Portimão

Portimão is located on the right shore of the river Arade, facing the sea and the river and has managed to hang on to its charm and character with the fishing boats in the harbour. There are several good fish restaurants in the area. You can enjoy the fine weather on the restaurant terraces that overlook the river with its colourful fishing boats, and then stroll up the path by the estuary after lunch, or in the other direction towards the Praia de Alvor. 

Praia da Rocha and its world famous beach is the most popular beach in this municipality. With its many frontline hotels, restaurants, shops and the casino making this a very popular area in the summer.

Portimão is one of the largest towns on the Algarve and is provides many services for the area. The Hospital do Barlavento has been built to assist Faro Hospital in providing a better health service. There are many doctors, lawyers, pharmacy’s etc., in general all services needed to keep a large population going.

Recently the Algarve Motor Park has been built on the outskirts of Portimão, bringing with it some additional international interest and tourism. 

There are numerous superb golf courses in the area, as well as a Marina and many sailing and water-sports activities and lots of hiking, biking and horse-riding trails. There are also several Spa & Wellness centres in the area.

Portimão has a strong history in the fish preserving industry and nautical building. Still today there is a profitable marine salt cultivation and the commerce of rural products, like dried fruits – carob, fig and almond as well as wood and cork.

To the west of Portimão is Praia do Vau and the world famous village of Alvor. It has a long history of Arabic dominance. Once a prosperous port, having been conquered by D. Sancho I in 1189. Today it has been one of the more popular holiday resorts maximizing its long and sandy beaches. The river estuary has also been rebuilt with a lovely cobbled promenade where both locals and tourist and can stroll in the evening prior to a lovely dinner at one of the many fabulous restaurants, either those overlooking the river or in the centre of Alvor. There are lovely coffee shops on the promenade making this an ideal meeting place in the summer evening.

The town of Portimao has a wealth of shops where you can find all the famous brands. 
Every Saturday early in the morning there is a special big fish market with a large variety of fish! The only open fish market of its kind in the Algarve. Portimão is also a port city which houses the largest sardinefleet of Portugal, situated at the mouth of the Rio Arade.