What's on in Tavira, Portugal through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Almond blossom

  15 Jan – 28 Feb · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The groves in the hills behind the town flower in late winter, usually peaking in the first half of February, on the same weeks the orange trees in the streets are still full of fruit.

Still on: Waders on the Ria Formosa (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Out of season (1 Nov – 28 Feb)

Busy — Carnival holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Almond blossom (15 Jan – 28 Feb (usually)), Waders on the Ria Formosa (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Out of season (1 Nov – 28 Feb)

Peak crowds — Easter week, Easter holidays in Portugal

• Holiday

  Easter week

  29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowded

  The eastern Algarve's first busy week, when Portuguese families open up the holiday flats and the island ferries go back to a full timetable. Source ↗

Still on: Waders on the Ria Formosa (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Easter week, Easter holidays in Portugal

• Opening

  Ilha de Tavira ferry season

  1 Apr – 15 Oct · usuallySummer season opens

  The sandbar island's beach bars and the frequent boats out to it run from spring to mid-October. Out of season it is a winter timetable from Quatro Aguas and an empty beach. Source ↗

Still on: Easter week (29 Mar – 5 Apr)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Ilha de Tavira ferry season (1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Santos Populares

  12–30 JunMajor festival

  Grills of sardines on the riverside and neighbourhood street parties through the second half of June, the same nights Lisbon does it but at a tenth of the scale. Source ↗

• Nature

  Salt harvest in the pans

  15 Jun – 20 Sep · usually

  The salinas either side of the river are raked through the summer, flor de sal skimmed off the surface in the mornings and white pyramids left along the banks until autumn.

Still on: Ilha de Tavira ferry season (1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Ilha de Tavira ferry season (1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)), Salt harvest in the pans (15 Jun – 20 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Portuguese August, Summer holidays in Portugal

• Season

  Portuguese August

  1–31 AugSchool holidaysCrowded

  The eastern Algarve is a domestic holiday coast first, so August fills with families from Lisbon rather than charter flights. The island ferry queue is the bottleneck.

Still on: Ilha de Tavira ferry season (1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)), Salt harvest in the pans (15 Jun – 20 Sep (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Ilha de Tavira ferry season (1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)), Salt harvest in the pans (15 Jun – 20 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Waders on the Ria Formosa

  1 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallyBirdlife season

  The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.

Still on: Ilha de Tavira ferry season (1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Out of season

  1 Nov – 28 FebOff-season shutdown

  The mildest corner of mainland Portugal in winter and one of the few Algarve towns that keeps working when the season ends, so the market and the tascas stay open on empty streets.

Still on: Waders on the Ria Formosa (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Christmas holidays in Portugal, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Waders on the Ria Formosa (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Out of season (1 Nov – 28 Feb)