Portugal has had a record-breaking summer. And its popularity looks to continue well into the fall.
But while the country as a whole has welcomed huge numbers of visitors, one destination in particular has shone as a tourism star this year.
Enter Portimao.
According to the Portugal Institute of National Statistics, Portimao experienced the biggest growth in overnight stays this summer, with 10.9% more visitors than last year.
As the largest city in the Algarve, Portimao boasts beautiful beaches, fascinating local history, and appealing low prices.
Here’s why you should consider Portimao instead of Lisbon for your next Portuguese getaway:
Things To Do In Portimao
You can’t talk about visiting Portimao without mentioning its beaches.
Although Portugal is often considered a Mediterranean country due to its climate, Portimao actually sits on the Atlantic coast. But that doesn’t diminish just how beautiful its beaches are.
The whole coastline here is fringed by tall cliffs, and you’ll see stunning rock formations jutting from the water just off the shoreline.
It’s a stunning scenic attraction.
One of the best beaches is Praia dos Três Castelos which not only has a stunning golden sand beach but also boasts incredible rock formations and caves to explore.
This is a great place for watersports, such as kayaking or paddleboarding, which the coastline here is famous for. You can take a sunset cruise from Portimao to the Benagil caves, which are close by and are the best example of caves in the area, for just $19.
Away from the beaches, other incredible attractions to explore in Portimao include the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, which is a medieval fort in the city.
It was built during the reign of King Phillip II making it more than 400 years old.
The small chapel inside is beautiful and an interesting detour, but it is the views from the top of the fort that make it worth visiting.
The fortress is open to the public and access is free of charge.
Where To Stay In Portimao
Portimao has a reputation for being one of the more affordable destinations in Portugal, and this is particularly true when you visit in the quieter seasons, such as fall and winter.
In the fall you can find good, comfortable 3 star accommodations in Portimao from as little as $50 per night.
Looking at a 3 night stay from October 16 to October 19, the highest rated 3 star hotel is the Hotel Santa Catarina Algarve which is 50 meters from the beach, with all of the rooms having their own balconies.
A 3 night stay for 2 people sharing is $240 or $40 per person, per night.
If you’d like to splurge or prefer something a little more luxurious then the highest rated 4 star hotel available (based on time of looking) for the same dates is the Jupiter Marina Hotel – Couples & Spa. This hotel is 100 metres from Portimão’s riverside and has a rooftop infinity pool and beautiful spa.
A 3 night stay for 2 people sharing is $434 or $73.60 per person, per night.
Getting There
One of the things that makes Portimao so appealing is that it’s a little off the beaten path, particularly in fall/winter when there is no nonstop flight to the Algarve for American travelers.
You could take an indirect flight into Faro airport, or you could fly into Lisbon and then take public transport to the Algarve and Portimao. This is likely to be the cheapest option, and public transport is both affordable and reliable in Portugal.
You can fly to Lisbon from New York, Miami, Washington, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Fransisco.
To give an example of prices, I looked at flights from New York departing on October 17 and returning on October 23. Nonstop flights with Delta on this route are costing $769 return.
The flight time on this route is 7 hours 15 minutes outbound and 8 hours 15 minutes inbound.
Once you’re in Lisbon, the train from Lisbon to Portimao takes 3 hours 26 minutes on average. A one way journey on this route will cost just $35, and although the idea of a long train ride after your flight might not be appealing, why not spend a couple of days in Lisbon first?
When you’re feeling refreshed, this is a wonderfully scenic train journey, and a valuable experience in its own right.
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