Month Long Stay in the Algarve Portimao Portugal
Planning a month-long stay in the Algarve region of Portugal? Portimao is a great choice for your home base. Located on the southwestern coast of Portugal in the Algarve region, Portimao is a charming town known for its beautiful beaches, stunning cliffs, and vibrant nightlife.
It is home to a large group of ex-pats from all over the world. It is often the temporary home of many digital nomads (like us) and snowbirds alike. We lived in Portimao across the months of January and February in a fantastic short term apartment booked through Flatio.
Why we Chose Portimao
When heading to a new country or destination we haven’t visited it can be quite daunting to pick a place to stay. We researched for months reading articles and watching multiple videos about the Algarve before settling on Portimao.
Portimao served as an excellent base for our first stop in our months-long stay in the Algarve. Its convenient location allowed us to easily explore nearby towns such as Lagos and Ferragudo.
Getting around Portimao and discovering the surrounding area is easy. There is a train station and local buses are readily available. Additionally you have the option of using a rideshare like Bolt or Uber.
Overall, our time in Portimao was a great introduction to this beautiful region of Portugal.
Sunny Apartment in Praia da Rocha
We chose to stay close to Praia da Rocha, one of the most popular beaches in the area,. It is only 2 miles south of the main part of Portimao. The beach is known for its golden sand, rugged cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and plenty of beach bars with views of the ocean.
Staying close to the beach was a requirement for us since it had been a year from our last beach stay in Florida and we were missing the ocean!
This led us to choose to stay about 500 meters from Praia da Rocha, the popular resort area in Portimao. With just a short ten minute walk we had stunning views of the water.
Just be aware several sets of stairs lead down to the sand and boardwalk so it is a bit of a hike to get back up.
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Our Furnished Short Term Rental in Portimao Portugal
When looking for a furnished short term rental portimao portugal we had a few requirements.
The apartment was fully equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay, including a kitchen, dining area, living room, comfortable bedroom and bathroom with a tub/shower.
After three years of traveling full time and staying in multiple short term rentals this was probably one of our best stays yet!
Bedroom
We had a nice sized bedroom with two end tables on either side of the bed and a dresser for our clothes. The bed was super comfortable with nice linens and a warm comforter.
If you’re like us and sleep better in a dark room, you’re lucky. The blackout curtains did a great job.The room was even big enough for Michelle to do her workouts in!
Besides the super comfy bed, the best feature of the bedroom was the sliding glass door leading to the large balcony!
Kitchen
The kitchen was stocked with hand soap, soap for the dishwasher, cleaning supplies, toilet paper for the full 30 days, toaster, Nespresso coffee maker (which Michelle loved), oven, kettle, microwave and lots of cooking utensils.
Our host also left a small welcome gift, a bottle of wine, snacks, juice and some spicy Peri Peri peppers which we put to good use in the kitchen!
Living Room and Dining Area
The couch was actually really comfortable which is not common in a lot of vacation rentals, at least in our experience. It also had a fold out bed in case you had extra guests. A large dining room table was turned into Joel’s editing and workspace.
4k smart tv
We were pleasantly surprised to have a 4K smart TV. It made it very easy to sign in to our favorite streaming apps and watch our shows.
Wi-Fi
We were very happy with the internet in this apartment and it was super fast. 93 Mbps download and same upload speed. As travel creators we have a need for speed, fast internet at least.
The internet speed during our stay was some of the fastest we have experienced in our full time travels.
Don’t forget to use protect your data when your traveling, we use Surfshark VPN.
Storage
The apartment also had plenty of built-in storage and a dresser for our clothes. There was even more storage in the living room for cleaning supplies and coats. We also had tons of cabinet space in the kitchen for pots and pans.
Amenities at our Apartment in Praia da Rocha
The apartment complex has a small outdoor ground floor pool. Our stay was during the winter months of January and February so the temperatures were not right for swimming so sadly we didn’t use the pool.
Another nice perk were the sun loungers that are assigned to the room in the pool storage area. We also had loungers available for sunbathing on our nice big balcony.
What is Known Portimão For?
Portimao is the largest city in the western Algarve region. The town’s history as a prominent fishing village can be explored at the fascinating Museu de Portimão, a museum located in the old sardine cannery dedicated to the fishing culture and traditions of Portimao.
Portimao boasts a bustling marina, offering a plethora of exciting tour opportunities. Visitors can book immersive experiences like Bengali cave tours, breathtaking sunset cruises, and unforgettable dolphin watching excursions.
Praia da Rocha, Portimão
The lively Praia da Rocha is the main tourist area where you’ll find a lot of hotels and vacation rentals since it’s located right by the beach. Restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs line the main walkway.
At the east end of Praia da Rocha is Fortaleza de Santa Catarina. Built in 1621 it was used to guard the River Arade from pirates and the Moors. Entrance is free and offers stunning views overlooking the ocean and Ferragudo.
Beaches
Praia da Rocha beach in Portimão is undoubtedly the highlight of the area. To reach the beach, the most convenient route is to follow the road leading to the public parking area. From there, you can easily access the boardwalk that leads straight to the stunning ocean views. Be sure to stop for a drink or snacks at multiple restaurants along the way. However, if you choose to explore other parts of the beach, be aware that multiple sets of steep stairs may be necessary for access and to return back up.
Ferragudo
Just a 10 minute ride over the bridge and across the Arade River from Portimao is the small, quiet fishing village of Ferragudo. We spent a day exploring the town, walking the narrow streets with white washed buildings and dining out in the midday sun with tapas and drinks.
Lagos
Looking for a quick and easy day trip from Portimao? We hopped on a 45-minute bus ride to Lagos and explored the charming city center. We wandered through the streets soaking up the local culture before embarking on a breathtaking hike along the dramatic coastline overlooking Praia do Pinhão.
After just one day in Lagos, we were enamored with the city’s vibe and even found a few nomad-friendly cafes to work from. In fact, we loved it so much that we have decided to return to Lagos for a future and stay.
How Much Does it Cost to Stay in Portimao Portugal?
During our stay in the Algarve region, we took advantage of the low season to find reasonably priced accommodations. According to our research, you can expect to pay $800-$1200 per month for a short-term furnished one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Portimao in 2023. Keep in mind that prices are likely to go up starting in May, which marks the beginning of the high season in Portugal.
Pros and Cons of Staying in Portimao, Portugal
PROS
- The apartment is only ten minutes from the Portimao beaches.
- Easy access to public transportation with a bus stop located in front of the apartment building.
- Plenty of restaurants and grocery shopping just a few minutes walk from Praia da Rocha.
- The apartment was fully stocked with everything we needed for a one month stay.
- Epic coastline hikes run up and down the beaches of Portimao.
- Affordable restaurants and delicious inexpensive wine!
CONS
- Praia da Rocha is touristy.
- Some restaurants and bars were closed since we were there during low season.
Just Looking for Portimao Hotels to Book?
Portimao FAQ
How big is Portimao, Portugal?
The population of Portimao is around 50,000 people and is the largest city in the western part of the Algarve region.
Where is Portimao, Portugal?
Portimao is located in the southwestern part of the Algarve region in Portugal. It’s a 45 minute drive from the Faro International Airport. Located conveniently between Lagos and Alvor to the west and the charming fishing village of Ferragudo to the east just over the bridge from Portimao.
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Cheers,
Happy Wandering!
Joel and Michelle
Welcome to our life on the road, errr… air/boat or any other mode of transportation out there! We’re location independent digital nomads currently traveling the world seeking new experiences, adventures, and satisfying our curiosity and wanderlust.
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