37.12° N · 7.63° W · Tavira
Tavira's beach is on a barrier island of the Ria Formosa, opposite the town. You get there on a Silnido scheduled boat from the centre quay, next to the market, or from Quatro Águas, closer to the island. The return trip costs €2.70 from the centre and €2 from Quatro Águas.
Part of Tavira
Who offers it
Independent companies: you book with them, on their terms. Prices are as they publish them and may change.
Step by step
From the centre of Tavira, next to the free market car park, the boat goes down the River Gilão. From Quatro Águas, with paid parking next to the sailing club, the trip is shorter and there are more departures.
The ticket is sold right there. Keep the return.
From the quay you cross the island by a boardwalk to the beach. To the right, bars and lifeguards; to the left, the beach empties the further you walk.
In summer there is a queue for the last boat: don't wait until the end of the timetable.
The island has no cars and almost no buildings: a campsite, a few bars by the quay and kilometres of sand with dunes behind. The boat is part of the day.
Tavira has no beach on the mainland. Its beach is opposite, on one of the barrier islands of the Ria Formosa: a long strip of sand between the lagoon and the open sea. To get there you take a scheduled boat, simple and cheap, run by the company Silnido from two quays. From the centre, the boat goes down the River Gilão to the ria; from Quatro Águas, at the river mouth, the trip is shorter and there are more departures.
It is a whole-day beach plan, but also a short outing in itself, even out of season, when the beach has far fewer people and you walk along the shore for kilometres.
For everyone. Children under 4 do not pay, and children aged 4 to 11 pay less than a euro each way. With small children the water at the beach is open sea, so in summer choose the area with lifeguards, next to the quay. With a pushchair, from the quay to the beach you go by boardwalk. If you are bringing a bike or a dog, ask at the quay: Silnido does not say on its website.
The centre quay is next to Tavira market, with free parking beside it. The Quatro Águas one is at the river mouth, next to the sailing club, with paid parking. If you arrive on the Algarve regional train, Tavira station is a few minutes' walk from the centre and the market quay.
On the timetable in force since 25 October 2026, from the centre there are boats at 9:30, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40, 14:40 and 15:50, and from the island back to the centre at 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 15:15 and 16:35. From Quatro Águas they leave at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 13:30, 15:00 and 16:05, and from the island towards Quatro Águas at 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 13:45, 15:15 and 16:35. In summer there are many more departures: Silnido publishes each season's timetable on its website.
May, June, September and October are the best months: warm water, frequent boats and room on the sand. In July and August queues form for the last boat back. In winter the boats run on a short timetable and the last one leaves the island in mid-afternoon.
From the centre, €1.50 one way and €2.70 return for adults; for children aged 4 to 11, €0.80 and €1.15. From Quatro Águas, €1.20 one way and €2 return; children, €0.65 and €1.10. Tickets are bought at the quay. Add parking if you leave from Quatro Águas.
In rain or strong wind, the island has nowhere to shelter beyond the bars by the quay. Stay in Tavira: the castle, the churches and the bridge over the Gilão can be seen in a morning.
Who it's for
You want a long beach without cars, like the day to start with a boat or are with children and want something easy and cheap.
You need shade and facilities at hand all day, or are going with lots of beach gear and little patience for queues in August.
What to bring
Map
What you have around the starting point.
More to do
Itineraries
Tips
In winter the timetable is short: with the one in force since 25 October 2026, the last boat from the island to Quatro Águas leaves at 16:35.
It is cheaper, shorter and has departures all year.
The further you get from the quay, the fewer people.
In August the queue for the last boat can leave you on shore for a while.
Questions
Return, €2 from Quatro Águas and €2.70 from the centre. Children aged 4 to 11 pay a little over a euro and under-4s nothing.
Yes, with fewer departures in winter. Silnido publishes each season's timetable on its website.
Ask at the quay: Silnido's website does not say.
Yes: bars and restaurants next to the quay, lifeguards in season and a campsite.
On the 2026 winter timetable, at 16:35 from the island, both towards the centre and towards Quatro Águas.
In the free market car park, for the centre quay, or in the paid one at the sailing club, at Quatro Águas.
No. The ticket is bought at the quay before boarding.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/tavira/things-to-do/tavira-island-ferry
