Vila Nova de Milfontes is a small fishing town, which is located on the southern coast of Portugal. This lovely spot is also known as the “Princess of Alentejo” and has become increasingly popular over the years. In fact, it has one of the most breathtaking beaches along the Alentejo coastline and can be considered as the perfect alternative to the Algarve. The white-sand beaches along the Rio Mira and the untouched Vicentina coast can keep up with the landscape in the Algarve.
Things to do in Vila Nova de Milfontes
Although more and more people are discovering Vila Nova de Milfontes for themselves, the heart of the village’s old town centre keeps its charming look with colourful doors and windows on white houses.
When you walk through the narrow streets of the fishing town, you will come down to the riverside. From here, you can admire the historic Forte de São Clemente. This castle was built at the end of the 16th century to protect the village from pirates of North Africa. Although it’s closed to the public, you can walk around the walls to enjoy the view over the Mira River.
Best beaches in Vila Nova de Milfontes
The main attractions in Vila Nova de Milfontes are of course its wonderful beaches. Close to the town center is Praia da Franquia, which is a family-friendly beach known for its calm waters. While it’s generally safe, you should always listen to the lifeguards as the river currents can be strong sometimes.
Nearby, you can also find Praia de Farol, which is locally known as the Lighthouse Beach. This beach offers a fascinating mix of rocks with sandy spots. Besides that, you can find at Praia do Farol a very good beach bar and restaurant called “A Choupana”.
Across the river, you can reach Praia das Furnas by car or ferry. This wide beach offers amazing views over the river Mira and back towards the town. Apart from this wonderful beach, it is also a great place for surfing throughout the year.
Out by the Atlantic Ocean is Praia do Malhão, which is known for being one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. Due to its strong waves from the Atlantic, it’s a top spot among surfers. Therefore, it’s the ideal place for those looking for peace and nature with cliffs and dunes that make the beach feel wild and natural.
If you want to surf and you’re new into surfing, we suggest going with an instructor because of the challenging waters. In this context, we can highly recommend the surf school “Club Vagabond”, which is a well-known local surf school in Vila Nova de Milfontes and located in the South West Alentejo Park. They offer professional training and personalized surfing lessons for all levels at Malhão and Furnas beaches. You can buy tickets for a surfing lesson under this link*.
Fishermen’s trail at Vila Nova de Milfontes
Beyond the beaches in Vila Nova de Milfontes, you can also explore the large Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. This protected area stretches over 150 kilometers along the Alentejo coastline and is a beautiful place to see the unique landscape with dramatic cliffs.
Especially for nature lavers and outdoor adventures, we can recommend the Fishermen’s trails. Not far away from Vila Nova de Milfontes you can find a circular route of the Costa Vicentina trail. Read more about this beautiful route in the following article.
Perfect alternative to the Algarve
Vila Nova de Milfontes is an ideal destination for everyone who looks for relaxation and adventure in one place. This secret town in the Alentejo offers you a peaceful vacation by the ocean, where you can relax on the beach, try surfing, or just enjoy the view. It’s the perfect summer destination and alternative to the Algarve!
*Ad: The link shown above is an affiliate link. We ourselves are convinced of the services offered and have even used some of them ourselves. The revenue is used to finance the operation of our website.
