property where you can walk to the shops or have lots of amenities on your doorstep then Tavira probably isn’t the place for you, you will need around a 5-10 minute drive to get to local shops, cafes etc.

The river Gilao runs through the centre of town and sets the pace of the area – no-one is in a hurry, it feels as though you are going back 20 years when there was enough time to get everything done and still have chance to sit back and relax. There is a fishing quay on the river and a large market offering a huge range of local fruit, vegetables and fish.

The only drawback to Tavira? There is no beach on the mainland. However Tavira is fringed by a series of islands just offshore with some of the best beaches in Europe – pristine blue water and soft white sand. There are ferries which run from the town to these beautiful island getaways.

Inland there are several golf courses including the famous Monte Rei course, but Tavira is also ideal for many other leisure activities – horse riding, walking, cycling, kite surfing, paddle boarding and kayaking.