<<Back

Inland Activities

Away from the beach, there are a many riding stables that offer pony treks (for both novices and experienced riders) through the beautiful Algarvian countryside, with experienced guides (check with your local tourist information office for details of riding stables near you.).

In addition there are various companies offering “Safari” type jaunts in a variety of four-wheel drive vehicles, if you wish to take a less leisurely approach to viewing some of the Algarve’s more inaccessible inland delights. The Algarve also has many tennis courts and a number of bowling greens for those so inclined.

A lot of fun is guaranteed for the young members of the family by visiting one of the theme parks along the coast.

A few suggestions: Crazy World, Zoomarine & The Big One

There are several amateur Portuguese groups who put on small scale productions at local venues.

The principal English speaking amateur group, “The Algarveans” are always on the look out for new members both performers and back-stage staff (contact membership secretary Jackie Major on 282 687 410).

Lagos and Silves have from time to time very good performances of ballet, opera and theatre.

For the more professional productions visit the brand new theatre in Faro

Portimão hosts a classical music festival in May for several types of music and usually there is at least one major rock concert later in the summer. In addition Portimão also hosts a folk-music festival. Faro stadium has been the venue for same major international artists, keep an eye on the local info.

An annual jazz concert and jam sessions changes Loulé into a vibrant swinging town for a few weeks during July/August.

Many smaller towns host concerts (Silves, for example, receives touring orchestral and operatic events which take place in the open air in the Castle compound), but beware, these events are not well advertised and it is always best to keep an eye on the local press and the tourism information office in order not to miss out.  

The main museum in the Algarve is the Infante Dom Henrique (Henry the Navigator) Archaeological Museum in Faro which is housed in the building which was formerly the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Ãssunção (Our Lady of the Assumption).

The museum houses an extensive collection of Roman and medieval items including much from the Islamic period. Here you can see the famous “Ocean Mosaic”, the Almohad Talbet of Silves, busts of Roman Emperors unearthed from the ruins of Milreu and much more.

However, smaller museums can be found in many Algarvian towns including the Regional Museum at Lagos , the Olive Press Museum at Tavira, the Parish Museum at Olhão and the Municipal Museums of Loulé, Aljezur and Silves.

In addition to the Municipal Museum at Silves (built around an wonderfully preserved medieval Islamic well) one can also visit the award winning cork factory museum (Museu da Cortiça) in the Fabrica do Inglês complex.

American and European films are very popular in Portugal and are subtitled rather than dubbed. Apart from individual cinemas dotted around in many of the towns, the main cinemas tend to be in the large shopping centres; for example there are multiple screen cinemas at the “Modelo” complex in Portimão, “Algarve Shopping” in Guia and at “Forum Algarve ” in Faro.

Ticket prices tend to be very reasonable and often there is one day in the week when prices are reduced. Portugal receives all the latest main-stream film releases many times even before they're released in the rest of Europe .

The regular mainstay of traditional and uniquely Portuguese passtimes is the singing of Fado. It has been said that this is the Portuguese version of the blues, vocalists being accompanied usually by two guitars, one Spanish and one Portuguese (which resembles some kind of complicated medieval lute!).

Fado, although somewhat melancholic (like the blues) is also quite beautiful to listen to and furthermore, it is an activity in which many Portuguese actively participate from the local bank-manager to the humble shepherd.

There will be at least one Fado venue and often more, in most towns – usually they are fairly intimate restaurants with guitar players in residence who provide the accompaniment for anyone who wants to get up and give his turn. But, Fado is taken very seriously and renditions of traditional Fado songs are more often than not beautifully sung and with great passion.

An evening of Fado will frequently continue almost until dawn. For the visitor, Fado really has to be looked for and so enquiries will have to be made at the tourist information office, but, better still, find a kindly citizen to advise on the best places to experience this event and it takes place not just all over the Algarve , but all over Portugal .

 <<Back