Praia Da Rocha

Praia da Rocha, the beach next to Portimão marina, is a bustling holiday resort in its own right. It became a tourist centre at the end of the 19th century, when it was the favoured summer resort of families from, not only Portimão, but also the rest of the Algarve and Andalusia; and in the winter with English visitors. The Hotel da Bela Vista with its Belle Epoque architecture, dates from this time and stands out amongst the modern buildings along the beach front.

The beach itself is vast, even in the middle of summer there is always plenty of space. The avenue, Tomás Cabreira, which runs along the top of the beach, is full of restaurants, cafes, and shops and is particularly lively at night with a variety of bars, and clubs to choose from. At the end of the avenue is the Fortress of Santa Catarina de Ribamar, which was part of Portimão's defences against corsairs and pirates. It was built in the 17th and 18th centuries and gives a wonderful view of the beach and the cliffs on one side and the marina on the other.

Praia da Rocha is ideal for anyone who wants to be close to a fantastic beach, have plenty of places to wine and dine or party until late. There is also a casino along the avenue that hosts a show every night, with dinner and dancing if you like, apart from the oportunity to have a flutter on the tables! You really wouldn't need to leave the resort, so no worries about hiring a car if you don't want to. If you want to wander around the main shopping centre then Portimão is only a short walk or bus ride away.

There are all sorts of water sports available on Praia da Rocha, and a variety of boat trips are available from Portimão river front (along from the marina at the eastern end of the beach). A lot of events go on throughout the year - fantastic fireworks and live music to celebrate New Year, powerboat racing or jet-skiing on the river, and lots of beach sports and events during the summer.