Itinerary in Portimão

20 September, 2024 | Reading Time – 5 min

Summer is ending but there’s always time for a trip, this time we’ve prepared an itinerary in Portimão!

Ready to get on board? Let’s do it!

Portimão is the second largest city in the Algarve with a long history, having first been colonized during the Neolithic period. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors were all here and used the city’s strategic location as a trading post.

Like all the towns on the Algarve coast, Portimão has an intrinsic connection with the sea. In this sense, the fishing activity is strong and has consequently made this city a center of the fish canning industry. In addition, Portimão is well known for its fantastic beaches!

We challenge you to take a stroll through the Old Town, admire medieval churches or perhaps try some delicious seafood – everything goes into your Portimão itinerary if you want to have fun!

Let’s start this adventure now!

Where is Portimão?

The city of Portimão is located in the extreme southwest of Portugal. It is part of the Algarve region and is about 280 kilometers from Lisbon and 65 kilometers from Faro. So if you’re arriving in Portugal by plane, know that it’s closer to Faro airport.

The Portimão area is mostly flat, dry and reasonably warm. The coastline is rocky and there are some cliffs interspersed with wonderful white sandy beaches.

Portimão is surrounded by green areas so, if you want a trip to explore nature, you have the Costa Vicentina Natural Park to the northwest of Portimão and the Monchique Mountains to the north.

How long to spend in Portimão

Although Portimão is the second largest city in the Algarve, its population is only 50000. In that sense, it’s a small city, so your itinerary in Portimão shouldn’t exceed three days.

This period is enough to visit the main sights and see a bit of the surrounding area, without rushing and enjoying the soul of the city. So, if you’re thinking of visiting the Algarve, Portimão’s good location and convenience make it a great base from which to explore other towns on the Algarve coast.

If you decide to stay in Portimão for three days, we recommend that you first explore the city itself and then head to the local beaches; we’d like to give you a tip: the most stunning is Rocha Beach, but don’t tell anyone.

Itinerary in Portimão

As promised, here is the itinerary in Portimão!

We’ve organized two days in this wonderful city for you to discover orange cliffs, viewpoints with superb views, cultural venues and much more!

Grab your pen and notepad and start jotting down suggestions for a mini vacation in Portimão!

Day 1

Start your day early with a delicious breakfast, then head to the center of Portimão to see the Main Church. This religious space was built in the 15th century and was erected in one of the highest areas of the city to show off the mixture of architectural styles.

After visiting this magnificent building, head to the Jesuit Convent. On arrival, you’ll be surprised by the yellow hue of this building. Inside you’ll find works by various Portuguese painters.

Well, it’s almost lunchtime, so let’s go to the Riverside area!

This is a must for a short stroll before your meal, with beautiful Portuguese sidewalks. It’s also an area with numerous restaurants where you can sample Portimão’s delicacies.

Your afternoon will be spent at Rocha Beach, where you can sunbathe or do water activities.

Day 2

After yesterday you thought you’d seen it all? Don’t be fooled, we have a second day full of fantastic experiences.

We start with a visit to the Portimão Museum. This cultural space is housed in a former fish cannery and offers an exhibition on “Portimão, Territory and Identity”, which gives a historical overview of the city.

After this stop, we’ll add some adrenaline to your trip. We challenge you to take a boat trip to the Benagil Cave.

This cave has a hole in the ceiling and a beach in the middle, which nowadays can only be accessed by land, since access by sea was forbidden due to the number of people visiting it. So enjoy one of the Algarve’s greatest natural wonders, you won’t regret it.

Day 3

Today we stay on land, after a boat trip we’ll visit the balcony trails over the sea. We’ll walk along Portimão’s rocky coastline from the top, for five kilometers, between Vau Beach and Prainha.

If you find this plan too long, you can opt for a stroll along the dunes at Alvor Walkways. After a good hike, we recommend a beautiful dinner and who can risk eating seafood rice!

Never tried it? You don’t know what you’re missing. To end the evening on a high note, there are two options. On the one hand, you can go to the Municipal Theater, located in 1st of December Square, and watch a concert or a performance.

On the other hand, you can go to the Portimão Casino and try your luck at a slot machine or even watch a show!

Whatever you choose, we know your evening will be memorable!

Curiosities about Portimão

There are many reasons to visit Portimão and perhaps to return, but we’ve picked out a few characteristics of this city that will make you want to get on a plane in five minutes.

You won’t get cold!

Yes, there are around 300 days of sunshine a year, so this city is one of the warmest in Portugal. The average temperature is 27º in summer and 9º in winter.

Walk facing the sea

Portimão has a wide pedestrian avenue with Portuguese sidewalks, palm trees and sculptures where you can walk and enjoy the sea.

Shop away from the mall

This town has invested heavily in markets and traditional stores to recapture the dynamics of yesteryear.

English as a second language

Finally, a very positive factor is that you don’t need to worry about speaking portuguese, since almost the entire population speaks and understands english.