It also has a fantastic market (the fish section is especially great), is in an ideal location for exploring both the Western and Central Algarve, and it’s on the train line which makes it easy to get to other towns like Lagos, Faro, and Tavira, as well as other cities in Portugal like Lisbon and Porto. Bus services are frequent too, and it’s easy to get to other parts of the Algarve, including the West Coast, as well as onto other parts of Portugal.

It’s also a good place to live, if you’re thinking of spending a few months (or even longer) on the Algarve. Many of the towns on the coast are ghost towns in the winter months, but Portimão, because it isn’t so built around the tourist trade, keeps on going. It also has plenty of shops, services, and other amenities that tourist-focused towns don’t have.