Salinas de Rio Maior
Salinas de Rio Maior
4.5
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
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4.5
159 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
78
Average
13
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Christopher Price
Caldas da Rainha, Portugal31 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
The Salinas, were founded in 1173 and salt has been produced there since then. Historic records show that it was once owned and run by the Templar Knights who always knew good ways to make money! We keep going there for its unique charm, to relax and to reassure ourselves that places exist in Portugal where time seems to have stopped still. The Salinas is next to a small village made of unique wooden houses (originally for storing salt) even with wooden locks as anything of metal or stone would be corroded. In these little houses you can find cafes, restaurants, shops selling salt and local handicrafts, even antiques. One can just wander around, and enter the salt pans, visit the central well where the saline water comes up from underground.( no pets or cigarettes in the salt pans please, salt is food!) Of course there are restaurants which have local dishes at very reasonable prices. There is a chicken grill, always full at the weekends, and Adega de T' Artur (Uncle Arthurs Winepress) which we like best which has an excellent lamb stew and lamb chops, rabbit and other dishes. Next door is the Loja do Sal which sells salt in all shapes and forms and local wines as well a local extra virgin olive oil which is guaranteed from local olives pressed just down the road. We use it all the time!
The Salinas makes salt during the Summer months and stops when the rains come and the Sun goes. The shops and restaurants stay open all year but most activity is at the weekends. O yes the salt. I forgot to say that this salt is very good and several international chefs are using it. It is very cheap there but sells for a high price in for example Germany. The salt has a very intense but fresh taste, good for any food. the Flor de Sal ( big crystals skimmed off the liquid surface) is even more intense and a bit more expensive.
The Salinas makes salt during the Summer months and stops when the rains come and the Sun goes. The shops and restaurants stay open all year but most activity is at the weekends. O yes the salt. I forgot to say that this salt is very good and several international chefs are using it. It is very cheap there but sells for a high price in for example Germany. The salt has a very intense but fresh taste, good for any food. the Flor de Sal ( big crystals skimmed off the liquid surface) is even more intense and a bit more expensive.
Written 1 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tes
Vlaardingen, The Netherlands328 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Went on a Saturday and there were no activities, nor salt. It is tiny, with 20 wooden houses or so. There they only sell tourist stuff, everything is just for tourists. You see some baths, but then again maybe with some action it is more appealing. It took us 5 minutes to see it all, and read where the salt is coming from. You can buy some salt, very pricey if they added some herbs. In my opinion not worth while going to, or you have to be in the neighborhood. The surroundings are pretty. Rio Maior is just a city with supermarkets.
Written 13 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nedastok
Sezana, Slovenia18 contributions
Sept 2019
Interesting place because not near the sea. Very authentic with all that old houses. Everything rebuilt in the old way.
Written 22 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda C
Ludlow, MA111 contributions
July 2018 • Friends
This place is wonderful to visit and see the way they make salt. It’s very interesting. There are many little shops to poke in too, selling not only salt, but lots of salt related items, many hand made and or painted. The shop owners are so friendly and helpful. Do yourself a favor and take home the salt from this place. The flavored salts are great too. Also, there’s a little restaurant across from the salt trays that is amazingly delicious and a must try. Prices are great too as is the service. They treat you like family. Highly recommend this place!
Written 14 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ana Writing
Lisbon, Portugal37 contributions
Mar 2019
Salinas de Rio Maior is a really nice place to visit if you are curious about how salt is formed. Also, they have several small stands where artisans sell their own salt and other Portuguese products. It has a nice parking lot where you can leave your car and roam about.
Written 18 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EdBush
Portugal1,824 contributions
June 2017 • Friends
Is a short visit but one can complement with a lunch, or dinner, of excellent Chicken Piri-Piri (recommend Solar do Sal, but there are others also good).
Do not miss the touristic office ( Posto de Turismo ) for an nice and clear explanation for the site and organised visits. The only way to walk down to the Salinas.
Local handcraft art shops, salt and salt by products are a must. Recommend the cheese format salt with spices. Superb and unique.
Weekends very crowded, but is when all the shops are open.
Do not miss the touristic office ( Posto de Turismo ) for an nice and clear explanation for the site and organised visits. The only way to walk down to the Salinas.
Local handcraft art shops, salt and salt by products are a must. Recommend the cheese format salt with spices. Superb and unique.
Weekends very crowded, but is when all the shops are open.
Written 7 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
americoa514
Rio Maior, Portugal3 contributions
May 2017
This is like a museum! A place where one can see how salt was produced in ancient times. The best time to go there is when there's no rain, or one cannot see the salt pyramids. Winter time is good to buy handcraft and eat/drink local stuff. Very good products (from salt) available.
Written 30 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald M
Andover, UK207 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Visited with friends who live nearby and how fascinating it was. We would have liked to have seen more explanation boards (in English preferably) but mostly you can work out what is going on. Many small but interesting shops on site, though most were closed on our Tuesday visit.
Had a delicious and plentiful snack in one of the shops and we would like to visit again.
Had a delicious and plentiful snack in one of the shops and we would like to visit again.
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
the0d0rusb
Reading, United Kingdom6 contributions
Aug 2019
I visit quite often the Salinas. Inteesting to see the water and solt basins and the way they produce the solt. It border one side traditional wooden barm-type buidings. They are used as bars and shops, Shops are selling bric-a-brac, different solts, local pottery etc. Some of the bars have an outside area from where one can overlook the Salinas. Although being a tourist attraction,, prices for food and drinks are very reasonable. At peaktimes parking can be a problem, but so far I always found somewhere to park.
Written 8 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
positron5691
Greater Manchester, UK62 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
To be honest we only visited this site as a result of reviewing tripadvisor. Nevertheless it was quirky and interesting, The trade of salt from this area began in 1127. There are many wooden structures selling salt and tourist items. The sellers are friendly and it is possible to have a drink or a bite to eat at this location. If you are in the Caldas da Rainha area it is well worth a visit. It seems very brief tours of the brine drying area are available.
Written 4 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, we were here over the summer and really enjoyed our visit. The best memory was a little "O Salatino" sweet from the first shop on the right on the far side coming towards the restaurant. Can anyone put me in touch with the person who runs that shop, so I could possibly get the recipe for those sweet bites. I really want to enjoy those again. Thanks for any help I can get.
Written 27 January 2020
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