A quiet and charming Portuguese town, Silves lies a few kilometres inland and provides a pleasant contrast to the busier resorts on the coast. With its old city walls and castle, the town was once the capital of the Algarve region, and reminders of its history are all around. It remains largely untouched by the hand of modernisation, so it’s the place to go if you want to see Portugal is all about.
Silves’ calm character couldn’t be more different from the excesses of Albufeira’s tourist strip or the glamour of Vilamoura. The centre is compact, with some cobbled streets and hills, notably the one leading up to the eye-catching red-brick castle. There are other sights to see too, such as the city gate and Ponte Romana Bridge, and guided tours are available. A covered market and plenty of cafés and restaurants make for pleasant places to spend some time soaking up the ambience.
If you are travelling to Silves from Portimão, around 14km away, you may be able to take a fishing boat tour of the harbour. These tours make their way up the Arada River, give you a couple of hours to see Silves, then return you to Portimão. Other activities include golf at the Silves Golf course, or perhaps a trip to nearby Lagoa which offers fun for the children in the form of the Slide & Splash water park. Silves is further from the Algarve’s beaches than many towns, but you should still be able to drive to the nearest in around 15 minutes.