During cousin Elsa’s visit we tried to balance relaxation and beach days with travel, attractions, and tourism. One of the best day trips from Olhão is a quick 30 minute drive to Tavira. There are a ton of great restaurants, scads of picture opportunities along the Gilão River, cultural events, plenty of shopping, and even a couple of museums. For a place with a small town feel, it packs a punch and has a little something for everyone.

Tavira Municipal Market: We started our day at the Municipal Market which was winding down because we arrived at about 11:30. Since we were browsing and not doing any serious shopping, this wasn’t a problem for us.

Tip: Many municipal markets open early in the morning, especially ones that sell fish. In order to nab the best fruits, veggies, and fish it is best to arrive in the morning if you are trying to stock your pantry. We find that merchants are also much more good humored and less stressed at the beginning of the day.

Coffee And Pastel de Nata: We took a pre-lunch coffee break at Veneza Caffee near the Gilão River. This is a centrally located cafe and is usually quite busy. We ordered Pastel de Nata which is a famous Portuguese egg custard tart. Don’t get me started on how many times I have heard debates about where to find the best one and how long some people will wait in line for specific versions. Personally, I have had pretty good luck wherever I order them, so I avoid engaging in the hot button topic of advocating for a favorite place to eat them. The Pastel de Nata at Veneza had a crispy base, a creamy interior and were very tasty. My favorite way to eat them is warm with a dash of cinnamon.

Old Roman Bridge: We strolled across the 17th century bridge that crosses the river. It is the oldest bridge in Tavira and was constructed when Muslims inhabited the Algarve. The name comes from its placement on the old Roman road. Whether the history of the structure is important to you or not, it is a lovely walk, offers beautiful vistas of the city, and is well worth the time.

Lunch At A Gastropub: The restaurant Come na Gavota (Eat in the Drawer) had been on our “must eat” list for quite awhile. Food quality was excellent, presentation was modern, and portion sizes were generous. Andrew had Pica Pau (woodpecker beef) – this is a very tasty dish with pickles and we order it often. Sometimes you can even find a version with tuna instead of beef. I ate a massive serving of tempura octopus and Elsa had anchovies served in a whimsical way. We all left the table more than satisfied.

Castle Ruins: After a hearty lunch, we burned a few calories by climbing stairs, exploring turrets, and taking photos at the Castle of Tavira. There were quite a few vantage points which offered unique views of the city and for a price of $0, it was hard to complain about how much fun we had.

2 Museums, 1 Low Price: For the amazing price of €3 per person, we visited the Núcleo Museológico Islâmico (Islamic Museum) and the Palácio da Galeria (Gallery Palace). Our first stop was the Islamic Museum which starts with an 8 minute movie about the history of the region and Moorish habitation. I was surprised by the number of artifacts, primarily ceramics, housed in this small museum. They even had dice and game pieces on display! Most of the signage is in Portuguese, but staff can provide you with reading materials in English.

Our second stop was Gallery Palace, which was a bit of a mish mosh of different exhibits. One of my favorite sections were near the museum entrance where you can see 6th-7th century “Phoenecian Ritual Wells”. I couldn’t stop peering into the depths of these ancient structures. I also enjoyed the installation on Balta, an ancient Roman city; there were awesome maps, artifacts, and a movie documenting the archeological find. While perusing incredibly old art and pottery, I was fortunate enough to witness a disgruntled teen who vociferously disagreed with her family’s decision to go to this museum. She saltily narrated her own path through the museum by simplifying the displays “rock, rock, rock, shell, rock, rock, shell”. This became an inside joke during Elsa’s trip and we loved repeating it. Teens will be teens in every corner of the world!

Fado: We felt obligated to introduce Elsa to the traditional Portuguese music of Fado. We enjoy Fado, but know some friends and acquaintances who detest it, so we weren’t sure if it would be a hit or a miss with our young traveler. Our concert took place in the Igreja da Misericórdia (Church of Mercy), which is a charming little church in Tavira. The trio of musicians consisted of two guitarists and one singer. Even though Andrew and I have seen other Fado shows, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and fortunately our visitor did too.

Game Night With Friends: After a whirlwind day in Tavira, we rounded out our night with snacks and a couple of board games with friends. Elsa shared tales of life in Alaska and her passion for cars and motorcycles and our friends were highly entertained by her youthful exuberance.

Thanks to Elsa for letting us use some of her amazing photos!