Our visit to the NOS cinema at Mar Shopping was a fantastic way to enjoy the Christmas holiday with our son Elyas (8).

The cinema experience in Portugal turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. NOS offers 5 clean and tidy screens in the Mar Shopping Mall, with spacious seats that enhance the viewing comfort.

Although the snack and drink options are limited, you can't go without popcorn, of course.

Online ticket booking is convenient to avoid queues at the ticket counter. However, it's essential to pay attention to your film choice if you want to watch an English-language movie since they are usually Portuguese-subtitled. It was also fun to be able to select your own seats, just like on an airplane.

"Wonka" proved to be an excellent choice. It wasn't just a children's film but had a deeper message about pursuing your dreams. The fact that people of all ages were in attendance, from families to teenagers and even those in their 60s, speaks to the film's broad appeal. With Timothée Chalamet in the lead role, it was a vibrant interpretation of the iconic character.

The short intermission was convenient, and we thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

It was a bit strange to step out of the film, which had engrossed us, and suddenly find ourselves among shoppers and diners at Mar. In the Netherlands, cinemas are often standalone and not part of a shopping mall.

Prices here are considerably lower than in the Netherlands. We paid only 16 euros for the family price, allowing the three of us to enjoy the film. And parking at MAR is for free! This made our cinema adventure even more enjoyable.

All in all, Cinemas NOS offers an excellent film experience in the Algarve, and the Mar Shopping location is definitely worth a visit. We look forward to discovering more films in this comfortable and affordable cinema chain.

In the Algarve, you can find several cinemas from the "Cinemas NOS" chain, where you can enjoy movies in comfortable settings in the following cities:
1. Tavira (Gran-Plaza Shopping Center)
2. Faro (Forum Algarve)
3. Almancil/Loule (MAR shopping)

Cinemas NOS is the largest network of national cinemas with 30 complexes and more than 200 theaters throughout the country.