Praia do Barril – the complete guide
General information
Praia do Barril is a beach located about 5 kilometres from the town of Tavira. The beach is basically an extension of Ilha de Tavira. Praia do Barril is the #2 thing to do in Tavira, according to TripAdvisor.
Originally, there was a tuna fishing village situated here. The houses of the fishermen now are turned into cafes, restaurants or other facilities. You can still see the anchors in the sand and an old tuna fishing boat near the beach. This fascinating sight is known as the anchor cemetary of Praia do Barril. It reminds us of what the local economy of this area was about, in a time before tourism.
Praia do Barril is a big beach, quite long and wide. In general, the beach is not very crowded. It is actually one of the most quiet beaches in this area of the Algarve. However, in summer it can get a bit crowded near the entrance point. However, the beach provides enough space for visitors that are willing to walk a couple of minutes, even in the peak of summer. If you walk about 2 kilometres to the right side, there is a nudist area.
The sand on Praia do Barril is very soft and white. The water is clean and deep blue, but can be surprisingly cold. The beach is also very clean and is an ideal beach for families with children. Since the beach stretches for many kilometres, it is also a great beach for a beach walk along the sea.
How to get there
By car, exit the N125 near Luz de Tavira and follow the signs to Santa Luzia and Pedras d’el Rei. Otherwise, enter the following address in your GPS: 8800-531 Aldeamento das Pedras D’El Rei, Portugal. You will find a car park, where you can leave your car. From there, you can cross a bridge and walk towards the sea. You can even take a train for the rest of the journey, but it is also possible to walk the distance (about 10 minutes walk). If you are carrying heavy bags, it might be worth it to take the train. Also, children usually love to take this train. It costs about 1 euro to take the train. Along the walking route (or train route) you can see a variety of flora and fauna. For example, there is a type of crab (in Portuguese called Bocas) that suddenly hides in the mud when you pass by. Along the way you might also smell the intense aroma of a small curry plant.
Praia do Barril – Facilities
There are several facilities on Praia do Barril, including restaurants where you can eat local dishes. A tip is to try here is tuna, which once formed the center of the local economy of this area.
Facilities in Praia do Barril:
• Restaurant: yes
• Bar/club: no
• Toilet: yes
• Shower: yes
• Water sports: yes
• Sunbeds: yes
• Parking: yes
• Lifeguards: yes
• Blue flag beach: yes
