Portimao Portugal from a Cruise Ship

What to do when visiting Portimao Portugal from a Cruise Ship?

You may be wondering what to do when you have just a few hours in port while visiting Portimao, Portugal from a cruise ship. The great news is that you can have several unique experiences in this beautiful port city.

What is Portimao known for?

Portimao is a port city in Portugal known for its white sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and great restaurants. Portimao is located on the River Arade and is the second-largest city in the region of Algarve, in size just behind Faro. Tourism has become more and more important over the last century. Portimao is well known for its fresh seafood, specifically, sardines barbequed on a skewer!

Is Portimao worth visiting?

The many tourists who visit here think so. This stunning coastline with 133 pristine beaches and great tourist facilities makes this a very popular destination year-round. Of course, the great weather helps as well.

Where do cruise ships stop in Portimao?

During our trip aboard the Carnival Pride, we visited Portimão. Due to the ship’s size, it was unable to dock directly at the Portimão Cruise Terminal, so we used tenders (water shuttles) to reach the port. Smaller cruise ships, measuring less than 230 meters in length, can dock directly at the terminal—a convenient option often available for vessels cruising this picturesque region.

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Can I walk to the city center from the cruise port?

The good news is that the answer is “Yes”, you can. The city center of Portimao is a short 1.5 km walk from the cruise port. There are also shuttle buses and taxis available to take you to the city center.

How far is the port from the beach?

The beaches of Portimao are sandy and backed by beautiful red cliffs. Some are only accessible by using a rope to climb up or down, or by water (boat or swimming).

The main beach of Portimao is Praia da Rocha. It is wide and long, with a boulevard running next to it that has tons of bars and restaurants. The heart of Portimao is approximately 0.2 miles from Praia da Rocha Beach.

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10 Things to Do When Visiting Portimao, Portugal from a Cruise Ship

1. Portimao Museum

If you want to learn about the history of Portimao, the Portimao Museum is the place to visit. This museum is located in an old fish canning factory. Admission is free on Sunday and ranges from 1.50 – 4.00 euros on Tuesday-Saturday. (Closed on Monday)

2. Craft Shops in Rua Vasco da Gama

For unique souvenirs or gifts, head for the craft shops in the old town near Rua Vasco da Gama. These shops feature all types of items made by local craftsmen, including leather items and painted ceramics that are unique to this region.

3. Church of Our Lady of Conception

The Church of Our Lady of Conception (built in 1476) is located in the historic district of Portimao. It is a beautiful white church with capitals, gargoyles, and a distinct bell tower that is visible in many parts of the city. Inside includes some interesting marble statues, including St Peter the Apostle, which dates from the 17th century.

You can find the entrance on Ruo Machado Santos.

4. Benagil Caves

One of the top attractions in Portimao is the Benagil Caves. Take a guided boat tour to see these caves from the water. You will also see several stunning beaches, small towns, and beautiful cliffs by the ocean.

This is one of the tours we took, and it was spectacular. I highly recommend it. There are many tour groups that take groups out on the water. Here is a link to the exact one we took.

5. Santa Bernarda Pirate Ship

You can catch the Santa Bernarda Pirate Ship at the Cais Vasco da Gama pier. This ship is unique and a must for any Pirate fans! You get the opportunity to sail along the coast of Algarve and hang out with Pirates! You also have to opportunity to switch to smaller boats to explore several of the caves. This adventure lasts 3 hours.

6. Ferragudo

One of the prettiest villages in Portugal is Ferragudo. Once a fishing village, it is now a tourist destination. Although it is not negatively affected by tourism, and by that I mean no neon lights, high-rise hotels, or fast food places! Great village to go for a fresh seafood meal.

From Portimao, you can take a train (81 minutes) or you can grab a water taxi/ferry (less than 10 euros).

7. Praia da Rocha

Considered the best beach in the Algarve, you can’t go wrong visiting Praia da Rocha. This beach is wide and long with plenty of room to walk or relax in the sand. This beach has beautiful weather year-round, but it can be unpredictable in winter.

Many restaurants and bars are within walking distance of the beach. During the summer and holiday seasons, many water and beach activities are available.

From the cruise port, you will most likely take a taxi or water taxi to visit this lovely beach.

Cruise Excursions

Most cruise ships offer shore excursions you can book from the ship. The next few listed are often destinations you can book from the ship.

8. Silves

Silves is considered one of the area’s most beautiful towns. It is located about 20 minutes from Portimao. The town has colorful buildings, lots of cobbled streets, and an old Roman Bridge. It is famous for its cathedral (Catedral de Silves), a Moorish Castel (Castelo de Silves), and its annual Medieval Festival each summer.

If your ship doesn’t offer an excursion, you can get to Silves by Train (15 minutes), Bus (40 Minutes), Taxi (16 minutes), or drive (16 minutes).

9. Cape St Vincent

Cape St Vincent is the southwestern point of Portugal and, in fact, of mainland Europe as well. A lovely lighthouse is located among the steep cliff edges. The views are incredible!

Cape St Vincent is about an hour away from Portimao. If you cannot go on an excursion, the easiest way to get there is to drive or by taxi (about 37 miles)

10. Algarve Wine Tour

Most cruise ships offer a wine tour at almost all the ports in Portugal and Spain. The Algarve has several wineries, and if this is your thing, then you won’t want to miss it.

If your ship doesn’t offer a wine tour, here are two I recommend. The first one is an hour and a half and includes a vineyard tour, wine tasting, and an art tour. The second one is four and a half hours and includes touring vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms at two wineries. You really can’t go wrong with either of these tours.

Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

Most ships offer shore excursions that you can book on board. Here are the excursions currently offered by some of the cruise lines.

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Holland America

Transportation in Portimao

You have several options for transportation in Portimao.

As mentioned above, you can walk from the port into town or take a taxi or shuttle from the cruise ship terminal. You can also use the local buses if you want to venture further away to places that are not within walking distance.

You can also take advantage of water taxes since this city is built along the edge of the water. This may be the quickest and easiest method if you are trying to cross the river or bay or travel along the coastline. Also useful to go to hard-to-reach beaches.

The Wrap-Up: Portimao, Portugal from a Cruise Ship

Visiting Portimao, Portugal, from a Cruise Ship gives you limited time to see all the spectacular, unique places. This list should help you narrow down and select the best adventure for you!

When visiting Portimao you often visit Lisbon and Porto from a cruise ship, check out my posts for these ports.

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