Things to do in Portimão

Leisure activities in the Portimão area

• Santa Bernarda pirate ship trips to the caves:
  
  From Portimão river front
  Tel: 282 422 791
  
  

• Boat trips up the Arade river to Silves (right) with a stop over of just over an hour to make the return journey while the tide is high enough, from the river front.
  
  

• Municipal Auditorium
  Tel: 282 418 547

• Slide and Splash water park near Lagoa operates from the beginning of April to the end of October. It opens daily at 10am and closes between 5pm and 6pm depending on the time of year.

• Aqualand (The Big One): Water park near Alcantarilha. Open from end of May to middle of September 10.00 to 18.00

• Ocean Safaris by 'Sea Life' :Tel: 919 919 200 from the river front.

• Dolphin Seafaris (Praia da Rocha), Tel: 282 799 209/ 919 359 359 from the marina.

• Hotel Algarve Casino in Praia da Rocha - a daily show, dinner, dancing and maybe try your luck! Tel: 282 402 000
  
  

• Parque Zoológico de Lagos (Zoo Lagos) - a beautiful zoo, just on the outskirts of Lagos. It is a fantastic day out for all ages, with lots of lovely animals.
  Open all year round, 7 days a week.
  Winter (from the 1st of October to the 31st of March) 10.00am – 5.00pm
  Summer (from the 1st April to the 30th September) 10.00am – 7.00pm
  Quinta Figueiras – Sítio do Medronhal
  Barão de S.João
  8600-013
  Tel: 282 680 100
  
  

• Zoomarine at Guia (10km from Albufeira): It's a great day out for the family with dolphin and sealion shows, birds of prey demonstrations and tropical birds show. It's both educational and fun. There are places to eat and drink, and also some fun rides like the pirate ship and water flume and pools to cool off in!
  Zoomarine is open from March to the end of October and opening hours are 10.00 to 18.00 March to end of June and 10.00h to 19.30h during the summer.
  
  

• Wine tasting tours:
  Adega Cooperativa de Lagoa
  09:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 18:00.
  Contact details : E.N. 125, Lagoa 8400-901.
  Tel. +351 282 342 181
  Fax +351 282 342 369

• Golf: 'Alto', 'Morgado', 'Silves' and 'Penina' are the nearest courses

Churches in the Portimão area

• Portimão church: 
  
  Portimão church was originally 14th century but as with so many buildings in the Algarve it had to be rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755.
  
  
   

• Capela de São José in Rua Dr. José Falcão

• The Old Jesuit College in Praça da República was built in the middle of the 17th century. The church occupies the centre of the building and has areas decorated with the baroque style gilded woodwork (talha dourada).

• Igreja Matriz de Alvor: Constructed at the beginning of the 16th century on the site of a medieval church it is on the hill overlooking the harbour.

• Igreja Matriz de Mexilhoeira Grande: 16th century

Galleries and Museums in the Portimão area

• Municipal museum: Antiga Fábrica Feu, Rua D. Carlos I, Portimão.

• Casa - Museu Manuel Teixeira Gomes: Rua Júdice Biker, Portimão. Now converted to a museum it is the former home of Portimão's most famous son - he was president of Portugal in 1923.
  Opening hours: 11.00h to 13.00h and 15.00h to 19.00h

• Núcleo Etnográfico: At the old railway station in Mexilhoeira Grande - with exhibits showing the rural way of life around the Alvor estuary.

• EMARP gallery: Rua José António Marques, 17, Portimão. 
  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 08.30h to 17.00h. (closed weekends and holidays).

• Museu Digo Gonçalves: Avenida São João de Deus, Portimão. - exhibitions of paintings and sculptures. The museum is in the old Jesuit College building.
  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09.30h to 12.30h and 14.00h to 17.30h. (Closed weekends and holidays).

• Information centre at Alcalar: Information about the pre-historic megaliths at Alcalar. 
  Opening hours: 09.30h to 12.30h and 14.00h to 18.00h (April to September), 14.00h to 17.00h (October to March). Closed Mondays and Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 1st May and Christmas Day.

Historical remains in the Portimao area

• Fortaleza de Santa Catarina at the end of Tomás Cabreira avenue in Praia da Rocha: Built in the early 17th century and overlooking the mouth of the river Arade. It is a fantastic  viewpoint as you can see across to Ferragudo in one direction, all along Praia da Rocha in the other direction and the modern Portimão marina just below it.
  
  

• Neolithic burial site at Alcalar: Signposted from EN125 towards Lagos.

• Roman villa remains - Quinta da Abicada: It is signposted from the EN 125 in Figueira (between Portimão and Lagos).