Small Portuguese city that ‘isn’t overrun by tourists’ is country’s most affordable destination – with £2.50 beers
A CITY in Portugal is one Brits may have never heard of – but has been named one of the cheapest to visit.
Silves in Portugal used to the be capital of the Algarve.
Sadly, most of the city only dates back to the late 1700s as most of it was destroyed in a huge earthquake.
What has remained is the Moorish Castelo de Silves, the largest in the Algarve.
But now, most people skip the city in favour of the nearby beaches, making it a quiet – and affordable destination to visit during the off-peak season.
A study conducted by Lisbon Tickets & Tours analysed the average cost of hotels, food, beer, taxis and flights from the UK.
And coming out on top as the most affordable spot in Portugal was Silves.
The average price of a hotel was around £73, while a beer costs as little as £2.50.
And flights from the UK were under £50, on average.
Visit during August for the annual Silves Medieval Fair, with live reenactments and markets.
Lisbon Tickets & Tours’ travel expert Magdalena Petrusic said: “Portugal offers a range of affordable destinations to visit during the off-peak season, making it a great choice for budget-conscious travellers.”
Silves is a great day trip destination for the Algarve, especially if staying in Lagos of Albufeira.
The cobbled streets are lined with independent shops and cafes, serving handcrafted gifts and ceramics.
Some of the best restaurants include Churrasqueira Valdemar, named one of Tripadvisor‘s Travellers Choice Awards and known for its authentic peri peri chicken.
And the Segredo dos Mouros bar has been named a “hidden gem” for great value tapas and drinks.
most of the central hotels are B&Bs and even riads you are likely to see in Morocco.
Casa Riad Yasmin has its own indoor swimming pool, while Hotel Colina dos Mouros is a more affordable three-star option with rooms as little as £37.
To get to Silves, he best way is to fly to Faro with easyJet and Ryanair offering bargain flights.
Ryanair has £14.99 flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and London Luton, while the cheapest easyJet flights are also £14.99, from London Luton, London Gatwick and Liverpool.
Silves is then a 45 minute drive, or a one hour bus.
The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor on why a holiday to the Algarve can't be missed
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited the Algarve, after it was named Europe’s best beach destination.
I visited the Algarve just before the peak season and could definitely see why it is often winning praise.
Praia do Camilo is one of the popular beaches and lives up to the hype with bright blue water and fewer crowds due to the steep 200 steps to the bottom.
And off the coast are some amazing unknown islands – there is Barretta Island, uninhabited but home to amazing restaurant Estamine, the slightly more built up Isla de Armona.
Make sure to stay at 3HB Faro, the first five-star hotel in the city.
The Sun recently visited the W Algarve – here’s what you can expect.
And we’ve rounded up the best hotels in the Algarve with waterparks.