Monchique (Algarve) – Sights & holiday tips

1. Monchique village centre

In the village center of Monchique you will find a lot of traditional Portuguese architecture. Whitewashed houses with brightly colored doors and windows confirm that you are no longer in the Netherlands. In the center there is a small park and around the square you can go to one of the terraces for a cup of coffee, a hot lunch or a cold Superbock.

The Igreja Paroquial de Monchique is the largest church in the village with a beautiful wooden floor and ceiling. The gilded altar and the sacred art also immediately catch the eye.

2. Miradouro da Fóia

A short 15 minute drive from Monchique towards the west on the N266-3, brings you to the Miradouro da Fóia (viewpoint of the Fóia mountain). From the top you have a beautiful view over the area and you can enjoy a drink at the small pop-up cafe Alecrim just below the parking lot.

On a clear, cloudless day, you can see not only the south coast, but also the west coast in the distance. The route to the top is a popular challenging route for mountain bikers, so watch out for these sporty types who use the same road along the way.

3. Foia mountain water source

Are you on your way to the top of Foia? Bring your empty water bottle and fill it with lovely clear mountain water at this mini source. Just below the top of the mountain, you can also look out over the southern coast of Portugal from here.

There are a few picnic benches you can use while you wash down a snack you brought with you with your freshly tapped spring water.

4. Parque da Barragem de Odelouca

The Odelouca Barragem (dam) is one of the most important water reservoirs for the Algarve. Here rainwater is stored in the autumn so that the villages and towns in the Algarve are supplied with drinking water during the rest of the year.

From the parking lot you can look out over the reservoir. If you come towards the end of the summer, the water level will be a lot lower than in February/March.

Swimming is not allowed.

5. Fonte Santa walk to ruins and water source

If you are up for a little hiking adventure, a visit to the Fonte Santa spring /bathhouse/ruin is an interesting choice. The best thing to do is park here, then walk the last 1.5 km on a hilly gravel path. Driving further is not recommended unless you have a 4×4 with good suspension and even then you will have to walk the last few hundred meters on a steep and overgrown path.

Depending on the season, be prepared to cross the river several times (the water is up to your ankles in the fall) to eventually reach this special abandoned ruin.

Inside you will find natural bath where you can take a dip in fresh spring water. Inside, a sign is hanging asking you to treat the property with respect and to drain the bath water via the valve on the outside after a session.

Take a bottle of water with you for the walk, as you will quickly dehydrate under the hot Portuguese sun.

6. Casa do Medronho in Marmelete

In the small Casa do Medronho museum in Marmelete, you can learn how the alcoholic drink Medronho is made. A visit is free and therefore a nice stop during your road trip through the area.

Medronho is a traditional Portuguese liqueur (40-50% alcohol) produced from the fruit of the strawberry tree. I won’t reveal more, you’ll find out during your visit to this small museum!

They are closed for lunch so best to come before 12:00 or after 14:00. They are closed during the winter months.

7. Parque do Barranco dos Pisoões

Just outside Monchique, along the M501, lies the Parque do Barranco dos Pisoões . This is where the villagers go on their day off to have a picnic while the children play in the stream.

The municipality has placed a number of permanent barbecues here for use, as well as benches and tables. Thanks to the vegetation, you are well sheltered from the sun and wind.

8. Passadiços Barranco do Demo

A little less than ten kilometres to the east, a walking route through the hilly landscape, created in 2023, starts from the cemetery. It is called the Passadiços Barranco do Demo and consists of a wooden boardwalk and a suspension bridge.

The return trip takes about an hour and the route will be further expanded in the future.

9. Miradouro da Picota

Another nice – and less visited – viewpoint is the tower at the Miradouro da Picota . Via a narrow road you reach the foot of the tower which can be accessed by stairs. From the tower you have a beautiful panoramic view of the surroundings.