Vila Real de Santo Antonio Attractions

The little frontier town of Vila Real de Santo António (altitude: sea level) lies on the right bank of the Guadiana which is navigable as far as Mértola. There are regular ferries to Ayamonte, the Spanish port on the other side, although these have been used less since a expressway bridge was built across the river a few miles to the north.

However, river excursions from Vila Real de Santo António are most enjoyable. The many visitors to the town come for the day to take advantage of the bargains in the shops. Until the 1960s there were a number of fish canning factories here, especially for tuna and sardines, but now there are only two.