Are you looking for a quiet Sunday, far from city life and in the company of your family? Fasten your seat belt and get ready to visit the wonderful Monchique Mountains, affectionately referred to as the “Garden of the Algarve”.

Take us up on our suggestion of a family day out that is perfect for springtime or for one of the sunnier days in autumn and winter. 

The Algarve uplands offer all of the peace and quiet you need for a marvellous weekend. Visit Caldas de Monchique, just to the south of the city. This thermal spa is considered one of the area’s unmissable attractions.

A few kilometres away, you will find the town of Monchique, which is known for its impressive natural beauty and the architectural peculiarity of skirt-shaped chimneys on the houses. Visit the iconic Igreja Matriz (Main Church) and Igreja da Misericórdia (Church of Mercy) and contemplate the ruins of the Convent of Nossa Senhora de Desterro (Our Lady of Exile), which stand in one of the pleasantest parts of the town.

Be sure to explore the shops and discover the best local products; and, of course, you must try the delicious upland cuisine, where dry-cured sausages, game and pot-au-feu dishes take pride of place on the menus. We suggest you try the famous boiled maize in one of the village’s typical restaurants. Finish your meal with a glass of traditional medronho, a type of brandy made from the fruit of the strawberry tree, and a generous slice of pot-baked cake.

To round off your trip, head up to Fóia. At an altitude of 902 metres, the Fóia Viewpoint is the highest point in the Algarve and affords a magnificent panoramic view over the region.