This charming little town is located in the South of Portugal. It doesn’t have its own beach, but you can easily go by boat to the nearby island Ilha de Tavira. I’ve visited the town on many occasions and below you’ll find my favourites of this place.
Cafes
Bica, galao, meia de leite… the Portuguese love drinking coffee and there are many cafes in Tavira to try them. My favourite café is the middle one on the main square. I go there every time I’m in Tavira. I so enjoy sitting outside, observing life going by and sipping espresso, perfect!
Fado
Fado is traditional Portuguese music. There are also Fado concerts in Tavira performed 3-4 times every Saturday (please check their website or FB page for the latest updates). I went to my first (ever!) Fado concert one Saturday and it was a very emotional and intense performance which impressed me hugely.
Castle, garden & camera obscura
Climbing up the stairs from the market square to the castle ruins, garden and camera obscura can be quite tiring on a hot day, but then the views are completely worth the effort. When I was walking in the garden this year, there were musicians playing and singing Portuguese music, an ideal accompaniment to the colourful flowers & trees.
Museums
If you had enough of the very hot weather, you may want to go to a museum to cool down and to learn something interesting. Tavira Municipal Museum is the main museum in Tavira where you can learn about the town’s history, architecture & art. You can also visit the science museum Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira to do some fascinating experiments, especially since the staff members are so kind and will make your visit truly amazing!
Main square
Tavira is very musical and festive. Every time I visit, there seem to be celebratory events with accompanying performances and concerts. The main square is at the heart of the festivities and I would highly recommend attending some of those events as they’re free and great fun!
Bus, train & boat
You can plan many little trips when you’re based in Tavira. There are good bus connections to many towns & cities. This year I tried to travel by train more often and I was amazed at how comfortable they are (wide train cars, air-conditioning and cleanliness). You can travel by train as far as Lagos or Lisbon and the timetable is available online. Boats are available for tours and also to the islands, e.g. to Ilha de Tavira.
What is your favourite Portuguese town or city? Please leave your comment below.
Written by Kinga Macalla