Alte

Travel Guide
Alte
Alte is a pretty village, set deep in the countryside of central Algarve. Away from the touristy coast, Alte is considered to be one of the best-preserved villages in the Algarve, with its whitewashed houses topped with traditional chimneys and quaint cobblestone streets. It is the ideal spot for a relaxing holiday by the village’s springs and waterfalls or as a base for exploring nearby towns and villages like Silves, Messines and Albufeira.

The Church of Alte or Church of Our Lady of the Assumption

Built in the late 13th century as a private chapel, the interior of this church is worthy of mention. Accessed by a doorway designed in the Manueline style, inside you can admire Baroque style statues of St. Sebastian, Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Margaret as well as a lovely Manueline baptismal font. The church is at the centre of the village and there are little cafés in the vicinity where you can sit back, relax and take in the view.

Chapel of St. Louis

This chapel dates to the beginning of the 15th Century and is built in the baroque style, which was popular at the time. The sixth Lord d 'Alte built this Chapel to worship St. Louis, protector of animals, who is prayed to when animals become sick.

Small Fountain

In the past, this small water source was a meeting place for women as they washed clothes. Today this picturesque space is a beautiful park and hosts events for both locals as well as visitors. In this park, the portrait of a famous local poet Francisco Xavier Cândido Guerreiro is captured in beautiful garden tiles, and also displays some of his poems.

Big Fountain

This beautiful natural pool is the source of the River Alte and was converted into a tourist spot in the eighties. It is the ideal place to enjoy a refreshing swim and a picnic, all while breathing in the beautiful scenery.

Fall of Vigário or Alte Cascade

This stunning cascade marks the end of a series of waterfalls, formed by the Alte River. The Municipality of Loulé acquired the land surrounding the Fall of Vigário in 2002, in order to create better access to the fall and create a scenic picnic area, which visitors can use today.

Walking Routes

Alte has plenty of excellent hiking trails. Walk along the scenic pedestrian route of Alte, which leads hikers through the villages of Soidos, Macheira and Santa Margarida. The ‘Via Algarviana’ is a trekking trail that runs through the interior of the Algarve for 240km, starting at Alcoutim and finishing at the Cape St. Vincent, with Alte situated along the way.

Food

Alte, like most Algarvean villages, is famous for its seafood. Some local specialities include monkfish rice, seafood rice, roasted chorizo, beans, pork and cod. For dessert try the almond flavoured ‘toucinho do céu’ and delicious local figs.

Where to stay in Alte

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Fonte Santa

Acordeao Museum is one noteworthy place to stop while you're exploring Fonte Santa and the surrounding area.

Fonte Santa
Hotel Algarve Casino
Hotel Algarve Casino
5 out of 5
Avenida Tomas Cabreira, Praia da Rocha, Portimão, Faro
The price is P4,571 per night from 2 Jan to 3 Jan
P4,571
P4,968 total
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Jan 2 - Jan 3, 2025
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Portimão. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
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Reviewed on Dec 3, 2024

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AP Eva Senses
AP Eva Senses
4 out of 5
Avenida da Republica, 1, Faro
The price is P6,926 per night from 3 Jan to 4 Jan
P6,926
P7,709 total
includes taxes & fees
Jan 3 - Jan 4, 2025
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Faro. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Great spot stay in Faro. Perfect location for exploring the area nearby the waterfront. The view from our room was incredible. The furniture has seen better days. Not sure what the difference is between the rooms with a balcony and a “fully furnished balcony” is—we opted for the fully furnished balcony ..."

Reviewed on Dec 15, 2024

AP Eva Senses
Hotel Faro & Beach Club
Hotel Faro & Beach Club
4 out of 5
Praca D Francisco Gomes 2, Faro
The price is P5,937 per night from 23 Dec to 24 Dec
P5,937
P6,416 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 23 - Dec 24
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Faro. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"We had a great stay at this hotel. The room was comfortable, however, the decor seemed a little older. The mattress was comfortable, though it seemed like it had suffered some wear and tear. The breakfast was amazing, with a lot of options. The restaurant where the breakfast was served was bright ..."

Reviewed on Dec 16, 2024

Hotel Faro & Beach Club
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
NH Marina Portimao Resort
NH Marina Portimao Resort
4 out of 5
Marina Portimao, Portimão
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly aparthotel in Portimão. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (791 reviews)
"The location is excellent near to sand beach, breakfast is amazing."

Reviewed on Dec 9, 2024

NH Marina Portimao Resort
The Patio Suite Hotel
The Patio Suite Hotel
4 out of 5
Urbanização Pinhal do Concelho, Albufeira
Stay at this 4-star golf aparthotel in Albufeira. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (124 reviews)
"We enjoyed our stay. Things to see were not as walkable and we had to take Uber often but not a problem. We liked having a small kitchen to have dinners."

Reviewed on Dec 1, 2024

The Patio Suite Hotel
Four Seasons Vilamoura
Four Seasons Vilamoura
4 out of 5
Rua da Holanda, 507, Loulé
Stay at this 4-star spa aparthotel in Loulé. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (623 reviews)
"Just as I expected"

Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024

Four Seasons Vilamoura
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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