TRAVEL GUIDE

What to see ?

We are located in Arroteia, between Fuseta and Tavira, on the Ecovia bike path. Our train station, Livramento, is 8 mn walking distance.

 

Olhão

Olhão train station

 

The market
The market on the seaside is awesome ! It’s open every morning to midday/1 pm, except on sunday. Please note that the fishermen don’t go fishing here on sunday, so on monday morning the fish part of the market is quite empty.
On saturday, a lot of farmers join the outside to sell there own productions.

Here are some typical stufs you should try (or not) :
Sardinhas : of course ! Buy them small and then cook them on the bbq, then you can eat the bones
Muxama : dry tuna (they sell it in small rectangle, then you have to slice it thin)
Ovos de polvo : you have to eat it with bread and butter. taste like the boutargue, stronger. Not everyone likes it but portuguese people do !
Pastel de nata : delicious creamy small cake, like a flan inside. There is a version with almond cream inside.
Figos recheados : dry figs with almond and sugar inside. Sometimes they are flat, sometimes they look like round ... these last ones are the best.
Mel de alfarroba : this honey is dark, very strong, you’ll never taste a honey like this ! Alfarroba is caroub, you can sometimes find Alfarroba bread which is very good as well.

Lendas path = O Caminho das lendas
Make sure you make this tiny walk that will take you in the most typical part of Olhão.
https://www2.cm-olhao.pt/en/destaques/em-destaque-museu/1591-o-caminho-das-lendas-the-tales-path

The marina
Olhão brand new marina. If you want a nice ice cream go to Emporio do gelado.
There is also a trendy bar with a great view upstairs called Bamboo. Nice for the sunset but very expensive. You can do it once, then my favorite cocktails are in Esquinha da baixa, in front of the market.

Centro de Educação Ambiental de Marim (CEAM)
https://natural.pt/protected-areas/parque-natural-ria-formosa/infrastructures/ceam-centro-educacao-ambiental-marim?locale=en
If you don’t have a car, it’s better to take a cab to go there (5mn drive).
A preserve area with no cars in the Ria formosa natural park, with a very nice path to walk.
If you find an injured wild animal/bird, this is where you have to bring him. They have a sanctuary with permanent vets working here(RIAS).
http://rias-aldeia.blogspot.com/


Tavira

Tavira train station

The castle
Awesome town with a castle and a lot of nice churches.
Be sure to wander around the Ponte Romana, the old market and the castle, and go for a delicious ice cream to Delizia (home made, great typical flavors).

 

The churches

 

The Ponte Romana

 

Tavira Museum

 

Fado
You can also go for a Fado show in Fado com historia, R. Damião Augusto de Brito Vasconcelos 4, 8800-399 Tavira, 966 620 877.


Santa Luzia (Tavira train station + walk or bus)
Typical fisherman town, from there you can go to Terra Estreita beach with a small ferry from the center. This is the portuguese capital of octopus. It is said that there are there as many octopus receipes as the number of days in a year !
Very good restaurants with seaview on the seaside. For the octopus, Companhia do polvo is the best !


Cacela Velha
A very cute/ very small village, with a beautiful view on the Ria Formosa. You can go there to the beach as well, taking the stairs down along the cemetery or on the other side along the castle.


Faro

Faro train station
Capital of the Algarve.
The old center, and the area around the marina are very pleasant.
You can easily spend a day there !

The East border, from Vila Real de Santo Antonio to Mertola

Where to eat ?

In Olhão

 

Vai e volta
Largo do Gremio 2, Olhao 8700-343 Portugal
Very good all you can eat fish restaurant. The fish is coming from the market, very fresh, and served with salad, sweet potatoes and açorda, for only 14€ ! No bookings so be sure to be there at the opening.


Maré shrimp & stuff
Rua Doutor Jose Barbosa Travessa PSP/ Terra i mar, Olhao 8700-511 Portugal
High standard portuguese restaurant. Cute terrace. Take the aperitif somewhere else because they have no cocktails, just wine.

 


Mosse
Rua Teofilo Braga - 75, Olhao 8700-520 Portugal


Pizza na pedra
Avenida 5 de Outubro 50 Olhão, Olhao 8700-302 Portugal
Very good italian restaurant, not just pizzas !

 


In Tavira


L’Artefact
Rua das Capacheiras 1 3,7, Tavira 8800-401 Portugal
Excellent gastronomic restaurant. Jeremy and Felipe, the owners, are always there to cook and do the service. French inspiration cuisine using local products.


In Fuseta

Ti Maria
Rua Da Cegonha 26, Fuseta, Olhao 8700-061 Portugal
Gastronomic restaurant on a beautiful terrace.


Mo de cima
Rua da Liberdade 164, Moncarapacho, Olhao 8700-019 Portugal
At the entrance of Fuseta, tapas. Awesome location with a great view of the salinas.

 

In Arroteia/ Pinheiro

 

Os Fialhos

Pinheiro

Our favorite restuarant nearby. Very fresh and good fish and meat grilled on the bbq.

Delicious traditonal meals, you definitly have to try the "Espetada de Tamboril", The "Arroz de marisco" / "Arroz de linguieroes", the "Porco Alentejano" and the "Lulas fritas", a squid fondue ... Yummy !!

 

O Conquistador

Arroteia

Open just for lunch. One good daily meal, grilled chicken and home made fish and chips.

What to do ?

 

For kids and famillies

 

Water parks


Slide and Splash https://www.slidesplash.com/
Aquashow https://aquashowpark.com/
Zoomarine https://www.zoomarine.pt/

 

Sand sculptures

Sand city

https://sandcity.pt

 

Tree climbing

Arborismo in Vila real ou Albufeira https://www.parqueaventura.net/


Zipline from Spain to Portugal in Alcoutim

https://www.limitezero.com/pt-pt/

Book in advance on the website

 

Gem Salt Mines

www.techsalt.pt

Book in advance

 

 

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Pirate deluxe Guesthouse Tavira 2017