Guidebook for Silves
Food Scene
Our favourite restaurant in Silves!
Situated in the heart of historic Silves, between the castle and IbnAl-Mutamid-Amar and a gorgeous Gothic cathedral, the Café Inglês, built by a renowned figure in the city, is housed in a striking building of oriental inspiration which refers to the final nineteenth century.
Café Inglês is more than a place where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a nice drink in beautiful dining rooms or if time permits in its various terraces if you prefer.
Live music days: Friday and Saturday night and Sunday lunch. Open for lunch and dinner.
31 locals recommend
Café Inglês
11 R. do CasteloOur favourite restaurant in Silves!
Situated in the heart of historic Silves, between the castle and IbnAl-Mutamid-Amar and a gorgeous Gothic cathedral, the Café Inglês, built by a renowned figure in the city, is housed in a striking building of oriental inspiration which refers to the final nineteenth century.
Café Inglês is more than a place where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a nice drink in beautiful dining rooms or if time permits in its various terraces if you prefer.
Live music days: Friday and Saturday night and Sunday lunch. Open for lunch and dinner.
The restaurant only serves grilled chicken piri-piri and the typical grilled sardines, when its “sardine season”. You have to see for by yourself the reason of having the best rating on tripadvisor.
The best price/quality ratio in the all world sure!
Due to the works being carried on the market, where the restaurant is normally located, it is now located near the city pool, by the river side.
16 locals recommend
Churrasqueira Valdemar
The restaurant only serves grilled chicken piri-piri and the typical grilled sardines, when its “sardine season”. You have to see for by yourself the reason of having the best rating on tripadvisor.
The best price/quality ratio in the all world sure!
Due to the works being carried on the market, where the restaurant is normally located, it is now located near the city pool, by the river side.
The best seafood restaurant in Silves region. Really fresh and tasty seafood! Additionally you will also find alternative dishes to the seafood. Normally very busy, so i tis advisable to go early.
Advise: Be carefull with the "speed" they serve the beer and also the tosted bread.
72 locals recommend
Marisqueira Rui
27 R. Comendador VilarinhoThe best seafood restaurant in Silves region. Really fresh and tasty seafood! Additionally you will also find alternative dishes to the seafood. Normally very busy, so i tis advisable to go early.
Advise: Be carefull with the "speed" they serve the beer and also the tosted bread.
A good alternative to the crowed Marisqueira Rui if you also want to have seafood. I recomend the mixed seafood set that is quite well served and with a good varaiety.
6 locals recommend
Restaurante Marisqueira Casa Velha
A good alternative to the crowed Marisqueira Rui if you also want to have seafood. I recomend the mixed seafood set that is quite well served and with a good varaiety.
Traditional Portuguese dishes with a personal and contemporary touch. Very good wines, produced by the owner of the restaurant. Excellent in summer due to its terrace since it is integrated in the farm and by some sophistication and refinement. Optimal ambiance and cosy fantastic space. Ask to see the wine cellar in the old cistern!
17 locals recommend
Restaurante O Barradas
Traditional Portuguese dishes with a personal and contemporary touch. Very good wines, produced by the owner of the restaurant. Excellent in summer due to its terrace since it is integrated in the farm and by some sophistication and refinement. Optimal ambiance and cosy fantastic space. Ask to see the wine cellar in the old cistern!
Excellent fresh fish from the sea. Located in the fishing area of the village of Ferragudo overlooking Portimão. Excellent top quality at the right price!
27 locals recommend
Sueste
3 R. da RibeiraExcellent fresh fish from the sea. Located in the fishing area of the village of Ferragudo overlooking Portimão. Excellent top quality at the right price!
A must see in Silves. Located in the square of the municipality, next to one of the entrance in the walls of the Castle of Silves. Freshly updated with total respect for the essence of the place, DaRosa coffee is one of those places where you can enjoy breakfast, relaxed, with a natural orange juice and toast or light and healthy brunch.
It can be an excellent way to start the visit to the old part of Silves, within the walls, starting with the excellent archeology museum 100 meters from the café.
Café da Rosa
N6 Largo do MunicípioA must see in Silves. Located in the square of the municipality, next to one of the entrance in the walls of the Castle of Silves. Freshly updated with total respect for the essence of the place, DaRosa coffee is one of those places where you can enjoy breakfast, relaxed, with a natural orange juice and toast or light and healthy brunch.
It can be an excellent way to start the visit to the old part of Silves, within the walls, starting with the excellent archeology museum 100 meters from the café.
Shopping
Traditional local market with local producers where you can see some of the products produced in the region, in particular dried fruits, varied fruit and vegetables. Open every Saturday morning until 13:00.
10 locals recommend
Municipal Market Silves
N124Traditional local market with local producers where you can see some of the products produced in the region, in particular dried fruits, varied fruit and vegetables. Open every Saturday morning until 13:00.
Supermarket located in Silves, near the river area and municipal pools where you can make all your purchases of groceries and other products.
13 locals recommend
Modelo Continente Silves
Supermarket located in Silves, near the river area and municipal pools where you can make all your purchases of groceries and other products.
Very modern shopping center and well equipped and with many shops of interest.
606 locals recommend
Algarve Shopping
Very modern shopping center and well equipped and with many shops of interest.
Lidl's shop located on the road from Silves to Casa da Nora. In addition to the usual things in this type of shop, they have excellent bread.
11 locals recommend
Lidl
Rua Cruz da PalmeiraLidl's shop located on the road from Silves to Casa da Nora. In addition to the usual things in this type of shop, they have excellent bread.
Parks & Nature
Considered one of the most beautiful cliff beaches and Portugal. Great for snorkling when conditions so provide. You should bring food and water since the beach support is expensive and of poor quality.
215 locals recommend
Praia da Marinha
Considered one of the most beautiful cliff beaches and Portugal. Great for snorkling when conditions so provide. You should bring food and water since the beach support is expensive and of poor quality.
It is located on the top of the Sierra de Monchique. Until you arrive you will enjoy great views and beautiful places of interest. You can have lunch in the various restaurants almost at the top of the mountain where you can enjoy a beautiful view and a very pleasant temperature
38 locals recommend
Fóia
It is located on the top of the Sierra de Monchique. Until you arrive you will enjoy great views and beautiful places of interest. You can have lunch in the various restaurants almost at the top of the mountain where you can enjoy a beautiful view and a very pleasant temperature
Excellent beach with an extensive beach.
At the house you will find the guide for the beaches in Algarve.
121 locals recommend
Praia dos Salgados
Excellent beach with an extensive beach.
At the house you will find the guide for the beaches in Algarve.
There are lots of hidden little walks and places in the Algarve that are hard to find and are often little hidden gems … we even hesitated about sharing this one with you as the sítio das fontes near Estombar, in the parish of Lagoa, is such a peaceful and quiet place – we don’t want too many people to find it! You will find it by driving to Lagoa, taking the exit off the roundabout that’s signed to the Slide and Splash theme park – go past the park, over the railway line, and as you enter the village of Estombar you will see the brown sign for ‘Fontes’ with a right turn off the main road. Follow the signs for a mile or so, past the sports stadium, and under the motorway. You’ll see a sign
9 locals recommend
Sítio das Fontes - Centro de Interpretação da Natureza
urbanização Ecotur sitio do calvárioThere are lots of hidden little walks and places in the Algarve that are hard to find and are often little hidden gems … we even hesitated about sharing this one with you as the sítio das fontes near Estombar, in the parish of Lagoa, is such a peaceful and quiet place – we don’t want too many people to find it! You will find it by driving to Lagoa, taking the exit off the roundabout that’s signed to the Slide and Splash theme park – go past the park, over the railway line, and as you enter the village of Estombar you will see the brown sign for ‘Fontes’ with a right turn off the main road. Follow the signs for a mile or so, past the sports stadium, and under the motorway. You’ll see a sign
Also known as ‘Pera Marsh’, Lagoa dos Salgados is one of the most important freshwater wetlands in the Algarve. Despite being much smaller than Ria Formosa or even the Alvor Estuary, Lagoa dos Salgados is nonetheless inhabited by a quite large quantity and variety of bird species that include numerous rarities and scarcities. With reason, this severely threatened IBA site has become one of the most rewarding and sought-after birding hotspots in the Algarve.
Bird watching
Also known as ‘Pera Marsh’, Lagoa dos Salgados is one of the most important freshwater wetlands in the Algarve. Despite being much smaller than Ria Formosa or even the Alvor Estuary, Lagoa dos Salgados is nonetheless inhabited by a quite large quantity and variety of bird species that include numerous rarities and scarcities. With reason, this severely threatened IBA site has become one of the most rewarding and sought-after birding hotspots in the Algarve.
Explore the ocean: From March to November, the experienced marine biologist team sails to explore the amazing coastline caves or offshore on the discovery of fascinating creatures such as: dolphins, whales, turtles and birds in their natural habitat.
14 locals recommend
Wildwatch
73 R. Infante SantoExplore the ocean: From March to November, the experienced marine biologist team sails to explore the amazing coastline caves or offshore on the discovery of fascinating creatures such as: dolphins, whales, turtles and birds in their natural habitat.
Entertainment & Activities
Also known as ‘Pera Marsh’, Lagoa dos Salgados is one of the most important freshwater wetlands in the Algarve. Despite being much smaller than Ria Formosa or even the Alvor Estuary, Lagoa dos Salgados is nonetheless inhabited by a quite large
Spend an excellent family day in this park. Fun guaranteed for the whole family in particular for the younger but not only :)
Due to COVID 19 you have to pre-book your tickets.
225 locals recommend
Aqualand Algarve
N125Spend an excellent family day in this park. Fun guaranteed for the whole family in particular for the younger but not only :)
Due to COVID 19 you have to pre-book your tickets.
Excellent water park with immense diversity of fauna, treated with great respect and care.
There is one fantastic artificial beach with waves to cool off. You can take your own meals and sun umbrella to make a pick-nic.
Since its foundation Zoomarine actively engages in the conservation of ocean life, its species and their habitats.
792 locals recommend
Zoomarine Algarve
KM 65 N125Excellent water park with immense diversity of fauna, treated with great respect and care.
There is one fantastic artificial beach with waves to cool off. You can take your own meals and sun umbrella to make a pick-nic.
Since its foundation Zoomarine actively engages in the conservation of ocean life, its species and their habitats.
Sightseeing
The Castle of Silves is a castle in the civil parish of Silves in the municipality of Silves in the Portuguese Algarve. It's believed that the first fortifications were built upon a possible Lusitanian castro, by the Romans or Visigoths. Between the 8th and 13th centuries, the castle was occupied by the moors who expanded it, making it one of the best preserved Moorish fortifications in Portugal,[1] resulting in its classification as a National Monument in 1910.
123 locals recommend
Castelo de Silves
Rua do CasteloThe Castle of Silves is a castle in the civil parish of Silves in the municipality of Silves in the Portuguese Algarve. It's believed that the first fortifications were built upon a possible Lusitanian castro, by the Romans or Visigoths. Between the 8th and 13th centuries, the castle was occupied by the moors who expanded it, making it one of the best preserved Moorish fortifications in Portugal,[1] resulting in its classification as a National Monument in 1910.
The caves of Benagil are a true tourist attraction of our region because they are a formation that nature carved in a very particular way.
The different colors of the sediments make the cave a true work of art of nature. That’s why Benagil is visited every day by thousands of people.
Access is only made from the sea and so is made by boat.
The dimensions of our boat allow not only to enter the grotto of Benagil as in all the other caves that are in the route of Armação de Pêra until there.
This feature of our boat associated with 75 HP of outboard power makes the trip exciting and fun for both adults and children.
321 locals recommend
Benagil Caves
The caves of Benagil are a true tourist attraction of our region because they are a formation that nature carved in a very particular way.
The different colors of the sediments make the cave a true work of art of nature. That’s why Benagil is visited every day by thousands of people.
Access is only made from the sea and so is made by boat.
The dimensions of our boat allow not only to enter the grotto of Benagil as in all the other caves that are in the route of Armação de Pêra until there.
This feature of our boat associated with 75 HP of outboard power makes the trip exciting and fun for both adults and children.
Arts & Culture
Installed near the Castle of Silves, in a building that integrates a section of wall and cistern of Arab origin, the Municipal Museum of Archeology has an interesting collection of archaeological findings originating from the county, dating from the Paleolithic period to the time medieval times, which cover eight thousand years of human experience in Silves.
Inaugurated in 1990, the Municipal Museum of Archeology of Silves was built around the admirable 12th-13th-century Almohad Cistern - discovered after archaeological excavations in the 80s. XX and today classified as a National Monument - which became the centerpiece of the collection and the exhibition discourse. Scenographically, it also integrates the city wall of the same period, thus functioning not only as a museum where the collections on display are very significant, but also as a jewel of the Islamic heritage in Portugal.
18 locals recommend
Municipal Archeology Museum Silves
Installed near the Castle of Silves, in a building that integrates a section of wall and cistern of Arab origin, the Municipal Museum of Archeology has an interesting collection of archaeological findings originating from the county, dating from the Paleolithic period to the time medieval times, which cover eight thousand years of human experience in Silves.
Inaugurated in 1990, the Municipal Museum of Archeology of Silves was built around the admirable 12th-13th-century Almohad Cistern - discovered after archaeological excavations in the 80s. XX and today classified as a National Monument - which became the centerpiece of the collection and the exhibition discourse. Scenographically, it also integrates the city wall of the same period, thus functioning not only as a museum where the collections on display are very significant, but also as a jewel of the Islamic heritage in Portugal.