Silves offers a refreshing change from the busy coastal resorts of the Algarve.

This small inland town sits along the Arade River and was once a mighty Moorish stronghold, while today it offers authentic Portuguese character throughout its streets. The impressive red sandstone castle dominates the skyline, while cobbled streets wind between traditional houses and local cafés.

Silves is just a short journey from popular holiday spots like Albufeira and Portimão, and provides the perfect opportunity to experience genuine Portuguese culture, history and food in a relaxed setting. Whether you're interested in exploring medieval fortifications, sampling local cuisine, or simply wandering through pretty streets, Silves offers an enjoyable and memorable day away from the beaches.

This article is divided into two parts: the first explains why you should visit Silves and provides practical details, while the second offers a self-guided walking tour of the town with detailed information about the key sights.

Silves Castle - The striking red sandstone fortress with ancient walls to explore, magnificent views across the countryside, and fascinating insight into the Moorish era.

Charming Streets - Wander through narrow cobbled lanes lined with traditional white and tiled houses, where every turn reveals another slice of Portuguese small-town life.

Authentic Portuguese Atmosphere - Experience local life at relaxed street cafés, the busy municipal market, or the many excellent family-run restaurants

Sé Cathedral - Visit this impressive Gothic church with its distinctive mix of architectural styles, beautiful stained glass, and important historical tombs.

Silves offers a perfect escape from the busy coastal resorts of the Algarve, giving visitors a genuine taste of Portuguese life that's often missed when staying in beach towns. This small, walkable town packs centuries of history, authentic food, and local culture into an area that can be easily explored in just 2-3 hours.

Unlike the tourist-filled coastal areas, Silves maintains its true Portuguese character. The relaxed pace of life, traditional architecture, and local cafés filled with Portuguese residents rather than tourists provide an authentic experience of everyday Portuguese culture.

Silves makes for an easy and enjoyable day trip, being easily accessible by public transport from Albufeira and Portimão. The ride-hailing apps like Uber or Bolt provide even more convenience, especially if traveling as a family or small group.

A day trip to Silves costs significantly less than visiting theme parks or taking organized excursions. The castle entrance fee is just €2.80, while restaurant meals are typically cheaper than in coastal resorts. The only other costs are transport and perhaps a coffee and ice cream.

Silves is small enough that you won't feel exhausted trying to see everything. The town center, cathedral, and castle can all be explored on foot, and Silves maintains a calm atmosphere even during the summer months. While places like Lagos, Faro and Albufeira become packed with visitors during peak season, Silves remains pleasantly quiet.

For visitors staying in the central Algarve region (Alvor, Portimão, Carvoeiro, Armação de Pêra, or Albufeira), Silves makes an ideal first day trip. It's close enough that transport won't eat up your day, interesting enough to make the journey worthwhile.

The back streets of Silves will be free from tourists even in the peak summer months

How about a tour of Silves?
An organised tour is a great way to visit Silves and to explore more of the surrounding region without the hassle of public transport. We have worked with GetYourGuide for the last seven years and some of their best tours which visit Silves include:

When planning day trips in the Algarve, several towns offer different experiences:

Silves vs Loulé: Both towns offer authentic Portuguese character, but Silves stands out with its rich Moorish history and impressive red sandstone castle. Loulé is located far to the east, making it inconvenient for visitors staying in Portimão, Carvoeiro or Alvor regions. (Loulé guide)

Silves vs Portimão: While Portimão offers a pleasant waterfront and shopping options, it's primarily a modern residential city. Silves has more character and appeal. (Portimão guide)

Silves vs Lagoa: Lagoa is a modest town with limited historic attractions, mainly serving as a place for shopping or dining. Silves has simply much more to see.

Silves vs Lagos: Lagos a fascinating historic city with much more to see and do than Silves (5-6 hours of sightseeing compared to Silves' 2-3 hours). However, Lagos is located far to the west, making it less convenient to visit without a car. Silves offers an easier, more accessible day trip with enough to see for an enjoyable excursion. (Lagos guide)

If you had a car and were deciding on the best day trips of the central/western Algarve, the order to visit would be: 1) Lagos 2) Faro 3) Silves 4) Loule 5) Albufeira 6) Vilamoura& Quarteira

The Praça do Município and the gateway into the Moorish quarter of Silves

Travel to Silves is often the main issue that stops most tourists from visiting, but it shouldn't. The town has limited public transport, however the easiest option is using a ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Bolt.

Bus services to Silves are operated by Vamus (www.vamusalgarve.pt) with two useful routes. Route 17 connects Albufeira to Silves, taking 44 minutes and costing €5.60. Route 113 connects Portimão to Silves, taking 38 minutes and costing €5.60. The bus stop for Silves is located on the south side of town on Rua Pedro Paulo M. Júdice (GPS: 37.185, -8.440 - Google Maps link). This bus stop is listed as "Silves (Piscinas)" on the Vamus website.

Silves bus stop on the Rua Pedro Paulo M. Júdice

While Silves has a train station, it's inconveniently located 1.8km south of the historic center - a 30-minute walk along busy roads with no scenic value. The train is primarily useful if traveling from Lagos or Faro. Train services are operated by Comboios de Portugal, and for the latest timetables, visit: www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/timetables/vila-real-s.antonio-lagos-regional-trains.pdf

For many visitors, hiring an Uber or Bolt offers the most convenient option for a day trip to Silves. This provides direct pickup from your accommodation, is significantly faster than public transport, and removes the need to plan around departure times. Fares vary by distance and demand but for example can be as low as €19 for the 30km/30minute drive from Albufeira to Silves for up to 3 passengers.

For many visitors, hiring an Uber or Bolt offers the most convenient option for a day trip to Silves. This provides direct pickup from your accommodation, is significantly faster than public transport, and removes the need to plan around departure times. Fares vary by distance and demand but for example can be as low as €19 for the 30km/30minute drive from Albufeira to Silves for up to 3 passengers.

Insight: Bolt is cheaper than Uber, but the standard of the cars (and drivers) is better with Uber. We always recommend Uber for tourists.

If you are plan on driving to Silves, the town is accessible via the A22 expressway (exit at junction 6) and then follow the N124 north. There's ample parking on the southwestern side of town, making it easy to leave your car and explore on foot. Avoid trying to park in the historic center as the narrow streets have very limited parking options.

Silves has many restaurants that are designed for locals rather than tourists, meaning food will be much cheaper than in the coastal towns. The pedestrian street of Rua Cruz de Portugal, close to the riverfront, has many pleasant open-air cafés for lighter lunches. Some of the better restaurants for lunch include:

Churrasqueira Valdemar – Inexpensive grilled food next to the market – You can't go wrong with 1/2 BBQ chicken (or fish of the day), chips, drink, dessert and coffee for 10 Euros (Churrasqueira Valdemar on Gogle maps)
Café Inglês – Always a popular choice serving delicious food next to the castle with charming terraced seating - (Café Inglês on Google maps)
Marisqueira Rui – The best seafood restaurant in Silves (Marisqueira Rui Google maps)
Parsley & Thyme – Exceptional vegetarian restaurant, worth visiting even if you're not a vegetarian (Google maps)
O Pina – Good traditional Portuguese restaurant, decent prices for large portions and ideal for lunch after sightseeing (O Pina Google maps)
Restaurante Ponte Romana – Portuguese restaurant close to the Ponte Romana bridge - (Ponte Romana Google maps)

The Café Inglês is conveniently next to the castle

The Restaurante Ponte Romana

This walking tour covers all the main attractions of Silves in a logical route that lets you experience the town's rich history, beautiful architecture, and authentic Portuguese atmosphere. The entire walk takes about 2-3 hours at a relaxed pace, allowing time to enjoy each sight properly.

The interactive map marks the route and shows the main sights of Silves. Also include is the location of the train station bus stop and main car park.

Sights: 1) Mercado Municipal 2) Ponte Romana 3) Rua Elias Garcia 4) Praça do Município 5) Câmara Municipal de Silves (City Hall) 6) Portas da Cidade 7) Museu Municipal de Arqueologia 8) Sé Catedral 9) Igreja da Misericórdia de Silves 10) Castelo de Silves 11) Muralhas da Cidade (City Walls) 12) Praça Al-Mutamid 13) Silves Viewpoint 14) Cruz de Portugal
Restaurants: 15) Churrasqueira Valdemar 16) Café Inglês 17) Marisqueira Rui 18) Parsley & Thyme 19) O Pina 20) Restaurante Ponte Romana

Begin your exploration where the town itself began – at the Rio Arade. This river shaped Silves' history and fortunes. During Moorish times, the river was much wider, allowing ships to sail between Silves and the sea, bringing wealth and trade.

As the river gradually silted up over centuries, Silves' importance as a trading hub declined. Cross the historic Ponte Romana, a charming pedestrian walkway dating from the 15th century. Despite its name, no Roman structures remain, but a bridge has stood at this location since Roman times.

The Arade River and the Ponte Romana in Silves

Walking up from the bridge, you'll soon reach the Mercado Municipal near the waterfront. Unlike the tourist markets on the coast, this is where locals shop for fresh produce, fish, and household goods. The market offers a genuine glimpse into everyday Portuguese life away from the tourist areas.

It's an excellent place to pick up some authentic Portuguese food products to take home, or simply observe locals going about their daily lives.

Continue your walk along Rua Elias Garcia, one of Silves' main streets. Take note of the traditional Portuguese buildings with their distinctive features: many houses are adorned with decorative tiles (azulejos) that aren't just beautiful but practical, offering better protection against the weather than painted plaster. You'll also spot the distinctive red sandstone in many buildings – the same stone used in the castle.

The heart of Silves is the attractive Praça do Município, surrounded by cafés and historic buildings. This square is dominated by the impressive Portas da Cidade, a massive stone tower that once served as the main city gate. Look at its unusual design with high arches but a surprisingly narrow gateway, and a much smaller secondary door.

The Portas da Cidade, the only remaining gateway in Silves

In the centre of the square stands the only pillory (pelourinho) in the Algarve. These stone columns were once used to hang and display criminals as a warning to others. The square is overlooked by the charming town hall, with its distinctive architecture and balconies.

Near the town hall, visit the Museu Municipal de Arqueologia which houses remarkable treasures from the town's past. The museum also holds one of Portugal's finest collections of ceramics from the Moorish period. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00-17:30. Admission: €2.00.

The Rua da Sé is the ancient Moorish street that leads up from the gateway to the castle

Continue uphill to reach Silves Cathedral, the best-preserved Gothic cathedral in southern Portugal. Built between the 12th and 15th centuries on the site of a former mosque, it features a beautiful mix of red sandstone and white plastered walls. Inside, the cathedral follows a traditional Latin cross layout. Look for the historically significant tombstone of King John II, who died under mysterious circumstances near Silves in 1495.

The Se Cathedral in Silves

The highlight of this tour is Silves Castle, which stands proudly above the town. This impressive red sandstone fortress is one of the best-preserved Moorish castles in Portugal. Inside, explore the extensive complex of defensive towers connected by solid walls and wide ramparts. The castle is open daily from 9:00 until 18:00. Admission: €2.80.

Parts of the site have been excavated to reveal the original Roman foundations underneath the Moorish structure. Though the walls and towers date from the 12th century, much of what you see today was carefully restored during the 1940s, allowing visitors to walk the entire perimeter of the castle for spectacular views across the countryside.

The statue of Dom Sancho I guarding Silves castle

The remarkable cistern within the castle is an engineering marvel of the Moorish period - this vast underground water chamber could hold enough water to sustain the entire population during a year-long siege, featuring a spiral staircase that descends 10 meters into the earth and walls ingeniously designed to keep the water cool and fresh even during the hottest Algarve summers.

The roof of the cistern

Outside of the castle is a statue of Dom Sancho I, the second King of Portugal who led a successful campaign to capture the Moorish castle of Silves in the Algarve region in 1189. This was a significant victory during the Portuguese Reconquista, though the Portuguese control of Silves was brief, as the Moors recaptured it in 1191.

The statue of Dom Sancho I

After exploring the castle, take a well-earned break at Café Inglês, located nearby. This popular restaurant offers delicious food and charming terraced seating – perfect for reflecting on Silves' fascinating history while enjoying some authentic Portuguese cuisine.

The Café Inglês is conveniently next to the castle

Along Rua do Mirante, you'll discover impressive sections of Silves' ancient city walls that once protected the entire Moorish town. These defensive fortifications, originally featured at least 17 towers and enclosed nearly 10 hectares. These ancient walls were constructed using a special "taipa militar" technique - a robust mixture of clay, gravel, sand and lime faced with the distinctive red sandstone that gives Silves its characteristic colour.

At the bottom of the hill is the charming Praça Al-Mutamid, dedicated to the Moorish poet-king who once ruled Silves. The square's centrepiece features a sculptural of seven figures depicting daily life in Islamic Silves.

If you still have energy, walk to the northeastern side of town to see the Cruz de Portugal. This 6-metre high Gothic cross from the 15th century showcases beautiful marble carving from the period.

The 15th century Cruz do Portugal

The final highlight of your tour is crossing to the opposite side of the river valley, where the viewpoint along the N124 road offers a spectacular panorama of Silves.

The view over Silves from the N124-1

Our most popular guides to Silves and the Algarve