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We’ve always wanted to visit Portugal’s Algarve region, but figuring out the perfect place was a challenge with so much variety online. Rather than the bustle of the central part of the region, we opted for the Eastern side, specifically Cabanas de Tavira, which is more synonymous with quiet escapes and luxury accommodation.
Our recent visit, unlike most of our other trips, was less focused on ticking off a list of sights and landmarks, and more on rest, relaxation, and good food (while trying to follow the last of the sun). Here’s our guide to relaxing in Cabanas, including a day visit to nearby Tavira.
How to Get to Cabanas de Tavira
Reaching Cabanas de Tavira is relatively straightforward. Faro Airport (FAO) is the main international airport and is about 28 miles west (a 35–45-minute drive) of Cabanas. It’s easy to organise an airport transfer or book a taxi, unless you have a transfer included as part of your holiday package. An Uber should cost you around €35–€50 for a one-way trip. There’s also a train you can catch from Faro city centre straight to Conceição station, which sits right on the edge of Cabanas.
There are plenty of flights to Faro throughout the year from most major airlines and UK airports. This makes Cabanas an easy location to visit throughout the peak summer months.
| Departure Location | Transport / Flight Option | Non-All Inclusive Price (Flight Only) | All-Inclusive Package Price (Flights + Hotel + Food) | Key Airlines & Operators |
| London (LGW / STN / LTN / LHR) | Direct Flight to Faro | £30 – £150 return | £500 – £1,100 per person (7 nights) | Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, Jet2 |
| Northern UK (MAN / LBA / LPL) | Direct Flight to Faro | £45 – £180 return | £550 – £1,200 per person (7 nights) | Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet, TUI |
| Scotland & NI (EDI / GLA / BFS) | Direct Flight to Faro | £50 – £200 return | £600 – £1,250 per person (7 nights) | Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet |
| Faro Airport to Cabanas | Private Transfer / Taxi | €35 – €50 (one way) | Included in most package bookings | Local Transfer Firms, Uber, Bolt |
| Faro Airport to Cabanas | Rental Car | €15 – £40 per day | N/A | Guerin, Hertz, Europcar, Centauro |
Travel Tips for Cabanas
Planning a trip to Cabanas de Tavira comes with a few quirks, from figuring out how to travel around the area to staying connected on the go. Here is everything we learned during our stay to help make your trip run smoothly
Best Time to Visit Cabanas de Tavira
We chose to visit Cabanas mid-September. The temperature was perfect, averaging around 29°C during the day and 20°C at night. This was ideal for sunbathing during the day and walking along the boardwalk for an evening meal. There were next to no clouds either.
September and October are much better since there are fewer crowds compared to July and August. Plus, the heat is much more bearable.
Staying Connected in Cabanas
This was our first time using an eSIM while travelling abroad, and it has been a game changer. A holiday eSIM for Portugal gives you unlimited mobile data across Portugal (including Cabanas) with instant connectivity the moment your plane touches down. Instead of paying hefty roaming charges or hunting for a local physical SIM card upon landing at Faro Airport, set up an eSIM prior to departure.
Use our code NORTHERNLUXURY at checkout to get:
- 5% OFF any Holafly travel eSIM (can be used multiples times)
- 10% OFF Holafly monthly plans for your first 12 months.
With the hotel Wi-Fi not being the best and often cutting out, having an eSIM meant we could always access the internet in our hotel room and while out exploring Cabanas and Tavira. We generally found we had at least three bars of 5G service everywhere we went, if not full bars.
Top Tip: Make sure to select your travel eSIM as your primary cellular data line before touching down in Portugal, and turn data roaming ON for the eSIM. On your standard home SIM, turn data roaming OFF and make sure “Auto Data Switching” (or “Switch SIM”) is disabled to avoid accidental roaming charges.
Getting Around Cabanas
The main way we got around the region was on foot. The walk to the boardwalk and the main strip is only 15 minutes each way.
Taxis
If you do wish to travel by car or if you want to head into Tavira town, a taxi is your best bet. We found Bolt wasn’t great for finding a match – either asking the hotel to book one or using Uber was the easiest method.
Train
We didn’t take the train on our trip but were highly recommended it by people who had visited the area numerous times. Cabanas is served by a small station, Conceição train station, which is a 10-to-15-minute walk from the main Cabanas waterfront promenade. The line is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP) on the regional Linha do Algarve route.
You buy the tickets on the train from the conductor, with both cash and card accepted. A single journey to nearby Tavira costs around €1.45, while a trip all the way to Faro or the Spanish border town of Vila Real de Santo António ranges from €2.50 to €5.00. The train ride is said to be extremely scenic, where you’ll pass by beautiful countryside and orange groves.
Car
If you choose to hire a car from Faro Airport, make sure the rental company includes an electronic toll transponder (Via Verde). The main A22 motorway uses automatic overhead gantry tolls, so having the transponder automatically charge your card saves you from any later payments. Cabanas de Tavira is a 35-40-minute drive via the A22 toll highway or the N125.
Paying for Things in Cabanas
At the hotel AP Cabanas, card was the only accepted form of payment, which was a disappointment since we decided to only take euros. This left us with lots of cash to exchange when we got home. If you’re thinking of only staying at the hotel, there’s no need to take cash, other than for tips and potentially meals out or travel.
Many places within Cabanas and Tavira only accept cash as a form of payment. If you’re looking to explore these areas and sample local food, make sure to take some Euros with you. These establishments are quite reasonably priced, so €200 per person or so for a week will be enough.
Where We Stayed: AP Cabanas Beach & Nature
For this trip, we chose to stay at AP Cabanas Beach & Nature, an adults-only (14+) hotel situated along the Ria Formosa Nature Park. The hotel is around a 40-minute drive away from Faro airport. It is the perfect balance of modern luxury combined with touches of nature and lagoon views. We were mesmerised the moment we stepped through the doors. You have a huge open poolside area through the reception, filled with sun beds and hammocks surrounding the main pool. You’re instantly drawn to the huge palm trees towering over the space by the hotel room balconies.
While there are options to go all-inclusive or premium all-inclusive, we chose the standard base rate. This is because we prefer to explore the local restaurants rather than eat on-site. However, should we return, we’d definitely go all-inclusive, more so for the unlimited drinks and for those evenings you prefer to avoid a long walk out of the complex. For only a few hundred pounds more or so, it’s well worth the money, especially if you like to stay all-inclusive and within the confines of the hotel.
The Room
Our room overlooked the front of the hotel and the gardens with a slight view of the pool. You can, however, reserve a poolside view if you wish, but we preferred the privacy of this part of the hotel.
The room was quite spacious, with separate toilet and shower facilities, as well as a huge mirror and sink in the middle. The bed was large and made up each day. There was also a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, a hairdryer, and toiletries. The balcony area came with a table and chairs for relaxing in the evenings.
Facilities at the Hotel
AP Cabanas Beach & Nature Hotel offers an impressive range of amenities designed for both relaxation and staying active, whether you want to spend your days lounging by the water or sampling the on-site dining options. Here is a full breakdown of what you can expect during your stay.
Pools
The main pool is found directly in the middle of the apartment buildings and reception area. There are plenty of sun beds, so you never need to worry about reserving one early in the morning. The pool is surprisingly large and, while a little cold, was comfortable enough to swim in during September.
During the day, at around 11:30 am and 4:30 pm, there are aqua aerobic sessions that last around 30 minutes. There’s also a pool by the rooftop bar and an indoor pool in the spa area.
Spa and Wellness
The hotel’s spa area includes a built-in sauna and steam room, as well as an indoor pool. You can also book massages and treatments if you wish. We found it a little too warm at this time of year to use these facilities, but we were able to use the showers on our final day before flying home.
Top Tip: Ask for towels at the reception for the spa. If you fly out late back home, you can sunbathe by the pool in the morning and get ready before heading to the airport. And you can safely store your bags in their utility cupboard.
There is also a fitness centre and gym if this is something that interests you. It includes a variety of cardio machines and weight training equipment.
Dining Options at the Hotel
When it comes to dining at the hotel, you have the option of three different restaurants. Please note that while the main buffet at Flor de Sal allows walk-ins, the other two require bookings 24 hours in advance. We would recommend eating here on your first night and booking one of the others for the next day.
There is also a bar around the main pool area where you can grab drinks and a few different snack options, such as their ham and cheese toastie, veal Sandwich on a Portuguese roll and a Margherita pizza.
Flor de Sal
This is the primary restaurant where you’ll likely eat your breakfast each morning (including as part of your stay) from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. The selection of food at Flor de Sal was surprisingly good, from English breakfast staples like bacon, eggs and sausage, to a range of cold meats, cheeses, and salad. There’s also a station for sweet pastries, cereals, and bread. For drinks, there’s the choice of fruit juices, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages like sparkling wine.
If you’re not all-inclusive, lunch and dinner will cost €28 each. We chose to dine here one of the nights and was impressed by the variety of dishes. This included the likes of pizza, stuffed turkey, Greek salad, grilled vegetables, and fried rice. For dessert, there were fig tarts with coconut cream and lemon meringue pie.
The Grill Restaurant
We booked The Grill Restaurant for our second day since we heard it serves great food, particularly grilled meats. Dinner service starts at 8 pm; make sure to arrive on time, or you risk losing your booking.
You then choose your table. Waiting for us were a few different dishes such as olives, sauces, and bread for starters. The waiters then came over and poured a choice of wines and water, which continued throughout service.
While the selection of food was a lot smaller than the other restaurant, the quality was definitely better. Again, it’s buffet-style, so you go up and choose what you like. On offer was a selection of salads, corn on the cob, chicken drumsticks, sausages, grilled pork, and a Portuguese bean stew. The cost for this was €35 per person.
Ria Restaurant
The fine-dining spot of the hotel with an à la carte menu featuring fresh seafood and Algarvian cuisine. We didn’t visit Ria Restaurant during our trip as we wanted to visit local eateries, but we heard the food was of great quality. Booking ahead of time is essential here.
Where to Eat in Cabanas
Cabanas is only a small area, but it has plenty of different dining options to suit every preference in your group. All the restaurants are located along the boardwalk, which is a short 15-minute walk from AP Cabanas. The strip also includes plenty of bars, including Murphy’s Irish Bar, some of which had offers for happy hour cocktails in the evenings.
O Monteiro
Towards the end of the boardwalk, taking around 20-25 minutes from the hotel, O Monteiro is where you should go if you’re seeking a classic Portuguese tasca. It’s unpretentious, featuring plenty of wooden tables with white tablecloths along the estuary. It’s the sort of place you’d easily walk past. However, seeing almost all the tables full of locals was a hint to how good the food was here.
The menu is saturated with fresh fish and grilled meats, as well as a variety of fresh salads. We all went for the Pepper Steak, a beautifully cooked piece of beef with a savoury and creamy peppercorn sauce. The meals also come accompanied by a sharing plate of homemade chips, small carrots, rice cooked in stock, and peas. We also chose to share their “Montanheira” Salad. We’ll have to make this at home going forward. It consisted of cooked potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, white onion, and oregano with vinegar and olive oil.
Each main course costs between €12 and €22. It’s excellent value for local cooking and generous portion sizes.
Zavage
You’ll find Zavage situated along the central dining strip on Rua Capitão Jorge Ribeiro, after turning left from the boardwalk. Despite there being only a few tables outside, we managed to find one quickly. It’s a lively little place with an outdoor seating area and bright lights. The food is a blend of Portuguese dishes with Latin influences, served petiscos-style for sharing.
We went for the Bife de atum à Algarvia, a traditional dish featuring seared tuna topped with a rich mix of local sautéed vegetables and served with fries. Also, we ordered the Chicken Tacos along with a side of fries as recommended by the staff. You can also choose from pork cheek tacos, tuna tacos, Argentinian ribeye steak and a range of burgers.
Gio & Gabi
This is the place to go for authentic Italian food in Cabanas. Gio & Gabi overlooks the waterfront boardwalk on Avenida Ria Formosa, offering beautiful views along with your meal. It’s a laidback and friendly place for a sunset dinner, and the menu features stone-baked pizzas, pasta, and fresh seafood.
To start, we shared their Burrata di Parma salad, which featured mixed salad leaves, tomatoes, and Parma ham, as well as a creamy ball of burrata in the middle.
The pizzas were surprisingly affordable for the quality, coming in at around €10- €15. Our group all went for the Sicilia pizza, which was generously covered in mozzarella cheese and scattered with salami and fresh mushrooms. After still having room for more, we shared their panacotta with a raspberry compote.
Gelataria Ria Formosa
No stroll along the Cabanas boardwalk is complete without a stop at Gelataria Ria Formosa. The venue sits across from the lagoon next to Gio & Gabi, serving up a variety of artisanal Italian-style ice creams and other sweet treats, such as waffles and crepes.
We went for two scoops of pineapple and lime and coffee, as well as chocolate and mango, both in a cone. It’s the perfect ending after a meal and only cost €4.95 each. We also grabbed a few bottles of Super Bock to enjoy on our final evening.
Things to do in Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas de Tavira is fundamentally a peaceful fishing village where the lagoon is the main event, along with relaxing by the pool at your hotel. However, there are a couple of experiences you shouldn’t miss, especially if you like exploring at least some of the time during your stay.
Take a Day Trip to Tavira
You can take a 5-minute train ride or a 10-minute taxi to nearby Tavira. The taxi cost us around €12, which was quite reasonable. We chose to stop off at the shopping centre and walk towards the beautiful Roman Bridge (Ponte Romana). Tavira is such a beautiful place lined with cobblestone streets and plenty of shops selling local produce.
Places to Eat and Drink in Tavira
We first stopped by Belém Brunch Bar for a bite to eat. The place was buzzing at noon, mostly due to their extensive menu of typical brunch classics. We opted for their Breakfast Burrito with Sweet Potato Crisps and a few pints of Super Bock (one of the popular local beers). We couldn’t recommend this place more; the food was amazing, and the staff were super friendly.
Later on in the day, we popped into Santa Lucia Bar, which is located along a picturesque street by the main shopping district. The menu consists of small plates that are perfect for sharing. We decided to try the Feta Dip served with Pita Bread, Chicken Tenders with a side of Mustard Mayo, and some fries. All of this was washed down with a few bottles of Leffe Blonde, a sweet Belgian ale.
We also stopped by for a drink at The Black Anchor Irish Bar for a few pints of Sagres, one of Portugal’s top beers. This was probably our favourite beer we had during our time here. If you’re after drinks by the riverside and the Roman Bridge, we’d highly recommend this off-the-path spot.
Shopping in Tavira
We chose to have a look around some of the shops, specifically Essências De Portugal. Here, we found plenty of reed diffusers, soaps, and candles. Fortunately, you can buy the products online, as we couldn’t carry everything we wanted with us back home. You’ll also come across tons of souvenir shops if you want some fridge magnets or keyrings to commemorate your trip or give to relatives.
Sightseeing in Tavira
After walking over the Roman Bridge, head up the hill and turn right to reach the ruins of Tavira Castle. Inside, you’ll find a gorgeous botanical garden, and you can climb the stone stairs up to the remaining defensive battlements. The views over the town are amazing from up here, so it’s worth the walk in the heat.
The 1755 earthquake severely damaged the main keep and internal living quarters, leaving much of the fortress in ruins. However, rather than rebuilding the structure, the local municipality transformed the interior parade ground in the 1930s into an exotic public garden. Entrance into the ruins is completely free to visitors.
Directly next to the castle entrance, you’ll come across the Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo. The 13th-century church sits on a former Moorish Mosque following the Christian conquest. Inside, you’ll get the chance to see its original Gothic doorway and a Manueline-style side chapel. The main chapel houses the tombs of Dom Paio Peres Correia (the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago) and the Seven Knights who died securing Tavira in 1242. The church is free to enter, but there is a small fee to climb the bell tower to see the 19th-century clock.
Other popular churches to visit in the area include the Igreja da Misericórdia and the Igreja de Santiago.
Take the Boat Shuttle to Praia de Cabanas
In the end, we decided against a trip to Praia de Cabanas in favour of chilling around the pool. Many of the guests at the hotel did recommend a trip here, though. The white sand beach is located on the outer island of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, separated from the village by a lagoon.
To get here, you need to take a small riverboat shuttle, which takes under five minutes. You’ll see views of the salt marshes along with local birdlife. Better still, the boat shuttle is complimentary; simply show your AP Cabanas Beach & Nature Hotel wristband. You don’t need to be all-inclusive either. Non-hotel guests can use the public boat shuttle from the main boardwalk pontoon for around €1.50 for a return ticket. Once across, you’ll find miles of peaceful coastline to spend the day relaxing in the sun.
Cross the Border into Spain
Cabanas is located on the border of Portugal, not far from neighbouring Spain. You can take the train further east to its final stop at Vila Real de Santo António, a 18th-century town on the banks of the Guadiana River. From here, you can hop on a 15-minute ferry to Ayamonte.
This is the best way to cross two countries off your list without spending hours travelling on public transport. In Ayamonte, you can explore the Plaza de la Laguna and the Plaza de la Coronación before stopping for tapas at LPA The Bar or Tierra Y Mar.
If you don’t mind walking uphill, head to the Parador de Ayamonte. The luxury hotel sits on a former 11th-century castle, and you can enjoy a jug of sangria while taking in views of the Guadiana River.
Top Tip: Remember that Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal. Be sure to check the ferry departure times so you don’t miss the last boat back.
FAQs
Is Cabanas de Tavira Worth Visiting?
Yes, Cabanas de Tavira is ideal for travellers looking for a relaxed coastal village experience that still feels authentically Portuguese. It is far from a typical tourist spot, with uncrowded beaches via short boat trips and a nearby nature park. AP Cabanas Beach & Nature Hotel is the best place for a luxurious stay, and you have the historic town of Tavira a short taxi ride away.
How Far is Cabanas de Tavira from Faro Airport?
Cabanas de Tavira is approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of Faro Airport (FAO). The drive takes about 35 to 40 minutes via the A22 toll highway or around 45 minutes via the N125.
How Do You Get to the Beach in Cabanas de Tavira?
Praia de Cabanas sits on a barrier island separated from the village by the Ria Formosa lagoon, meaning you must take a small riverboat shuttle. The boat ride takes under 5 minutes. Guests at AP Cabanas Beach & Nature Hotel receive complimentary boat transfers with their hotel wristband, while public tickets cost around €1.50 for a return.
Do I Need a Car in Cabanas de Tavira?
No, a car is not essential if you intend to stay mostly in Cabanas and Tavira. The village is very walkable and mostly flat, but Uber and taxis are readily available. However, a rental car is useful if you wish to explore remote beaches or the western Algarve sights.
Do Places in Cabanas de Tavira Take Card or Cash?
While larger resorts like AP Cabanas accept cards only, many local traditional restaurants, water taxis, beach kiosks, and market stalls in Cabanas and Tavira operate on a cash-only basis. It is recommended to carry around €150–€200 in cash per person for a week’s stay to cover these expenses.