Novocastrian

Are there any locals from around Portimao on the forum?

I've just booked a week's holiday there for mid-April and any advice would be appreciated. I've tried to avoid "resorts" and have a hotel in the town.

Cheers

EMR

Portimao is a city, scruffy in parts sadly much of the local retail activity has moved to the new modern shopping centres in the area.
The fish restaurants in the area near the old bridge have a good reputation and you can catch the ferry across the river to Ferragudo one of the most attractive fishing villages in this part of the Algarve.
Praia Da Rocha is the resort area with excellent beaches and the expected tourist attractions.

Novocastrian

The hotel I've booked is a short walk from the old bridge and I love eating fish.

flensdorf

Go over the old bridge to Parchal - less than 1 km - there is the resturant Girassol where you can have the freshest fish, as only 5oo m from the fishery harbour. You get soup, bread,olives, main dish, dessert, wine and water as much you want. All this for only € eight. Mostly visited by local workers for lunch, and they are hungry!! I always take visitors to visit this gem It is not yet on tripadvisor!
https://www.google.pt/maps/place/Res...99c1b4c2d4cd6c

MikeJ

If you fancy a bit of scuba there's Subnauta near the marina. Loads of interesting wrecks have been sunk off shore in the last few years.

Novocastrian

Err, thanks, but I'm an interesting wreck myself.

Novocastrian

Sounds good. Thanks.

GeniB

Have to say Portimao would not have been my first choice as a place to stay,not because it's scruffy and rather tired looking.but because of the awful smell from it' huge tidal basin.The mud stinks frankly. Thats sad because it was once a place of importance.It's actually where Hannibal came ashore with his army, plus elephants on his way to sack Rome. One day they might make something of that event. They have upped the anti re.Cruise liners docking there .If thats a plus? Don't know. The Yacht club at the end of the promenade served excellent lunches.good fish.If your a bit of a gourmet. The Bella Vista Hotel has a wonderful new chef,heading straight for a michelin star this year.Food is NOT michelin prices yet though ,so recommend to book for dinner one night.Agree the little restaurants other side of the bridge are good.excellent Portuguese food.Enjoy your stay and explore the area

EMR

The Portimao Pong is indeed something particularly when you are stuck on the 125 bridge.
But I have rarely smelt it in the city itself.
Thanks for the tip on the bella vista, we are going to Bon Bon in Carvoeiro the algarves newest michelin restaurant.
Yes it will cost a fortune by local standards but 40 % less at least than in the UK.

The algarve is definetly a destination for foodies of all budgets if you look for the right places.

iano

Good shout for lunch today.

Vegetable soup, pork and clams, bread n olives, a flan, coffee and drinks x 2, 16€. As you say, very popular with workers as well as a couple of French 'locals', friendly staff, great value, we enjoyed it.

Not so the basin pong, but have smelt a lot, lot worse.

Novocastrian

Portimao was my choice because most (all) of the other options I could find for a cheap week's break in the area involved staying in "resorts". Not my style.

Like many others on BE I'm a bit of a ping-ponger, so I think I can stand the odorous mud.

Keep up the advice (good and bad).