Museu de Portimao

The basics

The Museu de Portimao combines its repurposed factory setting and its collection in a unique way, exploring how the city and river have shaped each other through time. Set aside an hour or more to see the art and artifacts, as well as temporary exhibits. Afterwards you can take a stroll along the Ribeirinha promenade by the Arade River, where boat tours are offered, and visit some more Portimao museums.

Things to know before you go

• The museum offers free entry to visitors for the first few hours after opening each Sunday.
• A black and white film (with subtitles) showing what the factory was once like is not to be missed.
• An elevator provides access to the museum’s three floors.

How to get there

Visitors will find the Museu de Portimao at the southern end of the Ribeirinha, close to where many of the city’s boat tours leave. Walking to the museum only takes 10–15 minutes from the historical center of Portimao, or take the #14 or #33 bus from the Praça da República. To reach the museum from Praia da Rocha, take the #11 or #33 bus.

When to get there

The Museu de Portimao is open every day except Mondays and public holidays. Most of the year, it’s only open in the afternoon on Tuesdays, but its schedule changes in August, when it’s open on Tuesday evenings and only in the afternoon from Wednesday to Sunday. Visit in the morning (when possible) as there are generally fewer visitors than in the afternoon.

Other museums in Portimao to visit

Portimao isn’t one of the Algarve’s main cultural hubs, but you will find a couple of other museums besides the Museu de Portimao there. The Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes hosts exhibits on the writer and former president of Portugal Manuel Teixeira Gomes, who was born in the house. A museum more likely to appeal to the whole family is the 3D Fun Art Museum, with its clever, interactive art installations.