Top things to do in Portimão
Attractions, tours, and activities in Portimão
Portimão: the city's best neighborhoods
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About Portimão
Including tips for the best time to visit Portimão
Portimão is the second-largest city in Portugal’s Algarve region, known for its fresh seafood and beautiful beaches. Its former fishing docks are now a palm-fringed promenade filled with waterfront restaurants and whitewashed houses.
Portimão’s main draw is Praia da Rocha, famous for its nightlife and distinctive limestone rock formations spread along the sand. You’ll find many beachfront bars and restaurants serving cocktails and fresh seafood. It’s a popular beach for families looking to wade in the clear water, but if water sports are your thing, you can try surfing, jet-skiing, parasailing and more. The area behind the beach comes alive at sunset when clubs like NoSoloÁgua host parties featuring guest DJs until the early hours of the morning. A popular alternative is Praia do Vau, which features scenic caves and sheltered bays.
You can expect to eat very well in a city that thrives on fishing, with Portimão’s grilled sardines being the number one dish to try. Other tasty regional delicacies include clam stew and black pork made from native Iberian pigs.
The best shopping options in Portimão are in its historic centre, where you’ll find all sorts of goods like clothes, jewellery and souvenirs like local wine, honey and pottery. If you want to explore the city’s heritage as a key fishing port, head over to the Museu de Portimão. Housed in a former fish can factory, it also features an archaeological exhibition on the area’s human evolution dating back to Neolithic times.
Tonight
From $66 per night
Next weekend
From $219 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.07 |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Average weekend price | $91 per night |
| Average weekday price | $93 per night |
| Average stay | 3 nights |
Points of interest in Portimão
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Portimão reviews
What other travelers say about Portimão
This is a great port city with lots of restaurants, shops...
May 24, 2023
This is a great port city with lots of restaurants, shops and amenities. There is an amazing Marina with great views looking back at the cliffs and packed with super yachts. It is not overly busy like some of the other nearby cities and was just perfect for us. Quiet and open while still providing all of the Portugal experience. We found several great restaurants within a few minutes walk from our apartment so many days we did not even need the car. The large grocery store called Continente was huge and we found everything we needed. With its fairly central location in the Algarve, Portimão made for a great home base for our day trips to Albufeira, Sines etc.
The beach was just amazing and the sea was so clear and...
May 23, 2023
The beach was just amazing and the sea was so clear and clean. The hire of sunbeds was very good at €9 for 2 people. Lots of nice places to eat along the beach. We loved the boardwalk and the pier. Lovely restaurants around the hotel too.
It was wonderful and the apartment was in the perfect...
May 22, 2023
It was wonderful and the apartment was in the perfect location. Walkable to the beach, restaurants and shops! Very easy to get around with lots to do during the day and a little quieter at night compared to Albufiera. Loved it!
If you’re after a low maintenance resort style holiday, it’s...
May 8, 2023
If you’re after a low maintenance resort style holiday, it’s got everything you need in close proximity. Massive beach, stunning coastline, decent bars and restaurants, friendly locals, good mix of nationalities. If you want a more ‘authentic’ Portuguese experience, probably better off at a smaller town along the coast.
I really recommend you to separate taxi / Uber money,...
April 11, 2023
I really recommend you to separate taxi / Uber money, really long walks in this city. The beaches are beautifull, there's not a lot of nightlife or clubs here, restaurants are really good
We visited the Portimão museum which was very good, nice to...
February 28, 2023
We visited the Portimão museum which was very good, nice to see how the sardines were processed back then and there was a lovely photo gallery next door. We were staying more in Praia de Rocha and walked to Portimão itself as we enjoy walking. Praia da Rocha itself is lovely with ample beaches and restaurants, not all of them open at this time of year (February) but more than enough to choose from.
Popular places to stay in Portimão
Stay in some of the best accommodations Portimão has to offer
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Convista Flat T2+1 Portimão, Portugal
From $236 per night
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Rocha beach with a view to the marine Praia da Rocha, Portimão
From $103 per night
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Ocean Coast Praia da Rocha, Portimão
From $107 per night
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Algarve Dream View 2B flat Praia da Rocha, Portimão
From $286 per night
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Terraços do Vau 108 Praia do Vau, Portimão
From $129 per night
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Other accommodations in Portimão
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Portimão
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Apartments
From $14 per night
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Villas
From $75 per night
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Cottages
From $34 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From $23 per night
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Vacation Homes
From $34 per night
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Guest houses
From $19 per night
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Hostels
From $22 per night
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B&Bs
From $43 per night
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Homestays
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Self-catering Accommodations
From $14 per night
