Tavira boasts a stunning coastline of golden sand beaches, calm turquoise waters, and pristine natural scenery.

The most popular beach is the Praia de Tavira, while further along the coastline lie the tranquil Praia da Terra Estreita and Praia do Barril. These three beaches line the seaward side of the Ilha de Tavira, which is separated from the mainland by the lagoons and waterways of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa.

To the east of Tavira is the delightful village of Cabanas and the sandy beach of Praia de Cabanas, while further eastwards stretches the vast sandy expanse of Praia de Cacela Velha.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide to the beaches of the Tavira region and help you make the most of your beach day.
Related articles: Introduction to Tavira - 1 week in Tavira

Insight: If you have come to this guide wanting to plan a beach day trip while staying in Tavira, then you should head to Praia de Tavira (on the Ilha de Tavira island). To get there, a ferry must be caught, which departs from central Tavira (during peak season) or the Cais das Quatro Águas (available all year).

The idyllic beaches along the Ilha de Tavira coastline

Praia de Tavira (2.5km from central Tavira) – The main beach of Tavira, offering soft sands and calm sea waters. Reached by ferry from Tavira.

Praia do Barril (5.5km from central Tavira) – Very similar to Praia de Tavira, featuring the unique Anchor Cemetery (Cemitério das Âncoras). Accessed from the mainland via a bridge and then a 1.4km walk or by taking a mini train.

Praia da Terra Estreita (4.5km from central Tavira) – The quietest beach on the Ilha de Tavira. Reached by ferry from Santa Luzia.

Praia dos Tesos (3km from central Tavira) – Sandy beach that opens out onto the waterways of the Ria Formosa. This can be accessed from the mainland so can be cycled, walked or driven to.

Praia de Cabanas (5.3km from central Tavira) – Sandy beach on the Ilha de Cabanas, accessed by ferry from the village of Cabanas.

Praia de Cacela Velha (10km from central Tavira) – Expansive sandy beach that can be reached on foot at low tide, with numerous tidal pools to explore.

Below is an interactive map of the best beaches close to Tavira (green) and in the Eastern Algarve region (yellow). The map also includes the major tourist towns of the region shown in blue. (Note: Zoom out to see all of the points)

Tavira’s beaches (green): 1) Praia de Tavira 2) Praia do Barril 3) Praia dos Tesos 4) Praia da Terra Estreita 5) Praia de Cabanas
East Algarve beaches (yellow): 6) Praia da Ilha Deserta 7) Praia da Ilha da Culatra 8) Praia da Fuseta 9) Praia de Cacela Velha 10) Praia da Manta Rota 11) Praia de Monte Gordo 12) Praia de Santo António
Beach towns and villages (blue): 13) Tavira 14) Olhão 15) Fuzeta 16) Santa Luzia 17) Cabanas 18) Altura 19) Monte Gordo 20) Vila Real de Santo António
Insight: The weather is suitable for spending time on the beach from May until the end of September

The Praia da Terra Estreita is one of the quietest beaches of the Tavira region

The vast beach at Monte Gordo

The beaches near Tavira are located along the seaward side of two barrier islands that shelter the Ria Formosa waterways: the Ilha de Tavira and the Ilha de Cabanas.

From Tavira, ferry services operate to the Ilha de Tavira, whilst the smaller town of Cabanas provides ferry routes to the Ilha de Cabanas. During your holiday to Tavira, you will typically visit the beaches on the Ilha de Tavira, as there are no direct ferry services between Tavira and the Ilha de Cabanas.

The waterways of the Ria Formosa separate the beaches from the mainland

The Ilha de Tavira features a 10km long sandy shoreline that extends from Tavira in the north-east to Fuseta in the south-west. The beaches on the Ilha de Tavira are idyllic, with soft golden sands and calm seawaters, and are protected from any unsightly tourist development by the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa.

These beaches face south-east, sheltering them from the strong waves and currents that roll in from the Atlantic Ocean to the west. This orientation provides calm seawaters when compared to those found in the western Algarve.

There are three access points onto the Ilha de Tavira from the mainland (two ferry routes and one footbridge), which gives rise to the three main beaches on the island. These beaches are the Praia de Tavira (accessible by ferry from Tavira), the Praia da Terra Estreita (ferry from the village of Santa Luzia) and the Praia do Barril (reached via footbridge from the village of Pedras d'El Rei).

All three beaches are very similar, varying only in visitor numbers and available facilities. The Praia de Tavira, being the closest to Tavira, is the busiest and offers the most beach amenities, whilst the Praia da Terra Estreita is the quietest.

Note: Praia do Homem Nú (the nudist beach) has no direct access point and must be reached on foot from either the Praia de Tavira or the Praia da Terra Estreita.

The eastern side of the Ilha de Tavira with the mouth of the Gilão River and the Praia de Tavira beach

The beaches on the Ilha de Tavira are ideal for families and children. The seawaters are calm and safe, and during the summer months, the beaches are supervised by lifeguards.

The Praia de Tavira is the best beach for families as it offers the most comprehensive facilities, including toilets, cafés and beach shops. In summer, visitors can enjoy a wide selection of water sports and beach activities, making the Praia de Tavira a lively and enjoyable destination.

The calm waterways of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa hide several small, secluded beaches, including the Praia dos Tesos. These sheltered spots offer peaceful alternatives to the busier ocean-facing beaches.

While perfect for sunbathing and enjoying the serene natural surroundings, these interior beaches have notable limitations. The muddy sediment beneath the water makes them less suitable for swimming. Water quality fluctuates with the tides, affecting both clarity and cleanliness.

Unlike the main beaches on Ilha de Tavira, these secluded spots lack amenities such as toilets, refreshment stands, and lifeguard supervision.

Praia dos Tesos with the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora to the rear.

The Praia de Tavira is the closest beach to Tavira town, located on the northeastern edge of Ilha de Tavira, directly opposite the Cais das Quatro Águas harbour. Its convenient location makes it the most popular beach in the region

This stunning beach features soft sand without rocks or pebbles, and calm turquoise waters that are among the warmest in Portugal—though still refreshingly cool compared to Mediterranean beaches. Many visitors find Praia de Tavira so enchanting that they happily return throughout their holiday.

Behind the beach lies a seasonal community including a campsite, cafés, and shops. While all facilities maintain a low-key atmosphere, they offer various options for meals, drinks, and snacks.

The Restaurante Pavilhão da Ilha stands out as the best dining option. If you wish to try other establishments on the island, we strongly recommend checking online reviews beforehand, as many places offer mediocre food and service.

During high season, all restaurants become extremely crowded at lunchtime. Often it is better to bring your own food to enjoy at the shaded picnic area— not only will you avoid the crowds, but you'll also escape the inflated prices charged by the beach restaurants.

Praia de Tavira gets very busy during summer months, with most visitors congregating near the northern section where parasols and sunshades are available for rent (€20 per day). For those seeking more tranquillity, quieter sections extend to the southwest, though be aware that the nudist beach (Praia do Homem Nú) is only about 1km away.

The Praia de Tavira on a busy summers day

The mouth of the Gilão River at the eastern side of the Praia de Tavira

The centre of the Ilha de Tavira

There are two ferry services that connect the mainland to the ferry terminal at the northern tip of the Ilha de Tavira (GPS: 37.115, -7.621 – link to google maps).

The first service departs from the western side of the Gilão River along Rua José Pires Padinha in central Tavira (GPS 37.124, -7.645). It operates during peak season (Apr-Sep) and costs €1.45/€2.50 (adult single/return) or €1.10 for a child (4-11) return. Children up to 3 years travel free.

The second ferry route is year-round and departs from the Cais das Quatro Águas harbour (GPS 37.116, -7.629). This much shorter ferry route costs €1.10/€1.90 (adult single/return) or €1.00 for a child (4-11) return. Cais das Quatro Águas is 2km south of Tavira and has a large (paid) car park.

Timetables and further details can be seen on the Silnido (ferry company) website: www.silnido.com

On the Ilha de Tavira, it is a 200m walk from the Cais da Ilha de Tavira pier to the beach, and the route passes the campsite and beach cafes.

Advice: In the summer, there can be long queues for the return ferry, as everyone returns to Tavira at almost the same time.

The ‘Avô Zuca’ ferry packed with beach goers heading from central Tavira to the Ilha de Tavira

The Praia do Barril is our favourite beach of the Tavira region. Beyond its golden sands and crystal-clear waters, this beach offers a fascinating glimpse into the area's rich fishing heritage and features the Cemitério das Âncoras (Anchor Cemetery), one of the Algarve's most unique attractions.

Once a thriving fishing community specializing in Bluefin Tuna, Barril was abandoned in the 1960s when fish stocks dwindled. Today, the former fishermen's cottages have been transformed into charming cafes, boutiques, and beach facilities. The beach's most striking feature is the hundreds of rusting anchors—once used to secure complex tuna fishing nets—now artfully arranged among the sand dunes as a poignant memorial to the area's vanished way of life.

The Praia do Barril beach is located near the village of Pedras de El-Rei and is the furthest of the three beaches from Tavira. At this point, the Ria Formosa waterways are at their narrowest, with a bridge connecting the mainland to the Ilha de Tavira.

Beyond the bridge, a delightful mini-train transports visitors the 1.4km to the beach. This train once served a practical purpose, carrying supplies to Barril and returning with freshly caught fish to the mainland.
Related articles: Praia do Barril guide

The Praia do Barril Beach

The Cemitério das Âncoras

The mini train to the beach

The Praia da Terra Estreita Beach remains largely undiscovered by tourism and is one of the quietest beaches in the Algarve. Located on the middle section of the Ilha de Tavira, it sits approximately 2km from both Praia de Tavira and Praia do Barril. The beach lies directly opposite the small fishing town of Santa Luzia, which provides the only ferry access.

On the beach, there is just a single beach bar/café, while stretches of deserted coastline extend to either side. There is no direct ferry from Tavira itself; the only connection is from Santa Luzia, located 3km east of Tavira.

During summer, the ferry departs every 15 minutes with a return trip costing €2.00. The Praia da Terra Estreita is the perfect beach to escape the crowds - its quiet and relaxed ambience makes it a favourite of all who make the effort to visit.

The Praia do Homem Nú was the Algarve's original nudist beach but is not very popular as it is so difficult to travel to. The only method is to travel to the Praia de Tavira or the Praia da Terra Estreita and then walk the 1km along the beach.

The name "Praia do Homem Nú" translates to "Naked Man Beach," reflecting its status as one of Portugal's first officially designated naturist beaches. It was formally recognized as a legal nudist beach in the 1980s. The beach features the same golden sands and clear waters as its neighboring beaches on Ilha de Tavira, but with significantly fewer facilities and visitors.

Due to its relative isolation, the beach offers a more natural and undeveloped environment than the main beaches of the region. There are no amenities such as beach bars, cafés, or shade umbrellas for rent.

The sea waters of the Tavira coastline are crystal clear but are surprisingly chilly, even at the height of the summer. During the peak season (June-August) the sea temperature is 21-22C, but this drops to 16-17C in the winter (December – February).

The Tavira coastline has less powerful waves than the western Algarve and is not really suitable for surfing.

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