You may have noticed I posted an inquiry regarding bus service to Salema. Since that last posting I followed the advise of a respondent and looked up some traveler's reviews of the town. Quite a few, perhaps the majority, were negative. People wrote that the town had been changed by new condos/apartments/hotels and that most of the old town was no longer viable. We were hoping to find a rather sleepy fishing village. We were also hoping to get around town on foot or using public transport. That too is sounding like it may be difficult as folks have written that public transit is minimal and the town is quite hilly , making for pretty steep walking. Our plan is to travel in mid April. Has anyone been to Salema lately? Thanks!
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
I have been to Salema numerous times, usually in May/June, but not since the pandemic. I preferred it a decade ago before all the new building work. It is very hilly - you would certainly get fit after a week there!
I had day trips there a couple of times in April when staying elsewhere and it was dead - only one cafe open.
The Algarve is a 100+ mile strip of tourist development - there’s not really any such thing left as a sleepy fishing village. Olhao, Fuseta and Vila Nova de Cacela are the nearest things to fishing villages that I have seen, albeit they are very busy places that have seen development, not sleepy.
I have always had a hire car when visiting the Algarve, so I can’t comment on public transport here.
In April, stay in Lagos, not Salema.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1826 posts
I will echo Jennifer’s sentiments. Especially if you don’t have a car to get you to other places in the Algarve, don’t stay in Salema.
You might find a sleepy fishing village someplace in the Silver Coast area but not in the Algarve. But, even in that area, most small towns get tourists around Easter. Not certain when that is in 2023, but a lot of Spanish people come to Portugal for the Easter break.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank your your input. We have decided to skip Salema.
Posted by
Texas
375 posts
I too am planning a trip in April, Lagos seems to be on the train line and have more things to do than Salema. Is Salema not worth even a day trip from Lagos in April?
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Salema will only take half an hour to look round (if you walk slowly). It will take you longer to get there! Quite a few bars and restaurants won’t be open in early April.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
95 posts
Greetings! My husband and I are planning to stay in Salema for a week in early June. We’ve never been there or anywhere in Portugal before. However, we will be spending the week prior very busy in Porto and Lisbon, with two day trips planned. We want the following week to be laid back and restful. As RS suggested in last year’s Portugal guidebook, we booked a nicely located, well-equipped apartment with an unobscured view of the beach and a glorious private terrace with lounge chairs and a dining set overlooking the sea. We may never leave the apartment! Not really. We have rented a car and plan to get out and see all the natural beauty the Algarve has to offer, regardless of the development in the area. We’re not looking for excitement or lots of things to do. We’ll likely cook most of our own meals, except for a couple of times when we go to a few recommended restaurants. Salema seemed like a good choice for us. Just wanted to offer another perspective, albeit from a virgin Portugal traveler.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Salema is very hilly and can be very windy. If you have a car, it’s close to the wilder west coast, north of Vila do Bispo. It will be busy in June but dead in April.
Eat at Marigil on the main road at Raposeira, Agua na Boca in Salema, O Tiago in Budens and A Tasca do Careca in Vila do Bispo.
Posted by
USA
133 posts
Try Ericeira mot far from Lisbon. If a car, the St Vincent's coast is a beautiful drive and non touristy. Gorgeous sweeping beaches. Salema is cute but over run with tourism.