Piscinas Municipais de Tavira

The Piscinas Municipais de Tavira are in the Complexo Desportivo Municipal on Avenida Zeca Afonso, next to the municipal sports hall and tennis courts. Tavira council runs them, and they’re used for everything from baby swimming to competitive swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo, as well as recreational swims.

What makes them stand out for families is that there are four separate pools, two of them designed for very young children, and the council publishes how warm each one is.

According to Tavira council:

• The competition pool is 25 metres long and 16.70 metres wide, with eight lanes. It’s deep throughout (2 to 2.20 metres), so only for swimmers. Average water temperature is 28 °C.
• The learner pool (piscina de aprendizagem) is 16.67 by 6 metres and 1 to 1.20 metres deep, with three lanes, at 29.5 °C.
• The baby pool (piscina para bebés) is 9 by 6 metres and 90 cm deep, kept at 31 °C.
• The paddling pool (chapinheiro) is 9 by 6 metres and just 30 cm deep, at 30 °C.

Of the Algarve council pools we checked, this is the only one with a dedicated baby pool as well as a paddling pool. There’s also a jacuzzi, which the council describes as being for leisure or therapy.

Around the pools are changing rooms, a medical post, a bar and two spectator stands with 400 seats in total.

When checked in September 2026, the council listed these hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 21:00.
• Saturday: 8:00 to 14:00.
• Closed on Sundays, public holidays and for the whole of August.

The council’s page doesn’t give separate public-swim times. Classes and clubs use a lot of the water, especially in the late afternoon, so phone or email before you go if you want the baby pool or paddling pool for a family swim.

The council lists these activities at the pools: recreation and leisure, water confidence (adaptação ao meio aquático), learning to swim, improvers, competitive swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo. Class ages, timetables and prices aren’t published on the website, so contact the pool for enrolment.

Tavira council’s website doesn’t publish prices or the pool’s rules on swim caps, flip-flops, swim nappies or the age at which children can swim alone. Every other Algarve council pool we checked makes a swim cap and flip-flops compulsory, so bring both, and ask at reception about everything else. The contact email is piscinas@cm-tavira.pt.

This is a municipal sports pool without slides or play features. It’s most useful from September to July, on days when the wind or rain makes Tavira’s beaches unappealing. The bar means you can get a drink or snack while children dry off.

In town, the Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira is a small hands-on science centre that suits the same rainy days. For a treat afterwards, Delizia serves handmade gelato in the old market hall by the river. In summer, when the pool is closed in August, Praia do Barril on Tavira Island is the local beach day out.

Is there a baby pool at Tavira municipal pools?

Yes. There’s a baby pool 90 cm deep at 31 °C and a separate paddling pool 30 cm deep at 30 °C.

Is the pool heated?

Yes. The council gives average temperatures of 28 °C in the competition pool, 29.5 °C in the learner pool, 30 °C in the paddling pool and 31 °C in the baby pool.

Is Tavira pool open in August?

No. It closes for the whole of August, as well as Sundays and public holidays.

How much does it cost?

The council’s website doesn’t publish prices. Email piscinas@cm-tavira.pt or ask at reception.