Tavira's beaches are on Ilha de Tavira, a barrier island south of the town. The sand is wide, clean, and relatively uncrowded compared to the beaches of the central and western Algarve. The water is warm from June to October. Facilities include seasonal restaurants and beach bars; in the quieter months the island is almost empty.
Ferries run from two points: the town quay in the centre, and the Quatro Águas dock about 2 km east, which has more departures and shorter queues. The crossing takes five minutes. At the western end of the island, the ruins of the old Barril fishing settlement and an unusual anchor graveyard are worth the twenty-minute walk from the ferry.