Cabanas de Tavira (Algarve): An atmospheric village on the edge of the Ria Formosa nature park

Cabanas de Tavira sights & holiday tips

In the east of the Algarve, less than a ten minute drive from the historic Tavira, lies the small village of Cabanas de Tavira, right on a beautiful nature reserve. The history of Cabanas dates back to 1734, when tuna fishing began and the first huts were built. These huts were used to store fishing gear near the water and sometimes even as accommodation during the fishing season. It was only decades later that the first permanent houses were built and it became a settlement.

Although some of the huts are still there and there is still plenty of fishing, the vast majority of the income in this place now comes from tourism. The pleasant boulevard is a magnet where music can be heard from various cafes and restaurants, sometimes until the early hours. Yet it is not Albufeira and you can also find peace and relaxation here. Take a water taxi and sail in less than a minute to the barrier island on the other side of the river. There you will find an endless sandy beach, folding dunes and the blue ocean.

As a resident of the Algarve, I regularly go out to discover new places. On this page you can read my tips for a visit to or stay in Cabanas de Tavira. Think of my favorite sights, activities and some tips for hotels and restaurants.

Welcome to Cabanas de Tavira!

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Top 4 sights in Cabanas de Tavira

Although Cabanas de Tavira is not a big place, there are still some nice sights to see. Below you will find my favorite sights that are worth a visit.

1. The boulevard of Cabanas de Tavira.
   The municipality has built a beautiful jetty right on the water with benches and flower beds here and there. This starts on the west side just past the fishermen’s huts and ends about 800 meters further at the end of the Rua da Fortaleza. The path is wheelchair friendly and fishing and pleasure boats are moored along the water. At low tide almost all the water disappears and these boats are on dry land.
   
   Directly behind the jetty is the Avenida Ria Formosa, which is rich in shops, cafés and restaurants. Tip: Choose one with a roof terrace for a phenomenal view while enjoying a drink or meal.

2. Praia de Cabana.
   Not to be missed is the enormous Praia de Cabana beach. It is located on the barrier island off the coast of Cabanas de Tavira and can only be reached by boat. At the Cais de Cabanas pier you board a water taxi and less than a minute later you are on the other side at the Cais da Praia de Cabanas de Tavira pier. From there you walk over a boardwalk through the dune area until you reach the beach and the blue ocean.
   
   At Praia de Cabana you will find sun loungers, parasols and lifeguards in high season. There are also two beach bars, but expect high prices and not the highest quality food.

3. The salt pans at Cabanas de Tavira . Between Tavira and Cabanas de Tavira there are many salt flats where sea salt is extracted by filling artificial lakes with seawater and letting it evaporate in the sun. Take a walk along these salt pans and with a bit of luck you will come across flamingos. The best thing to do is to park here and walk under the railway bridge to end up at the Salines-Ciclovía de Tavira . From there you can make as big (or small) a walk as you like.

4. Tavira (city).
   The city of Tavira itself is just a ten minute drive from Cabanas de Tavira. You’ve probably already driven past it on your way to Cabanas, but an extensive visit to this old-fashioned place guarantees a day of culture & adventure.
   
   The city has numerous churches, interesting museums and delicious cafes and restaurants. One day is almost not enough. More tips for a visit to this city can be found on the Tavira page .

4 fun activities near Cabanas de Tavira

There are a number of fun activities to do near Cabanas de Tavira. If you fancy some action and adventure after relaxing on the beach, you can go to one of the following addresses:

1. Come and taste olives during a guided tour of the Hélder Madeira olive factory . During a one and a half hour guided tour you will learn all about the process of making olives edible, followed by a tasting of course! A guided tour plus tasting costs €25.00, during which you will taste olives as well as other artisanal products while enjoying a glass of wine.

2. The interactive Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira . This museum is fun for young and old where you can perform various experiments and solve puzzles. Nice for an hour of indoor entertainment if it is too hot (or too cold) outside. Entrance fee is only a few euros per person.
3. Discover Tavira and the surrounding salt pans on a tuk-tuk adventure. During this one-hour ride you will explore the old town, the salt pans and the guide will tell you about the history of this beautiful city.

4. Discover the world of Fado music, a traditional Portuguese music style. During this experience you will see a film about the historical significance of this music style, followed by a live performance. My girlfriend and I found this to be one of the highlights of our visit to Tavira!

Cabanas de Tavira hotel & B&B tips

Cabanas de Tavira has a combination of luxury resorts and nice small B&Bs. For every type of holidaymaker and budget there is a nice accommodation to stay.

These are my 3 accommodation tips for Cabanas de Tavira:

1. AP Cabanas Beach & Nature

This beautiful resort in the corner of Cabanas de Tavira offers all-inclusive packages or a stay with breakfast. We chose the latter so that we could visit some restaurants nearby for lunch and dinner.

The rooms are clean and tidy and the staff professional and friendly.

The breakfast buffet is extensive and you can look into the open kitchen where the chefs are frying eggs. There is a bar by the pool, but also one on the roof terrace, where you can toast to life with a beautiful view in the background.

For colder days you can visit the spa, where they have a sauna, steam bath and two small pools.

More information

2. Casa Viana

This cozy pink-painted guesthouse in the heart of Cabanas has only a handful of rooms, which gives it a cozy and homely feel.

The owner/hostess is very friendly and provides breakfast in the morning on the terrace, from where you have a view over the lagoon and the barrier islands.

More information

3. Forte De Sao Joao Da Barra

Stay in a real castle at Forte De Sao Joao Da Barra. Each room is uniquely decorated and combines old-world style with modern amenities. View photos of all the rooms and choose your favorite.

On site you will find a small outdoor swimming pool and the centre of Cabanas de Tavira is just a few minutes’ walk away.

More information

Restaurant tips for Cabanas de Tavira

Along the Avenida Ria Formosa and the streets behind it, you will find a number of excellent restaurants. Most of them serve fish and seafood (it is a fishing village after all), but if you fancy something different, there are fortunately also excellent alternatives.

These are the restaurants and cafes in Cabanas de Tavira that I recommend:

Trigo d’Ouro Cabanas

Start your day with breakfast or at least a cup of coffee at Trigo d’Ouro Cabanas . The breakfast menu includes bagels with salmon or scrambled eggs and fluffy pancakes with chocolate and banana. Have a smoothie with it and you will start your day with a full stomach!

In the afternoon, other dishes are on the menu, such as salads and hamburgers with or without creamy goat cheese.

Directions

Restaurante O Coral

For a traditional Portuguese lunch or dinner, Restaurante O Coral is the place to be . The menu includes excellent seafood and shrimp risotto. The homemade sweet potato fries are served my favorite way: nice and crispy!

Like many Portuguese restaurants, they are closed between 3pm and 7pm.

Directions

Restaurante Botega Italiana

Fancy something other than Portuguese? At Restaurante Botega Italiana they serve excellent pastas that you can create yourself!

First choose your type of pasta (spaghetti, tagliatelle etc.) and then your sauce. The arabiata sauce was well received by my girlfriend and my green pesto gnocchi was also excellent! Dessert tip: the homemade Panna Cota.

Directions

Affordable car rental in the Algarve

The best way to discover all the beauty in the Algarve is with a rental car. By renting a car for a few days you can much more easily reach the sights and activities that are not always accessible by public transport.

By renting a car from Luzcar, you are helping a local family business run by Portuguese entrepreneurs. This way you support the local economy and you also get top service, which is often a stark contrast to the large corporations. Luzcar is based in Lagos, but they also offer cars at the airport in Faro. This way you can pick up the car immediately upon arrival and return it at the airport upon departure.

Luzcar’s reputation speaks for itself. Almost 5 out of 5 on Google Maps.

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Photo gallery from Cabanas de Tavira (Algarve)

As a hobby photographer I like to take my camera and drone with me when I leave the house. During my visit to Cabanas de Tavira I was also able to shoot some nice pictures. Below you will find a number of my favorites that are not above on the page. Click on a photo to enlarge it.

More of our local tips for your Portugal adventure

⭐ Check out our favourite sights in the Algarve on this page
⛵ Check out this overview of all activities you can do in the Algarve
🚗 This is the best car rental company in the Algarve
📌 Discover the top towns and cities to visit in the Algarve here
🏖 These are our favourite beaches in the Algarve
🛎 Get inspired with our local tips for accommodations in the Algarve