Portimao is a traditional fishing port and port on the Arcade River estuary on the southern coast of the Algarve. Located near the popular Praia da Rocha beach, Portimao is only 40 miles from Faro. If you are looking for a traditional Portuguese vacation, this is the place to visit. Everything in Portimao revolves around the riverfront and the port, the main square, the gardens and the restaurants. Add in the city’s shops, markets and boutiques and you have a city that will give you a true taste of Portugal. Local handicrafts, including lace, jewelry, copperware, and pottery, are offered here at very reasonable prices. Portimao is well known for its traditional restaurants where you can taste the city’s famous charcoal-grilled sardines and fresh seafood. Most of the restaurants and bars are located along the river bank and around the port, giving you great views while enjoying a quiet and relaxing meal. The city holds a sardine festival every year in August. Nearby Praia da Rocha is much livelier than Portimao at night, offering restaurants and bars with live music, nightclubs, and a casino.
The coastline around Portimao has cliff walks, sandy coves, caves and fascinating weathered rocks. The city is within easy reach of some of the best beaches. Praia da Rocha beach is considered one of the best beaches in the entire Algarve. Just a couple of miles from Potimao is the sandy Praia dos Tres Irmaos beach. Popular with many are the dark golden sands of Tres Irmaos. The popular beach and fishing port of Ferragudo is only a couple of miles away on the east side of the river. There are many beautiful sandy beaches between Praia da Rocha and Alvor, especially Praia do Vau. Diving, snorkelling and swimming are favorite pastimes here, with some really good dive sites along the coast.
There is much to do and see around Portimao. Visit the old towns of Alvor and Carvoeiro, and the historic sites of Cabo San Vicente, Lagos, and Silves Castle. Enjoy a great family day in the Quinta da Rocha nature reserve. Another great family day out is a trip to the Monchique mountains, where you can explore the incredible forests, valleys and fragrant orange groves. For sports lovers there is golf, deep-sea fishing and horse riding. Deep sea fishing is a popular sport here in Portimao, take a trip from the harbor and try to catch sharks, conger eels and sea bass along the coast.
Portimao offers fantastic cruise trips for you to enjoy your budget holidays in Portugal. Experience a romantic dinner on a voyage along the coast, enjoy drinks and show off your moves on a dance cruise, or simply take a relaxing boat trip to watch dolphins.
Portugal not only has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, but also boasts of being one of the sunniest places. Portimao enjoys more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year with summer temperatures often exceeding 30°C. The weather together with the many cheap holidays that Portugal has to offer make it an ideal choice for your cheap holidays at any time of the year.