We visited Pedras del Rei Resort near Tavira several times, both during the winter and summer time and I must say, it has some unique features!
You can rent here long and short term and you get transported into the 70’s. In a good way!
Location
Located in the heart of Ria Formosa Natural Park in Tavira, in Algarve, this beach resort is 1 km from Barril Beach. It has several restaurants, an outdoor pool and massage services.
This resort was build in 1969, being one of the first resorts in Algarve. The localization of the resort was a plus from the start, having access to the Ria Formosa and also the beach. In those times at Praia do Barril it was a community of fishermen. Now at Praia do Barril you can still see the famous anchors they used in their daily work.
Praia de Barril was considered trough the time one of the most wonderful beaches in Algarve. Now you have there several amenities: restaurants, bars and shops.
Pedras del Rei sits sits on 35 hectares of land. There are built 840 houses. This resort has a sister one named Pedras da Rainha, located in Cabanas de Tavira – but about that in another video.
The outdoor swimming pool at the Pedras is surrounded by a lush tropical garden with exotic trees and flowers. In the season, guests can also enjoy a range of beauty treatments and relaxing massages on the beach. This picture was taken during winter in Portugal and I think for January it looks sunning!
The main attraction
Of course the main attraction is the tourist train that runs from Pendras del Rei to Praia do Barril. It is free for the ones staying at Pedras del Rei and 1.5 euro each trip for the others.
The train is not new, connecting the main land to the beach. Even back when the community of tuna fishermen used it for transporting the fish from the beach. Now is just a tourist attraction and a very pleasant experience! I can confirm, since I had the pleasure to ride in it, see here the video.
Eating in Pedras del Rei
In the resort you can find a hamburger house, a pizzeria and a creperie but you also have restaurants at Praia do Barill or in Santa Luiza or even Tavira. Up to Santa Luiza you have like 15 minute walking distance.
We didn’t eat here, since in out of season (January) only the bar was open, but we stayed a while on the terrace, enjoying a cup o coffee and the winter Algarvian sun.
Renting short or long term
The resort has both apartments and villas for rent. Villas are one, two or three bedrooms and apartments are studios and with one bedroom. You can spend here a nice summer vacation or you can move here for the winter months, enjoy the Portugal weather and sun!
You can rent the apartments and villas directly on their site or you can try to search for individual ads from people owning properties here on Airbnb and Booking. For long term renting try in idealista.pt.
The rooms at the Pedras D’el Rei have a TV, a private bathroom and a kitchenette. Some rooms have a seating area or a balcony.
But let’s see how the resort looks and feels up close. We made a special visit to film this experience in January 2022, so in off season. The resort is functional and lively but you better watch the video so you can get your own feel of the place.
If you don’t really like winter where you are, Portugal is a very good choice to take that trip, explore and travel.
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Read this next! – 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING TO ALGARVE PORTUGAL