Shopping malls across the Algarve

by Sun’s Dragon         

From East to West, here is a list of the largest shopping malls across the region.

Tavira - The Gran Plaza

Is new shopping mall with 110 shops, including opticians, a PC clinic and a travel agent, as well as clothing and jewellery. It boasts a cinema with 4 screens and a Continente hypermarket. It is spacious, modern and has everything you need, all under one roof. The food court is indoor and outdoor and has a good variety of cafes and restaurants. The mall is on the opposite side of the river to the old town and there is free underground parking.

Olhão - Ria Shopping

A recent addition to the Algarve shopping experience is Ria Shopping.  Built on 9,000 square metres over three stories and with 70 shops offering fashion, beauty, sport and much more, it has it all.  With a comprehensive food court, large supermarket, a cinema and children’s play area it is the largest covered shopping place in the area. Situated in the heart of Olhão it is easy to get to and easy to park with its underground parking area.

Faro - Forum

On the outskirts of Faro town is the Forum shopping mall, a large, semi open mall with free parking.  Forum has many of the high street fashion brands such as Zara, C & A and Bershka. It also has a super-sized Jumbo supermarket, a 9-screen cinema, and a huge food court with local and international selections. There is an open air children’s play area in the centre of the mall. The atmosphere is electric around Christmas time when this mall is superbly decorated and boasts an ice rink and simulated snow for the shoppers to enjoy.

Faro - Faro Shopping

Directly opposite the Forum and featuring among others, AKI for household and DIY, Radio Popular for electrical and electronic appliances, and a large Pingo Doce supermarket. This is a shopping centre rather than a mall.

Quinta do Lago - Quinta shopping

Although this is not strictly a mall but an open air shopping square with a small mall, Buganvila Plaza, attached. Luxury is the operative word here with an abundance of boutique style shops, selling everything from furs to furniture. Along with the beautifully decorated shops there are cafes and restaurants, including the famous De Barra’s with its traditional Irish Pub Grub ‘with a difference’.

Guia - Algarve shopping

Algarve Shopping has over 100 shops featuring all the international brands as well as local shops, outlet shops, children’s shops and a food court.  It is an indoor/outdoor mall with its own hypermarket and play area.  This too has free parking underground.

Next to the mall is a smaller shopping area with furniture stores, supermarket and eclectic household stores as well as Iceland for the British food shopper. Opposite the Algarve Shopping mall is Makro cash-and-carry and Leroy Merlin – the largest DIY shop in The Algarve.

Portimão - Aqua Portimão

Aqua Portimão shopping centre is the largest mall in the Western Algarve, with 35,500 square metres and 117 shops including Primark, Foot Locker and H&M. There is a very large food court both outdoor and under cover with a huge variety of food on offer. It boasts a Jumbo hypermarket and a three level free underground car park holding 1800 vehicles.

Malls are relatively new to the Algarve region and were a welcome addition to the old way of shopping. There has been a huge influx of foreigners investing in property in the Algarve and, aside from filling the shopping demand, these malls reflect the boost to the economy in this region of Portugal.

Information provided by www.meravista.com: your best online resource for property for sale in the Algarve