Vila Nova de Milfontes is a beautiful riverside village on the Alentejo Coastline of Portugal. The village rests on the northern margin of the river Mira, and falls within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. An are of brilliant natural beauty. With roughly 5,600 inhabitants, Vila Nova de Milfontes has that peaceful Alentejo feel we love. However, during the summer, it comes alive with thousands of holiday makers and tourists. Visiting due to its much sought after estuary beaches, lively bars, and restaurants.
A Brief Introduction to Vila Nova de Milfontes’ History
The parish of Vila Nova de Milfontes was founded in 1485 by royal decreet of King John II. Although human occupation in the area can be traced back to the Paleolithic, with artifacts from an Iron Age necropolis (Necrópole do Galeado) discovered in 1939 near the coast. There are also vestiges of the Roman occupation such as tanks for fish salting, and ceramic fragments.
At an early stage, the economy of what is now Vila Nova de Milfontes, was based on maritime trade of food and raw materials, mainly with navigators from the Mediterranean. While its placement on the river mouth facilitated commercial trade, it also made it vulnerable. In 1590, a corsair attack destroyed the village almost entirely, leading to the construction of São Clemente Fort 20 years later.
Fishing also contributed to the development of the settlement which in 1801 had no more than 1500 inhabitants. In modern days, you can still witness some of the fishing activities, with small boats being launched or catches being landed. Today though, what really moves Vila Nova de Milfontes is the tourism industry.
How to Get to Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes is located at approximately 190km to the south of Lisbon, meaning that it is about a 2-hour drive by toll roads. It’s a similar time if you are driving both from Faro, in the Algarve, or from Évora, in the Alentejo. If you want to start the day exploring a little bit of the village, we recommend parking on the large free cark Park of Rua D. João II. From there you can walk to Av. Marginal in the riverfront and start from there. There is also plenty of on street parking alongside the river avenue.
Can You Visit Vila Nova de Milfontes with Public Transport?
If you are visiting Portugal and are planning on getting around with public transport, it’s important to keep in mind that public transportation outside of the major cities, and from and to smaller cities or villages can be quite challenging. Fortunately, Vila Nova de Milfontes is one of the few villages with direct buses to Lisbon, and other major cities in the Alentejo. Rede Expressos has the most time slots, and it costs €31.40 for a return ticket from Lisbon. The low cost FlixBus also operates from Lisbon-Vila Nova de Milfontes with return tickets as cheap as €11.98 when booked in advance. For both operators we recommend checking the full timetable available on their websites, before planning your trip.
Buses from Faro and other major cities in the Algarve such as Lagos, and Albufeira are also available with Rede Expressos. With Flixbus, on the other hand, the only place with connection to Vila Nova de Milfontes is Aljezur.
What to See and Do in Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a very charming village that’s relatively small, but with plenty to see and do to keep you busy when you’re not taking in one of its incredible beaches. From just wondering the village’s pretty streets and stopping for lunch in one of the great restaurants available. To going on a river boat tour or simply relaxing in one of the beaches on the estuary. What you want to see and do depends on what interests you, but we will list our favourite spots and the areas you shouldn’t miss when visiting this pretty village on the Alentejo coast!
Forte de São Clemente – St. Clement’s Fort
At one of the most scenic points of the town you’ll find Forte de São Clemente, sometimes referred to as Castelo de Vila Nova de Milfontes. It is a bastion type fort that sits on a rock formation on the north side of the river. Its construction was completed in 1602, 20 years after a major corsair raid which nearly wiped out the village. Built in the Mannerist style, the original fort featured a polygon plan. With a sloping wall, and two bastions sitting on platforms at different levels that faced northwest and southwest. The north and east faces of the fort were protected by a moat.
Following Portugal’s independence, the fort was refurbished in 1693, and by the beginning of the 18th century its recorded that it held twelve pieces of artillery. Sometime in the 18th century the river began to silt up and the town, fishing and shipping industry declined. The fort began to decay and was eventually abandoned. Following this it was auctioned to the public at the beginning of the 20th century, changing hands among private owners until present time.
Being a private residence, the fort is not open for the public, but you can walk around its walls on a board walk. Or peek through its gate and gardens from the adjacent miradouro. Keep an eye out for the Portuguese pavement on the miradouro which displays the original floor plan of the fort.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Graça – The Church of Our Lady of Grace
Now it’s time to head to Nossa Senhora da Graça church, which is about 2 minutes away from the fort. From the miradouro, if you are facing the village, you will have to turn right on Largo de Brito Pais, then take the first left. The charming blue and white church dates to the 16th century, and it was built on the site of a previous medieval building. It has a blend of styles due to being repaired and rebuilt throughout the centuries. Being damaged in Lisbon’s 1531 earthquake, and later destroyed by Moorish pirates. It’s overall considered a ‘Portuguese Plain Style’ piece, with Rococo, and Gothic features such as the stone holy water font dating from the original church.
The church is the starting point of a river procession held every year around August in honour of Our Lady of Grace. Unfortunately, the church is only open during mass, so you might not be able to look inside.
Wonder Vila Nova de Milfontes’s Pretty Streets
Vila Nova de Milfontes’ old town is filled with pretty streets and charming corners, which makes it lovely to wonder around. It’s also relatively small, so you can see plenty in little time. Just a minute walk from the church via Rua do Século is Largo do Rossio. One of the busiest streets with quaint restaurants and small bars. For those short in time, we recommend at least doing a lap going up to Rua Sarmento Beires, then down to Rua Vicente Ferreira. It will take you through colourful matching houses, gift shops, and more restaurants and cafés. Keep an eye out for the pretty hand painted tile street signs!
The Best Beaches in Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a popular beach destination, with a coastline which stands out in the cliffy Alentejo coast. Some of its beaches face the Atlantic and are backed by sand dunes, some are at small bays on the river mouth, have calm waters and are perfect for families. You can even go across the river to find more secluded beaches. Which one to choose will depend on how close to the village you would like to be, and what you personally expect from a day on the beach. Keep on reading to find out our favourite beaches in Vila Nova de Milfontes!
Praia da Franquia – Vila Nova de Milfontes
Starting with the one closest to the village, Praia da Franquia is located on a small bay on the north side of the river Mira. It has the largest stretch of sand on the estuary. With calm waters, it’s the best option for families, and unexperienced swimmers. On top of that, it has a beach bar, and plenty of parking space nearby. It’s also great for those staying in Vila Nova de Milfontes, being only a short walk from the village. For the more active, you can also rent kayaks, and book standup paddleboarding (SUP) lessons. Being a Blue Flag beach, it’s lifeguarded during the bathing season, and accessible. It’s also one of the very few beaches on the Alentejo coast which the access is suitable for people with disabilities.
Praia do Farol – Vila Nova de Milfontes
With one side facing the river, and the other facing the Atlantic, Praia do Farol combines the best of both worlds. The river side is great for bathing, with small pools of crystal-clear water that form in low tide. Its Atlantic counterpart, however, is a bit more rugged, and the waters are not so calm. It’s nonetheless a beautiful section of the beach, and it has one of the best places to eat fresh fish in Vila Nova de Milfontes, ‘A Choupana’.
Like next doors Praia da Franquia, Praia do Farol also holds the Blue Flag, so you can expect lifeguards, parking space, and toilets. On the roundabout leading to Praia do Farol you can see the ‘Arcanjo’, a sculpture by Aureliano de Aguiar made with recycled metal. Displaying an archangel holding a melting earth globe, which the artist describes as an ‘ecologic plea’. The melting planet symbolizing earth’s degradation.
Praia das Furnas – Vila Nova de Milfontes
Praia das Furnas is on the south margin of the river. Just like Praia do Farol, part of it is facing the river and it’s calledFurnas-Rio. Although the larger portion of the beach is facing the Atlantic – Furnas-Mar. Since it’s on the south margin of the river, you will have to either drive across the bridge to get there or get a ferry from the village. During the high season, return tickets costs €4 for adults and €2 for children between the ages of 6 and 11.
The service is operated by private company called Maresia. Both sections of the beach were awarded with the Blue Flag in 2024. Furnas-Rio offers lovely views of the river and into Vila Nova de Milfontes. The Atlantic side has plenty of space for anyone to lay down their towel and enjoy the sun. On both ends of the beach you will find a beach bar and also lifeguard service. During low tide, you can walk to the west of Furnas-Mar to find smaller coves with secluded beaches. Praia das Furnas is overall a stunning beach, perfect for those who prefer less busier beaches, and won’t mind wondering further away from the village.
Water Sports and Boat Tours in Vila Nova de Milfontes
One of the most popular things to do in Vila Nova de Milfontes is a boat tour on the river Mira. From quick tours on the river mouth to tours that incorporate hiking and a meal. It’s a great way to explore the riverine ecosystem and surrounding areas. With boat tour company MilEmotions, a 60-minute boat tour costs 20€ per person. Now, a private tour for up to 7 passengers, which combines a 2-hour hiking tour to Troviscais, lunch with foods typical from the Alentejo cuisine, and transfer back to Vila Nova de Milfontes, costs 450€. Many boat tour companies also offer tours along the Alentejo coast, the most popular destinations being Ilha do Pessegueiro and Praia do Malhão.
For the more adventurous, instead of going on a boat tour up the river, you can go kayaking or rent an SUP. To rent a kayak with Kayak Milfontes for 1 hour costs €15 for a single and €20 for a double kayak. Now, for the SUP, with the provider SW SUP it costs €15 to rent for 1 hour with equipment included. But you can also opt for lessons that range from €25 to €45 depending on the level. You can also book a guided tour on the river, which costs between €25 and €50 per person. Both kayaking and SUP depart from Praia da Franquia.
Hiking in Vila Nova de Milfontes – The Fishermen’s Hiking Trail
For those who enjoy hiking and spending time in nature, Vila Nova de Milfontes happens to be part of one of the stages of the famous Trilho dos Pescadores – Fishermen’s Hiking Trail. With a total length of 226.5km, the trail is divided in 13 stages, being part of a bigger route called Rota Vicentina. Vila Nova de Milfontes’ stage has its start at the tourist office at Rua António Mantas. If you head north it ends in Porto Covo, but if you head south, it will take you all the way down to Almograve.
The regular orientation of the trail is north>south, but both ways are appropriately marked with signposts. Vila Nova de Milfontes > Almograve has a total of 14.7km and a duration of approximately 4 hours. The course will take you across the bridge, then alongside the river all the way to Praia das Furnas where you will continue to go down alongside the coast until you get to Almograve. You can find further information on Rota Vicentina’s official website.
Where to Eat in Vila Nova de Milfontes
Stretching from the Atlantic coastline to the sun baked Alentejo planes, the region boasts great diversity which is most noticeable on its cuisine. Praised as one of the best regional cuisines in Portugal. Vila Nova de Milfontes is one of the best places to experience some of these foods, such as charcoal grilled fish, fish cataplanas, cured meats and cheeses, and the iconic black pork. With plenty of great restaurants catering to all budgets.
One of our favourite places is Pátio Alentejano, it has plenty of options, from your fried cuttlefish to the classic Carne de Porco à Alentejana. It’s also a great choice for those who just want a couple of petiscos to share. On top of that, it has a very charming decoration and a lovely ambience. We also heartly recommend both Tasca do Celso and A Choupana!
Somewhere to Stay in Vila Nova de Milfontes
Despite its size, the village has a great deal of accommodation options. From the standard bed and breakfast to your dependable big hotel chains, it caters to almost every budgets. Guarda Rios is a lovely guesthouse at the heart of the village, with minimalist decorations and breakfast included in the fare. HS Milfontes offers everything you can expect from a big hotel chain, and the bonus of great views of the river and the coast. Here’s the full list of accommodation in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Should you Visit Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a great destination, it combines the slower pace of the Alentejo with stunning Blue Flag beaches, boat tours on the calm River Mira, and great food. It makes for a great stopping point for those traveling between Lisbon and the Algarve. It’s also a lovely place to be stationed for a couple of days for those wanting to explore the wider Alentejo coast. If you’re feeling adventurous then hiking to Porto Covo should also be considered!
If there’s anything else, you think should be added to our guide to Vila Nova de Milfontes, let us know in the comments!
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