Things to do in Silves
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Café Inglês
This cafe has a wonderful shady terrace and is everyone’s favourite spot. The food is excellent (don’t miss the Chocolate St Emilion dessert). One of the Algarve’s liveliest restaurants north of the coast, it has an elegant interior and in summer has occasional live jazz, fado and African music.
reviewed
-
B
Castle
The russet-coloured, Lego-like castle has great views over the town and surrounding countryside. It was restored in 1835 and you can walk around its chunky sandstone walls, which today enclose unfinished archaeological digs that reveal the site’s Roman and pre-Roman past. In the north wall you can see a treason gate (an escape route through which turncoats would sometimes let the enemy in), typical of castles at the time. The Moorish occupation is recalled by a deep well and a rosy-coloured water cistern, 5m deep. Inside, the cistern’s four vaults are supported by 10 columns. Probably built in the 11th century, by the 16th century the castle was abandoned. Recently the ca…
reviewed
-
Restaurante O Barradas
The star choice for fine dining is this delightful spot, 3km south of Silves, past the Silves train station on the road to Lagoa. The German chef creates her own Portuguese wonders, always using Mediterranean ingredients, sourced where possible from local suppliers. Organic meats and fresh, not farmed, fish are used. Desserts use seasonal fruits (don’t miss the figs with muscatel). An elegant atmosphere, gourmet dishes, and too many fine wines (did we mention her husband is a winemaker?) make for a taxi booking (seriously, think about it).
reviewed
-
C
Museu Municipal de Arqueologia
The impressiveMuseu Municipal de Arqueologia is well laid-out . In the centre is a well-preserved 4m-wide, 18m-deep Moorish well surrounded by a spiral staircase, which was discovered during excavations. The find, together with other archaeological discoveries in the area, led to the establishment of the museum on this site; it shows prehistoric, Roman and Moorish antiquities. One wall is of glass, showing a section of the fort wall (also of Almohad origin) that is used to support the building.
reviewed
-
Sé
The sé, built in 1189 on the site of an earlier mosque, then rebuilt after the 1249 Reconquista and subsequently restored several times following earthquake damage. The stark, fortress-like building has a multi-arched Portuguese-Gothic doorway, and some original Gothic touches left, including the nave and aisles and a dramatically tall, strikingly simple interior. There are several fine tombs, one of which is purported to be of João do Rego, who helped to settle Madeira.
reviewed
-
D
Museu da Cortiça
The Museu da Cortiça is housed in the Fábrica do Inglês (English Factory), a large complex, unashamedly catering to large groups. The museum, with the former workshops, machine room and press room, has good bilingual displays on the process and history of cork production. Cork was a major industry in Silves for 150 years, until the factory’s closure in the mid-1990s, largely due to the silting-up of the Rio Arade.
reviewed
-
E
Fábrica do Inglês
In the surroundings of the converted 19th-century English Museu da Cortiça (cork factory), 300m northeast of the new bridge, this complex has restaurants and bars. From July to mid-September, it hosts a nightly show with dancers and singers.
reviewed
-
F
Restaurante Ponte Romana
Adjoining the Ponte Romana residencial, this basement restaurant has decorations – keys, cowbells and harnesses – as antiquated as its prices (which haven’t moved in years). Great value, hearty country fare.
reviewed
-
G
Igreja da Misericórdia
The 16th-century Igreja da Misericórdia, plain apart from its distinctive, fanciful Manueline doorway (not the main entrance) is decorated with curious heads, pine cones, foliage and aquatic emblems.
reviewed
-
Country Riding Centre
Country Riding Centre, about 4km east of Silves, left off the road to Messines (it is signposted), offers hour-long to half-day hacks at all levels, with swimming opportunities as well.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Pastelaria Rosa
On the ground floor of the town hall building, this long-standing, tile-lined place is lovely for coffee and pastries. You can sit outside next to a small tree-shaded plaza or inside for rustic charm.
reviewed
-
I
Restaurante Marisqueria Rui
Situated in the old town, this place is Sagres’ finest seafood restaurant. Join the locals – it gets busy – and savour plates of cockles, clams and crabs to bass and seafood rice.
reviewed
-
Krazy World
Near São Bartolomeu de Messines, about 17km northwest, there’s Krazy World, an animal and crocodile park with mini golf, pony rides and two swimming pools.
reviewed
-
J
Bistro O Cais
This restored waterfront town house has a relaxed setting with a changing menu. It has jazz jam sessions on a Sunday afternoon, and fado during the week.
reviewed
-
Ú Monchiqueiro
By the river and near the market, this casual spot serves grilled meats (there’s an outdoor grill), and punchy piri-piri chicken.
reviewed
