Alentejo & Algarve

The following itineraries focus much more on our suggested routes in the map and the visual perspective through the camera lens so you can easily pick the places with the most appeal for you and create your own itinerary. Then there are thousands of travel guides and webpages for you to learn about each place. Nevertheless ask us anything about the itineraries or sites anytime. It will be a pleasure to help.

Itineraries

  • Alto Alentejo
    Mora – Fronteira – Portalegre – Marvão – Castelo de Vide – Gavião
  • Alentejo Central
    Évora – Évora-monte – Estremoz – Elvas – Juromenha – Vila Viçosa – Monsaraz – Mourão – Alqueva – Portel – Montemor-o-Novo
  • Baixo Alentejo
    Beja – Serpa – Minas de São Domingos – Mértola – Pulo do Lobo
  • Alentejo Litoral
    Setúbal – Tróia – Comporta – Sines- Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes – Zambujeira do Mar – Odeceixe
  • Algarve
    Vila do Bispo – Lagos – Carvoeiro – Ilha de Faro – Fuzeta – Tavira – Cacela Velha

Alto Alentejo

In this Alto Alentejo itinerary, on an anticlockwise circular route starting in Mora we first highlight the Parque Ecológico do Gameiro, that includes a very pleasant park area for families, a lovely 5,5 km boardwalk along the river and a Fluviarium that presents the river’s natural habitats.

Then we move to Fronteira where we can visit the Atoleiros Battle Interpretation Center, an important battle in 1384 where the Portuguese victory against the Castillians gave way to the country’s solid independence.

In the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park we highlight the historical towns of Marvão and Castelo de Vide which were part of Alentejo’s fortified defenses. Its medieval castles are very well preserved on proeminent hills providing beautiful views of the region. Marvão is actually inside the castle walls.

Last highlight for this route is the unique Tejo river Beach of Alamal near Gavião. It features a large area of beach sand. The water has a very pleasant temperature for swimming and the view from the beach is awesome with the medieval castle of Belver across the river. It also provides a 2 km boardwalk along the river.

Alentejo Central

In Alentejo Central we start a circular clockwise route in Évora, the largest town in Alentejo and one of the most historical towns in Portugal. It often housed the kings of Portugal during the Discoveries era. It is a UNESCO world heritage town and it has many interests for visitors.

Passing by Évora-monte walled town and Estremoz, we highlight the border town of Elvas with its massive fortifications which are also classified as world heritage.

Vila Viçosa is mostly known for its impressive palace from the early XVI century that housed the Dukes of Bragança who in 1640 became the monarchs of Portugal’s last dinasty. Inside the palace complex there is a fine collection of royal carriages. The town also features a lovely medieval castle and beautiful churches.

Driving south we reach the picturesque walled town of Monsaraz sitting on top of a hill overlooking the huge Alqueva lake. Crossing the bridge to the east bank we reach Mourão which also has a medieval castle.

In Aldeia da Luz we can visit the museum in the new village that was built exactly as the one that was submerged by the dam construction. In Alqueva we can use several nautical activities including renting a self-navigating family motorboat with cabin to explore the lake.

Baixo Alentejo

We start a circular itinerary of Baixo Alentejo in Beja, the region’s capital. Beja is a historical town from being an ancient duchy. It features am impressive medieval castle with the highest tower in Portugal.

From Beja we move to Serpa, a fantastic walled town which urban center looks pretty much moorish lookking from above in the medieval castle.

When we come inside the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, we can highlight the lovely river beach at Praia Fluvial Tapada Grande and the old abandoned complex of Minas São Domingos which is good for a visit of the old pyrite mines that closed in 1966.

We move on to Mértola, a brilliant walled white town with a medieval castle imposing on the hill. Mértola keeps the only surviving medieval mosque left by the moors in Portugal, although it was remodelled in the 16th century the interior looks much like the original architecture.

We finish the circle in Pulo do Lobo, a magnificent set of waterfalls in the Guadiana river.

Alentejo Litoral

Starting this itinerary in Setúbal, on the beautiful river Sado estuary, we take the ferry-boat to Tróia, which is a beautiful ride often with the company of dolphins. This route goes along the incredible Alentejo coast. The first highlights are Tróia Beach itself and a bit more south the beaches in Comporta area which are all in the longest strip of beach sand in Portugal.

The next highlight is Badoca Safari Park, a great park for families to watch wildlife live freely. Then we get to Sines, today an important port but also the hometown of the great Vasco da Gama.

Moving on to Porto Covo, a picturesque small town near the ocean and with great beaches like Ilha do Pessegueiro Beach and Malhão.

Next important town in the coast is Vila Nova de Milfontes where the river Mira ends. It also has great beaches like Almograve Beach.

Next is the picturesque town of Zambujeira do Mar with its own beach and also the beautiful Amália Beach. In this area every year in August happens the greatest music festival in Portugal with thousands of music lovers camping around.

This itineray ends in the last beautiful beach before Algarve, Odeceixe Beach.

Algarve

People don’t come to the Algarve to tour around but mostly to enjoy an area around some particular beach. Nevertheless this itinerary highlights some of the Algarve’s most precious beaches and towns. We start on the western most corner of the Algarve and historical site of Sagres where it is known to have been founded Prince Henry the Navigator’s maritime school.

Lagos is also an historical town and port in Algarve where the Portuguese navigators started their exploration of African coast in the 15th century before this role moved to Lisbon later on. In Lagos the coast strip from D.Ana Beach to Ponta da Piedade is a common postcard with the extraordinary rock formations and sea caves.

This type of coast line reaches its most incredible form in the strip from Ferragudo to Armação de Pera, passing by the beautiful beaches of Carvoeiro like Marina Beach, Carvalho or Senhora da Rocha.

Skipping the most touristic areas like Albufeira we move on to the island beaches near Faro, the amazing Farol, Culatra and Armona Islands with their paradise beaches that can only be reached by boat except Praia do Barril that has a small train to take you to the beach.

Tavira is probably the most beautiful town in Algarve with its historical center carried by its importance long ago. Cacela Velha is a walled village on a hill providing the most amazing views to the island beaches and the entire region.