Hello, we go to the Algarve every year for our 2 week summer holiday and two years ago we went to Tavira for the first time, having been before on day trips.
There are two main areas were there are restaurants one run's along side the river, there are some nice one along here but you will pay the price to sit in most of these.
Over the river useing the old so called Roman Bridge you will find lots of them around the old back streets, these are far better in that there prices are a lot cheaper and in my view better food.
There are three nice bar/cafe in the main square to start the night of and at weekend the local council put on shows for the locals.
Just of the Main square and up a bit of a hill is the old Castle and main Church for the town you get realy nice veiws of the town from up there.
I would say to you get a good Guide Book on the area to get the best out of Tavira, the train station is a way out of town about 10 minutes walk up hill from the town centre, but is well worth the walk if you want to use the train, from there you can go to other resorts as well as Faro and Spain both good days out. Hope this gives you some idea's.

Dave.

now we just hit the ground if our walking sticks give way!

Thanks for that, it made me laugh and brightened up an otherwise dull Sunday morning.

We had a day out to Tavira the last time we visited Portugal, lovely wee place. Dave's post seems to cover it all, would just confirm the strip of restaurants along the river seemed over-priced. Can also confirm that Faro is well worth a visit.

Have a great time.

Jock.

I'd slightly refine that, the restaurants along the river with waiters touting outside may be overpriced but the small one with the front wall covered in traditional blue and white tiles may be worth checking (nearly opposite the corner of the old market). It's called the Restaurant Regional something. My old favourite appears to have become an Irish pub which is not what I go that far for!

Where are you staying?

You could read this ladies one woman personal crusade to eat in every restaurant in and around Tavira.

http://portugal-info.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=4008

One thing that doesn't seem to be well publicised is the camera obscura, which is up near the Old Castle. Definitely worth a visit.

We're thinking about booking 2 weeks in Tavira In April today!! so anyone that can help could you do so quickly

Couple of questions:

Would Cabanas resort be a good choice & how far is it into Tavira: I've read conflicting reports about this. Can you go by bus or would it have to be taxi?

Are there enough restaurants around Cabanos rather than having to go into Tavira at night?

What trips are available from here? Is is possible to vist eg Seville on an organised bus tour?

Any relevant info more than welcome

Would Cabanas resort be a good choice & how far is it into Tavira: I've read conflicting reports about this. Can you go by bus or would it have to be taxi?

It's a mile as the crow files but there is a river in the way. The ferry only runs in summer. By road it's about 4 miles. There is a footpath across the salt flats, a bit shorter, maybe 45 minutes walk.

There is a bus to Tavira but only three on Saturdays and none on Sundays. http://www.algarvebus.info/029.htm for times

A taxi would be about 8 Euros.

Are there enough restaurants around Cabanas rather than having to go into Tavira at night?

There are, down along the 'seafront' but I cannot say what will be open in April.

What trips are available from here? Is is possible to vist eg Seville on an organised bus tour?

Not much from Cabanas and almost certainly not in April. There are tours to Seville and elsewhere, but you would almost certainly have to go to Tavira to pick them up. Many will into be available before Easter.

Under your own steam, you could take the train from Conceição's little station (which is only a mile from Cabanas) to many places along the coast eg Faro, Vila Real, Silves, Portimão and Lagos. Train times http://www.algarvebus.info/006.htm

From Faro you can set out to other interesting places eg Loulé, Estoi and even Vilamoura.

I hope that helps.

We stay in Conciecao and take the train everywhere. The last train back from Tavira is just on midnight or you could get a taxi back. There are plenty of places to eat in Cabanas and on the way up to Conciecao. There was a website which the lady had quite cleverly named a part of it "Cabanosh" which detailed all the eateries but I can't find it now.

For value steer clear of the front and the first street back, explore a bit further back like the warm bar (that isn't it's actual name but everyone knows it as that), there is also a bistro next to it, another good meal just a bit further up is The Jolly Sailer"

My only gripe with Cabanas is getting the boat to the beach, which is a novelty at first but after a while gets a bit tedius. We usually get on our bikes and you can find some nice quite beaches along the 125.

Best value pint last autumn when I was last there was the bar in Conciecao at 1.50 for Superbok and down the front was at either the warm bar or the Belmar at 2 euros a go.

There are a couple of places to avoid who charge extorniate amounts, especially in summer, but I will not name them for fear of libel, you will find them once bitten so to speak.

Taff near Tavira and others - just to mention that the midnight train from Tavira to Conceição now only runs on Fridays (Thursday if Friday is a holiday eg Good Friday). Other days the last train is 22.47 - when they are not strike that is!

The posted timetable at Conceição had not been updated, so I wrote on it!

Hi

Went to Tavira myself 2 years ago for the first time and would go back there in a minute. Even my oh said he would go back (which is saying something). The place is beautiful, sitting next to the river. We stayed in a private apartment near the train station so we used to walk into town and get a taxi back.

We went end of August beg September and found if very quiet but it was just what we needed. Got the local train to Faro, and went to VRSA and got the ferry over to Spain.

If you go you will certainly enjoy the place

Michelle

Thanks everyone for those detailed replies. We've decided not to go there at the minute but it's definitely a place I'll visit in the future probably at a warmer time of year & all your tips'll come in really handy then.

Thank you very much everyone for your replies, roll on September Tavira here we come, zimmers all polished and ready to go!!!

I'd slightly refine that, the restaurants along the river with waiters touting outside may be overpriced but the small one with the front wall covered in traditional blue and white tiles may be worth checking (nearly opposite the corner of the old market). It's called the Restaurant Regional something. My old favourite appears to have become an Irish pub which is not what I go that far for!

Where are you staying?

Pedras Del Rey Hotel/Apartments

Do you mean Pedras d'el Rei because that's not actually in Tavira town. The complex is to the south west of town, beyond the village of Santa Luzia. It's about 3 miles to the town centre via an unlit country road. Tavira is shown in the address because it's still in the municipality. To see it on a big map click http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=37.09489%C2%BA+-7.67719%C2%BA&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl and use the + and - symbols to zoom in and out.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I'm really looking forward to visiting Tavira and will report back when I come home.

Just an update to say the midnight train mentioned above

"Taff near Tavira and others - just to mention that the midnight train from Tavira to Conceição now only runs on Fridays (Thursday if Friday is a holiday eg Good Friday). Other days the last train is 22.47 - when they are not strike that is!

The posted timetable at Conceição had not been updated, so I wrote on it!"

has now been taken off completely - at one day's notice!

Pedras d'el Rei is ideally placed for a trip across the island to the splendid Praia do Barril. There is a little train or it's about 1km walk.