BowenLinda

I'm looking for recommendations for a large town / small city for May 17 - 20 'ish. I'll have spent 2 nights at Vila Real San Antonio and seen bits of Lagos, Silves and Tavira at the end of a tour.
I won't have a car but will use the train and bus to get around.
My focus is taking a boat cruise to see the Rio Formosa Park and Islands, visit the Benagil caves, a boat tour along the Guadiana River, walk the towns, and just enjoy the sunshine.
Thank you for your suggestions.

Michael

For the Ria Formosa Park and the Guadania River it looks like Tavira would be the natural base.

BowenLinda

Thank you, Michael. That's what I thought or perhaps Vila Real San Antonio? Do you have a preference?

This will be my first time to Portugal and most likely my last, unfortunately. My travel list is long...

Michael

I can't stay. We stopped for lunch in Tavira on our way to Lagos. I did notice that it was not by the sea, and I got lost in a maze of seaside apartment houses that were not attractive at all. The old town is pleasant and probably a better place to stay since the transportation hub is probably located there.

https://flic.kr/p/2grLgbR

Maribel

I'm a bit confused, Linda. Will you have already stayed in Vila Real de Santo António? I do know both, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António (where the Spaniards flock on bus tours to buy linens, towels, on the Main Street linen shops) and where there is a new Pousada and a ferry (20-minute ride) over the Guadiana to Ayamonte, Spain.

I much preferred Tavira, where we were based for 4 nights in a country house-villa hotel outside of town.
Tavira has some nightlife (Tavira Lounge, a fado house), good restaurants, especially for seafood, shopping, a Moorish castle with ramparts that one can walk, beautiful churches to visit (Igrega da Misericordia), a Pousada hotel converted from an ancient convent, a Roman bridge, a lively indoor market, pastry shops and a small Islamic Museum (Núcleo Islámico). There's even wine production here. Tavira is whitewashed and very Moorish looking, with strong Moorish roots.

No,Tavira is not on the ocean (Praia Verde is, but it's further east). Tavira's beaches are on an island, Ilha da Tavira, reachable by ferry from Quatro Aguas, 2 km from Tavira, but in May the water of the Atlantic will be too cold to swim

From Tavira you can take a boat tour of the Ria Formosa with Passeio Ria Formosa, departing from Santa Luzia and Cabanas de Tavira, both near Tavira. These 2 tiny communities are very popular winter havens for Northern Europeans and Canadians.
There's a full day tour to the Benagil caves from Tavira. It departs from the city hall and is operated by Sebastião Gonçalves de Assunção.
https://algarvesensations.com/index....ave-of-benagil

There are train and bus connections to Faro and Lagos.

And Tavira is not a "party town", as are some on the Algarve coast.

For lodging, while there is a Pousada, you might also consider this 5-room boutique gem, São Paulo Boutique Suites, if there's availability.
https://www.saopauloboutiquehotel.com

Maribel

Another brand new lodging option in Tavira is the Colegio Charm House.
https://www.i-escape.com/colegio-charm-house

BowenLinda

Thank you, Michael and Maribel, both really helpful posts.

The world seems to be visiting Portugal in May + and I jumped at some properties yesterday for a foot in the door.

My error - tour not ending at VRSA but in Tavira. Since I won't have spent much time there, I've booked in Tavira at the Collegio.

I am then training west to Lagos to stay at the Lagos Atlantic Hotel. I understand Lagos is touristy but I like to move every 3 or 4 days and see a different perspective. And distances along the Algarve are short.

I had wanted to bus from Lagos to Lisbon along the SW coast to Setubal but that route seems to be cancelled due to Covid. Too bad.

Thanks, again.

Michael

I had wanted to bus from Lagos to Lisbon along the SW coast to Setubal

To make you feel better, the road is not really coastal with a few exceptions such as Sines

https://flic.kr/p/2gvmEF1
and possibly going up the narrow peninsula to take the ferry to the city of Setúbal, although I suspect that the bus would take a major road farther east.

https://flic.kr/p/2gvmEF1 https://flic.kr/p/2gvmbNG

Maribel

The Rede Expressos bus that runs from Lagos to Setúbal does go near but not along the coast for a bit, past Aljezur and Odeceixe but then goes inland through São Teotónio, Odemira, Cercal and Santiago do Cacém, where one has to make a bus change to Setúbal.

Glad you were able to book the new Colegio.
Tourism has increased in Portugal by leaps and bounds.
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news...over-500/66143

BowenLinda

That's great to know re the bus route.

I love a photo of a working harbour vessel like a car ferry. Brings back lots of terrific memories living for 20 years on an island just outside of Vancouver...

Great news re Portugal's revived tourism sector. V's first cruise ship in 2 years was just cancelled due to onboard covid.

BowenLinda

That's great to know re the bus route.

I love a photo of a working harbour vessel like a car ferry. Brings back lots of terrific memories living for 20 years on an island just outside of Vancouver...

Great news re Portugal's revived tourism sector. V's first cruise ship in 2 years was just cancelled due to onboard covid.