We are a mature Australian couple, planning to spend about 10 days with a car, in the Algarve in October. We will end in Tavira. Should we spend all the time in Tavira, or spend most time somewhere else? We want to experience village life, good food, markets etc. and stay in an apartment with cooking and laundry facilities. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Irving
3293 posts
Unless you rent a car staying in Tavira is doable, however, if getting around by public transportation you should stay in two places in the Algarve i.e. Tavira and Salema. You want to take day trips from both places. A good day trip option from Tavira is Sevilla and a good day trip option from Salema is Lagos.
Posted by
Washington DC
28299 posts
Seville is projected by ViaMichelin.com to be nearly a two-hour drive from Tavira, and it's a city with several days' worth of sights. I wouldn't consider it a reasonable day trip. If I wanted to go to Seville, I'd spend four nights there and the rest on the Algarve if I really wanted to see that area.
Posted by
OP
Melbourne, Australia
2 posts
Thank you for your rep,y. We have previously spent a week in Seville,so not interested in going back. We will have a car.
Posted by
Georgetown,KY
145 posts
In 2017 we stayed in Vale de Centianes near Carvoeiro. We drove to Tavira. This year we stayed in Burgau. Burgau is west of Lagos before Salema. Nice small village with a bunch of restaurants and a small beach. We drove to Lagos, Salema and Sagres. Quiet evenings at both with some interesting day trips. I imagine they are more hectic in August but I like the pace in Sept.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA
700 posts
Tavira is a cute clean little place but it's a bit boring. We spent 1 night there, and in retrospect should have skipped it.
It's a 100% different vibe in Carvoeiro - fun, full of tourists, beautiful beaches, etc.