Skip to main content

Southern Portugal Tour

Southern Portugal, encompassing the Alentejo and Algarve regions, offers a striking contrast between the serene, expansive plains and historic charm of Alentejo and the sun-drenched coastline, vibrant resorts, and dramatic cliffs of the Algarve.

The Alentejo region, located in south-central Portugal, is known for its vast plains, rolling hills, and a tranquil atmosphere that reflects the country's rural heritage. It spans over 27,000 square kilometers, making it one of Portugal's largest regions by area, though it remains sparsely populated. Alentejo is deeply rooted in tradition, with whitewashed villages, cork oak forests, olive groves, and vineyards defining its landscape. The region is celebrated for its slow pace of life, historic towns like Évora, and a culinary scene rich in hearty, rustic flavors. It offers a serene escape, ideal for those seeking authenticity and a connection to Portugal’s agrarian past.

In contrast, the Algarve region lies at the southernmost tip of Portugal and is famed for its dramatic coastline, golden beaches, and vibrant tourist towns such as Lagos, Albufeira, and Tavira. Covering around 5,000 square kilometers, it is smaller than Alentejo but far more densely populated and developed, especially along the coast. The Algarve is a hub for sun-seekers, water sports enthusiasts, and families, offering a lively atmosphere with resorts, golf courses, and a bustling nightlife. Despite its popularity, the region also features quieter inland villages and scenic mountain ranges, providing a diverse mix of experiences for visitors.

Alentejo

  1. Nisa
    • Nisa → Póvoa Dam → Our Lady of Penha → Castelo de Vide → Portagem → Marvão → São Salvador de Aramenha → Apartadura Dam → Portalegre → Crato → Flor da Rosa → Alpalhão → Nisa
  2. Ponte de Sor
    • Ponte de Sôr → Tramaga → Alter do Chão → Alter Pedroso → Cabeço de Vide → Fronteira → Ervedal → Avis → Maranhão Dam → Ponte de Sôr
  3. Montemor-o-Novo
    • Montemor-o-Novo → Santiago do Escoural → Arraiolos → Igrejinha → Evoramente → Vimieiro → Pavia → Cabeção → Mora → Brotas → Ciborro → Montemor-o-Novo
  4. Estremoz
    • Estremoz → Aldeia da Serra → Redondo → Alandroal → Terena → Vila Viçosa → Borba → Estremoz
  5. Évora
    • Évora → Valverde → Alcáçovas → Viana do Alentejo → Alvito → Cucufate → Vidigueira → Portel → São Manços → Évora
  6. Monsaraz
    • Monsaraz → Outeiro → São Pedro do Corval → Reguengos de Monsaraz → Esporão → Mourão → Monsaraz
  7. Alcácer do Sal
    • Alcácer do Sal → Carrasqueira → Tróia → Alcácer do Sal → Pego do Altar Dam → Vale de Gaio Dam → Torrão → Alcácer do Sal
  8. Grândola
    • Grândola → Azinheira dos Barros → Lousal → São Bartolomeu da Serra → Santiago do Cacém → Lagoa de Santo André → Lagoa de Melides → Melides → Grândola
  9. Beja
    • Beja → Mina da Juliana → Aljustrel → Messejana → Ervidel → Ferreira do Alentejo → Peroguarda → Beja
  10. Sines
    • Sines → São Torpes Beach → Porto Covo → Pessegueiro Island → Morgavel Dam → Cercal → Campilhas Dam → São Domingos → Sines
  11. Vila Nova de Milfontes
    • Vila Nova de Milfontes → Furnas Beach → Almograve → Cape Sardão → Zambujeira do Mar → São Teotónio → Boavista dos Pinheiros → Odemira → São Luís → Vila Nova de Milfontes
  12. Almodôvar
    • Almodôvar → Santa Clara-a-Nova → Fernão Vaz → Castle of Cola → Ourique → Monte da Rocha Reservoir, Monte da Rocha Dam → Castro Verde → Chapel of Saint Peter of the Heads - Ermida de São Pedro das Cabeças → Santa Bárbara de Padrões → Almodôvar

Algarve

  1. Monchique
    • Monchique → Alto da Fóia → Barranco dos Pisões → Maria Vinagre → Aljezur → Arrifana Beach → Marmelete → Monchique Spa → Parque Da Mina - Vale de Boi → Picota → Monchique
  2. Lagos
    • Lagos → Bravura Dam → Bordeira → Carrapateira → Vila do Bispo → Castelejo → Monte dos Amantes → Sagres → Cabo de São Vicente → Vila do Bispo → Raposeira → Barão de São João → Lagos
  3. Silves
    • Silves → Falacho de Cima → Alcalar → Cruzinha → Portimão → Sítio das Fontes → Lagoa → Porches → Senhora da Rocha → Armação de Pêra → Guia → Lagoa dos Salgados → Algoz → Lagoa de Viseu → Silves
  4. Albufeira
    • Albufeira → Paderne → Alte → Torre → Rocha da Pena → Salir → Fonte da Benémola → Querença → Loulé → São Lourenço → Vilamoura → Albufeira
  5. Faro
    • Faro → Roman Ruins of Milreu → São Brás de Alportel → Pego do Inferno Waterfall → Tavira → Tavira Island → Santa Luzia → Pedras d'El Rei → Torre de Aires → Quelfes → Olhão → Faro

See Also

Source

Itinerary


Alentejo Map


Algarve Map

Location: Portugal