Aqua Portimao: Western Algarves Largest Shopping Centre

After some thought we as a family decided to take a trip to the brand new shopping centre in Portimao. Aqua Portimao is billed as the largest shopping centre in the western Algarve.

So with some excitement we decided to set of on the first Sunday after the shopping centre had opened to have a good look around and see exactly what the shopping centre had to offer.

The centre is quite easy to find just of the N125 and head straight into Portimao then stay on your right hand side which brings you up to a roundabout. Then the centre is well sign posted from there.

Driving down to the car park it was soon very obvious it was very busy and finding a parking place was going to be tricky. First time round we didn’t find one but after a trip around Portimao which took another 15mins we tried again and found a space.

The car park seemed to me to be poorly laid out but I am no expert. I just go by the underground car parks at Faro and Guia and by how my husband acts when trying to navigate around them and it is fair to say the one at Aqua Portimao was getting him hot under the collar shall we say.

After parking and looking quite smug with ourselves we went up the escalator to find a huge Jumbo supermarket. It is huge. And inside Jumbo there had a box electric store which is are favourite store to buy electrics from.

After having a look around there we made are way up to the first floor and the many stores it had to offer. There was the flagship store Primark which we had a look in but didn’t buy anything as I think the quality is very poor and then there is the sweat shops but that is another blog post.

We then went up to the second floor where the food court is there is a huge selection of restaurants and so much choice. There are also a few new ones which I haven’t seen at the other shopping centres we have visited.

After spending a few hours looking around and buying a few bits and bobs I have come to the conclusion that if you are just going shopping then it is a fabulous place to go. But if you have children in tow then this really isn’t the place to take them.

I was shocked to find there isn’t a cinema or a big enough play area for the children. That’s why I love Algarve shopping Guia with bowling and games to play it keeps the older kids amused after they have gone around shopping with you but at Aqua Portimao there isn’t much for the older kids 9 above to do.

So just going with your other half when the kids are at school it is a great place to go to relax. But for all other things I will continue to go to Guia Algarve Shopping on a weekend with my child.