Ayamonte is a small town at the border of Spain and Portugal. The 2 countries are separated by the Guadiana River. You can either drive across the bridge that connects them or take a short ferry from Vila Real de Santo Antonio.
My friend Tracy and I visit Ayamonte fairly often because we love the grocery stores there! They have great gluten free items that we can’t get in Portugal. But it’s also fun to just go over for lunch just because I like saying that I went to another country to eat lunch.
Since we like the little town, Tracy decided to rent an apartment there for her birthday. It was a short weekend getaway just to get out of Tavira and do something different, but close enough that some friends could also come out and celebrate with her.
Casa Verde Apartments
We had passed by this apartment before but had no idea how spectacular it was inside. The apartments are called Casa Verde Apartments and the outside is completely covered in green tiles with beautiful white balconies and details. Inside there are 5 different apartments that are available to rent. Tracy chose the largest one since there were a few of us going.
The apartment was stunning from the second you opened the door. Gorgeous tiles lined the floor of the entrance and the walls. And the ornamental ceiling had a Tiffany Chandelier hanging from it. Off the entrance was 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Each bedroom had a small balcony and was beautifully decorated. As you walk to the other side of the entrance you are greeted with even more beauty. Immediately as you enter, there is a periwinkle colored, spiral staircase that leads up to another bedroom. Off the bedroom was a large, rooftop patio with views of the Guadiana River , Portugal, and the old fish factory that was next door. The owner of the apartments actually told us that the apartment we were staying in once belonged to the owners of the fish factory.
At the base of the staircase was a large, modern kitchen with pretty purple cabinets! It was such a unique color for the kitchen which just added an extra bit of pop to the apartment. There was a large dining table and sectional sofa which was great for lounging around on. There was also another bedroom off the living room and a small ½ bath. Out of the dining room was another small patio with two tiled, mural benches.
Everything about this apartment was absolutely beautiful and luxurious. One of my favorite parts was the staircase. The iron was decorative and at night if you turned on the lights upstairs, it projected the pattern throughout the apartment. It was really really cool.
Ayamonte
We went to dinner in Ayamonte at LPA The Culinary Bar. It is a really cool restaurant with great food and a cool atmosphere. When you walk in, look up at the interesting ceiling and the lamb!
The food here was really good. It’s a nice restaurant with a very aesthetic atmosphere but not overly expensive. They have good gluten free options and vegan options are also available. I had some Iberian Pork, it was delicious! The only thing I didn’t love was that the only cocktail list they had was all just Gin and Tonics. I expected there to be a great cocktail list with options other than gin, but we had sangria and it was good.
Besides the super awesome apartment and the delicious dinner, there are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars in Ayamonte. There are a couple main town squares that are always busy with people. There are beaches as well but you have to take a car there. And surprisingly the water is slightly warmer than it is in the Algarve, even though it’s not very far away.
Ayamonte is a cute little town if you want to wander a bit into Spain. It’s a great day trip and a little peek at Spanish culture without having to venture super far in.
Make sure to check out my Instagram @vegas.to.portugal to see more about the apartment, Ayamonte and my daily life. 💙
June 11, 2024 at 8:53 am
What a great weekend that was! Ayamonte is a great getaway for a different culture. 😍
June 25, 2024 at 2:02 am
Sounds like you all had an awesome “getaway “