# Camera obscura in the old water tower

What to do en Tavira · Tavira

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/things-to-do/tavira-camera-obscura · Revisado: 2026-11-12

- Desde: 6.5 € per adult
- Duración: 30 min
- Temporada: All year; in winter Tuesday to Friday
- Para quién: From age 4; not for anyone with vertigo

A periscope in the 1931 water tower that projects Tavira live, with a guide. 30-minute session; adults €6.50, children €3.

What it is
At the highest point of Tavira, near the castle, stands the town's old water tower, built in 1931. It fell out of use, came close to being demolished, and in 1999 local people voted in a referendum to keep it. In 2004 it became the first camera obscura in the Algarve: the Camera Obscura – Tavira Eye.
Inside the tower, about 30 metres above sea level, a periscope with a rotating mirror and a double lens captures the town and projects it live onto a horizontal screen more than two metres across, in a darkened room. As the guide turns the mirror, you watch cars go by, people on café terraces and boats on the river, in real time, while the guide tells you the story of what appears: the bridge over the Gilão, the churches, the hipped roofs, the salt pans and the Ria Formosa.
What the session is like
Each session lasts about 30 minutes, for a maximum of 15 people, with commentary in Portuguese and English. The image moves constantly and depends on sunlight: on cloudy or rainy days the camera may close because the image is not clear enough. Pick a clear day and, if you can, go around midday, when the light is strongest.
Opening hours and closures
In the winter period it opens Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 to 14:00, with the last session at 13:30. It closes on Portuguese public holidays, including 25 December and 1 January, and on days when the weather does not allow a good image. The hours change with the season: check its website before you go, especially in summer.
Prices and booking

Adults: €6.50.
Students and over-65s: €6.
Children aged 4 to 12 and people with disabilities: €3.
Family (two adults and two children up to 12): €18.
Groups of more than ten: 20% discount, booking by email.

You can book a session online on its website or buy at reception. With small groups and few sessions a day, it is wise to book in high season.
Getting there
The tower is at Calçada da Galeria 12, at the top of the old town. You walk up from Praça da República and the bridge along steep streets, in about ten minutes. It fits into a walk round the historic centre of Tavira, between the castle and Santa Maria do Castelo. There is no point driving up: park below, by the river.
Accessibility and children
The camera is adapted for people with reduced mobility. It is not suitable for children under 4, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. It is not recommended for people with vertigo or heart problems, because of the moving image in the dark.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Web: https://cameraobscuratavira.com/
- Coordenadas: 37.1255, -7.651

## Cerca de aquí

- [Pousada Convento Tavira](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/where-to-stay/pousada-convento-tavira), a 22 m
- [A Ver Tavira](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/where-to-eat/a-ver-tavira), a 28 m
- [Gilão Restaurant](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/where-to-eat/gilao), a 154 m
- [The bridge over the Gilão, the castle and Santa Maria](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/things-to-do/tavira-old-town), a 189 m
- [À Mesa](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/where-to-eat/a-mesa), a 496 m
- [Mesa Farta](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/where-to-eat/mesa-farta), a 597 m
- [Ferry to Ilha de Tavira from the centre or Quatro Águas](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/things-to-do/tavira-island-ferry), a 2.1 km
- [Praia do Barril: the walkway, the little train and the anchor graveyard](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/things-to-do/praia-do-barril), a 4.4 km

## Consejos

### Go on a clear day
The image depends on the sun: with cloud it looks worse and the camera may close.

### Do it at the start of your walk
From the screen you pick out what you will later see on foot: the bridge, the churches, the salt pans.

### Get the family ticket
Two adults and two children pay €18, less than buying separately.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the Tavira camera obscura cost?
€6.50 for adults and €3 for children aged 4 to 12. The family ticket costs €18.

### Which days is it open?
In winter, Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 14:00. It closes on public holidays and cloudy days; check the hours on its website at other times of year.

### Can young children go?
From the age of 4. Children under 12 must go with an adult.

Destino: [Tavira](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira.md)