Alcoutim

On the banks of the Guadiana, with Spain on the opposite shore, Alcoutim is a small town of white houses and steep streets. Its castle looks over the river, and the riverside, the old town and the quiet of the border make it one of the most peaceful corners of the Algarve.

History and identity

Alcoutim was a frontier town through the Middle Ages, guarding the crossing of the Guadiana, and its castle, its old streets and its churches recall that past. For centuries the river was a meeting point as much as a border, and the town kept the character of a river port.

What to see and do

• The castle and its views over the river and the Spanish shore.
• The old town, with its whitewashed streets.
• The riverside and the river beaches in the area.
• The town’s churches and small museums.

Gastronomy and traditions

Alcoutim keeps the rural cuisine of the eastern Algarve, with river fish, game, honey and the sweets of the hills. Its festivals are part of the calendar of the border country.

Nearby

Downriver lies the Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim, with its wetlands and birdlife along the Guadiana estuary.

Visiting Alcoutim

Alcoutim is in the south-east of Portugal, on the Guadiana, reached by road. Access to the town is free; for river trips and local events, check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-alcoutim.pt.

Image credit: Alcoutim, Portugal, by Jose A., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.