Estoi
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ESTOI

Welcome to Estoi, a charming town located twelve kilometres (7.5 mi) inland from Faro in the beautiful Algarve! Known for its rich history and cultural treasures, Estoi is a must-visit destination for a memorable day trip. Let's uncover the top attractions and experiences in this hidden gem!

Historical Treasures: Estoi boasts three main attractions that showcase its rich heritage. Explore the opulent 18th-century Palácio de Estói and its stunning gardens, marvel at the ancient Roman Villa of Milreu, and visit the historic 15th-century church, Igreja Matriz de Estoi.

Excellent Accessibility: Estoi is easily accessible from Faro, with excellent transport links and a short distance of just twelve kilometres. Whether you're travelling by car or public transport, getting to Estoi is a breeze, allowing you to focus on enjoying your day away from the beach.

Cultural Delights: Immerse yourself in Estoi's vibrant culture as you wander through its charming streets and historic sites. Don't forget to sample local cuisine at one of the town's relaxed cafes or restaurants.

Let MADABOUTPORTUGAL.COM be your essential guide to exploring Estoi and making the most of your day trip. From historical insights to practical travel tips, we've got you covered for an unforgettable experience. So pack your sunscreen and camera, and escape to Estoi for a day filled with history, culture, and adventure!

ESTOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Loule and Estoi Palace Premium Private > VTours Algarve

Loule and Estoi Palace Premium Private Tours

Discover Loulé's Moorish history on this private tour from the Algarve. Visit the revivalist-style Municipal Market, Arab-origin Loulé Castle, Islamic Baths, and 18th-century Estoi Palace. Delve into the area’s culture and history with your private guide. Explore the local museums, all tickets included. Stay connected with onboard Wi-Fi. Enjoy a personalised experience with a private tour in Loulé.

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Faro and Estói, from Albufeira

Faro and Estói, from Albufeira

Embark on a full-day sightseeing adventure from Albufeira to explore Faro, the capital of the Algarve, and other key attractions. With a private guide, venture eastward to Estoi village, discovering its Roman ruins of Milreu. Then, delve into Faro's rich history and culture, exploring its charming historic center and marina. Your guide provides insights into local gastronomy and Mediterranean diet. Enjoy round-trip transfers from your Albufeira hotel. Opt for a private tour for a personalized experience filled with ancient ruins, cultural discoveries, and culinary delights.

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Double Dive the Fantastic Ocean Revival Park

Double Dive the Fantastic Ocean Revival Park

Enhance your Algarve getaway with wreck diving at Ocean Revival. Plunge into one of Europe's premier diving sites featuring four sunken navy vessels, perfect for advanced divers. Bring your advanced open water diver certificate and join Portuguese divers for an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a hotel pickup for convenience or meet us at our Portimão office. Leave your scuba gear behind as equipment is provided. Dive in small groups for an intimate experience. Stay hydrated with complimentary bottled water.

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ESTOI TOWN

The town of Estoi is a typical sleepy Algarve settlement where the pace of life is decidedly slow and relaxed. Estoi is a warren of cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses. Before heading off to the nearby attractions, it's worth spending a few moments sitting outside one of the many cafes of Estoi, absorbing the atmosphere and watching the world go by. There is no rush. Recently Estoi changed its name from Estói, and one gets the feeling that nothing else has changed for centuries.


Igreja Matriz de Estoi

The main church of Estoi sits in the town centre. The church dates back to the 15th century. The church was badly damaged during the devastating earthquake of 1755 that ravished so much of southern Portugal. Thereafter, Igreja Matriz de Estoi was hastately rebuilt. The church attained its neoclassical appearance in the 19th century under the leadership of the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri. Other examples of his work are in nearby towns, most notably the Arco de Vila in Faro. The interior retains its older grandeur. Legend has it the wooden altarpiece is carved from the reclaimed timbers of local fishing boats.
8005-411 Estoi, Portugal. | 37° 05' 39.2" N | 07° 53' 42.0" W

Igreja Matriz de Estoi

|  Igreja Matriz de Estoi

ESTOI PALACE (PALÁCIO DE ESTOI)

Estoi Palace & Gardens

|  Estoi Palace & Gardens

The Palácio de Estoi is located a short walk from the village's main square and is the main attraction of Estoi. Building work on the palace at Estoi began in the 1840s, only to be put on hold twenty years later following the death of the owner. José Francisco da Silva, a local entrepreneur, purchased the half-built estate and in 1906, construction was completed. The Palácio de Estoi is a fine example of romantic architecture with its fine pink rococo façade and gardens reminiscent of Versailles. The sheer opulence of the completed palace caught the attention of King D. Carlos I, who bestowed upon José Francisco da Silva the title of Visconde de Estoi in 1926. Successive generations failed to maintain the palace and grounds and they fell into ruin. The Municipality of Faro, who purchased it in 1987, rescued the estate. A period of restoration soon followed. The Palácio de Estoi opened as a pousada (luxury hotel) in May 2009. Certain rooms, the café and gardens are open to the public for free.

The interior has a rococo-style décor, with frescoes, ornate carvings, wood panelling, elaborate stucco ceilings, and gilded furniture. The gardens lie on three tiers connected by grand staircases decorated in vibrant blue azulejo tiles, with a hidden grotto on the lower level decorated with mosaics from nearby Milreu. The gardens are decorated with statues, fountains, exotic trees, a small orchard and an azulejo staircase. The views from the top terrace are breathtaking.

6 Rua de São Jose, 8005-469, Faro, Portugal. | 37° 05' 48.2" N | 07° 53' 44.3" W
Website

ROMAN RUINS OF MILREU

To the west of Estoi, is the ruined Roman villa of Milreu, which offers an insight into life in the Algarve between the first and fourth centuries AD. Excavations of the sight started in 1877 and have unearthed an extensive Roman villa with annexed buildings. It's believed the villa was a summer home for Roman aristocrats. Amongst the finds are a set of fine mosaics that once lined a bathhouse dating from the first century. There are the remains of a frigidarium (cold water plunge pool), an apodyterium (changing rooms) and an underfloor heating system. The nautical theme of the mosaics suggests the adjoining temple was dedicated to a sea god. This temple later served as a christian church and then a mosque during the Moorish occupation. On the grounds there is a small informative museum helping you to make sense of the site. Other items from Milreu are on display in Faro's Municipal museum.

€2.00 | May - September: 10h00 - 18h00, October - April: 09h00 - 17h00
8005-411 Estoi, Portugal. | 37° 05' 41.7" N | 07° 54' 16.6" W
Website

Roman Ruins of Milreu

|  Roman Ruins of Milreu

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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

Monte da Ribeira

Monte da Ribeira

Set in Estói, Monte da Ribeira offers accommodation with a terrace or a balcony, free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, and an infinity pool with a garden. There is also a kitchenette in some units equipped with a microwave. Guests at the farm stay can enjoy a continental breakfast. Monte da Ribeira offers a picnic area. If you would like to discover the area, cycling, hiking and walking tours are possible in the surroundings and the accommodation can arrange a bicycle rental service.

Sitio Azinhal e Amendoeira, C.P. 80 X 8005 – 414, Estoi, 8005-414 Estói, Portugal.
37° 07' 24.2" N | 07° 53' 20.6" W

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Vila Milreu Guest House

Vila Milreu Guest House

Vila Milreu Guest House features garden views, free WiFi and free private parking. Vila Milreu Guest House is located in Estói, 16 km from Church of São Lourenço. All units feature air conditioning and a satellite flat-screen TV. There is also a kitchen in some units equipped with a dishwasher. Guests at the bed-and-breakfast can enjoy a continental breakfast. Vila Milreu Guest House offers a year-round outdoor pool. An indoor play area is also available at the accommodation, while guests can also relax on the sun terrace.

Rua de Faro, Estoi Vila Milreu, 8005-463 Estói, Portugal.
37° 05' 40.0" N | 07° 54' 06.5" W

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Casa de Estoi

Casa de Estoi

Once a family home from the 1900s, this residence welcomes you as a small hotel, offering a combination of traditional and modern Portuguese style. High ceilings and stone archways lead the way to the hotel's guest rooms. Enjoy quiet corners and comfortable surroundings, which call for rest and relaxation. Sit back on sun loungers around the heated pool, where you can take a few minutes to relax before you discover the rich heritage of the small Algarvian village of Estoi. A discreet distance from mass tourism, you will find this hotel presents an ideal base from which to explore the attractive Algarve region.

Rua Engº Joaquim Belchior, 80, 8005 - 463 Estói, Portugal.
37° 05' 38.3" N | 07° 53' 42.8" W

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OUR CHOICE

Restaurante O Cerro

Restaurante O Cerro

Located on the side of a back road, this family restaurant is easy to miss. Yet if you decide to dine here, you will certainly be glad you didn't drive right past. This husband and wife partnership has been conjuring up great home-style cooking for over thirty years. There is no menu, but a selection of meals made from seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Meals are cooked to order and can be tweaked to your preference. The atmosphere is very warm, friendly and welcoming. The desserts too are homemade and delicious. Bring cash as cards are not accepted.

Thursday – Tuesday: 10h00 – 00h00, Wednesday: CLOSE£D
Sitio de Alcaria Cova, Estoi 8005-405 Portugal. | 37° 05' 45.0" N | 07° 51' 57.1" W
+351 289 991 488


O Belo Sol

O Belo Sol

Great authentic local cuisine is consistently cooked to a high standard. The atmosphere is unassuming and typically friendly. Popular with visitors and locals alike. Prices are very reasonable considering the generous portion sizes.

Sunday: 08h00 - 15h00, Monday: CLOSED, Tuesday - Saturday; 07h00 - 01h00
1 Rua do Cemiterio, Estoi 8005-466 Portugal. | 37° 05' 36.5" N | 07° 53' 44.1" W


Pizzaria Montenegro in Estoi

Pizzaria Montenegro in Estoi

For those moments when you crave a great pizza, Pizzaria Montenegro delivers and excels. A creative choice of pizzas is available, as well as other pasta and Mediterranean dishes on offer. Pizzas are large enough to share between two people, enabling you to enjoy all three courses. Takeaway service is prompt and efficient.

Thursday – Monday: 17h30 – 22h00, Tuesday & Wednesday: CLOSED
Rua de Faro 77 A, Estoi 8005-463 Portugal. | 37° 05' 38.8" N | 07° 53' 46.5" W
+351 932 994 972 | Website

Only 14km (8.6 miles) northeast of Faro Airport Website

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Via the N125-10 and Estr. de São Brás de Alportel/N2.
Latitude - 37º 05" 39.0' | Longitude - 07º 53" 42.5'


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Faro is the nearest train station to Estoi with onward bus services. Regional train services (comboios regionais) run from Lagos in the west to Vila Real de Santo António on Portugal's eastern border:
• Lagos - Vila Real de Santo António line: Timetable | Website

• Eva Transportes run services across the Algarve linking the main resorts and towns, as well as a hostess service to Lisbon. Also worth considering are their tourist passes if you're planing to visit different places: Website
#2 and #65 bus services between Faro & Estoi.

• Rede Expressos operates countrywide services: Website