How to get to Monchique and Villa Vida Nova by Air or Road

Algarve by air

Best deals on flights can be found by comparing several departure and arrival airports. Choose a few departure airports convenient to you and compare flights from those to the following 6 options:

Faro which is under 1 hours drive to the villa.

Lisbon 3 hours drive

Seville 3 hours drive.

Jerez 3.5 hours

Gibraltar 4.5 hours

Porto 5 hours

Rental cars are available at all airports and can be driven between Portugal and Spain without need of special permits. There are no border crossings.

*Don't discount those airports farther afield, why not have a couple of nights in Lisbon, Porto, Gibraltar, all fascinating places, a good start to your vacation and then arrive at the villa on the Saturday.

Useful tip If you can't find the right flights from Britain try Norwegian Air, they fly into Faro from, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Scroll down to find written directions from our closest airports

Algarve by road

This is an excellent option if you are not limited by time and has the advantage of having your own car. From continental Europe or from UK and Ireland by ferry you can make a delightful road trip. The roads in France, Spain and Portugal are the quietest in Europe and there are dozens of alternative routes to take which would give a variety of breath taking scenery and interesting places to visit en-route.

If coming from Ireland or the UK by overnight ferry to Bilbao or Santander in Galicia Spain then it is possible to drive to the Algarve with just a one night stop. From the French Channel ports, Benelux, Germany or Switzerland  then a minimum of two nights stopovers would be required. Personally I would take even longer 4 or 5 days and stay in some of the historic centres on the way. France Spain and Portugal offer some amazing places to stay and see on your journey. If this appeals to you then please do ask me for some routes and recommendations, I would love to help.

Directions From Faro Airport to Villa Vida Nova Monchique

From Faro Airport, follow signs to Lisboa (Lisbon), Lagos, Portimao you will be on the EN125-10 continue for 3.5 kms take the exit marked Loule Lisboa Portimao Albufeira, stop and give way at the bottom of the ramp and continue west. Stick to the speed limit for 7 kms and move to the left lane follow signs for Lisboa Portimao Loule. You are now on the IC4 . After a few kms take the exit market Lisboa A22 Portimao Albufeira you are now on the A22 heading west stay on here for about 50 kms so do not turn off. You will pass the turn off for Silves at about 40 kms you will take the next turn off marked, Portimao and Monchique. At the roundabout take the first exit to Monchique.

You are now on the EN 124 traveling North. After a few kms you arrive at a roundabout at Porto de Lagos take the 2nd exit (straight on) and you continue northwards on the EN266, stay on this road and do not turn off. You will pass many hamlets and villages, namely, Rasmalho, Caldas de Monchique where there is a Spa, Nave where there is a granite quarry on your right and Meia Viana.

Continue on this road for 1 km into the town of Monchique you will find a roundabout near the Intermarche Supermarket, take the 2nd exit (Straight on) and proceed into the centre of the village, follow signs for Foia. In the town the road splits turn left towards the towns square, keep bearing left and go up the steep hill to the roundabout. Take the second exit and follow signs for Foia. After about 2kms look for a restaurant on your left called “O Luar da Foia”, turn left immediately after this restaurant. Continue 200 meters and turn very sharp left into a steep tarred lane, we have a sign there “Villa Vida Nova” and it points left in the direction of the villa. Continue right to the bottom of the lane and we are there on the right, again we have another sign next to the gate. Go another 30 meters and make a turn in the turning space and enter the drive this way, it's easier.

Directions From Lisbon

There are only two motorways South to the Algarve that leave Lisbon, both cross the River Tejo by bridge but both roads eventually join and become the toll road to the Algarve. One is the A2 and the other is the A12 it depends where you will be in Lisbon to decide which road to choose, if you are anywhere near the airport or East Lisbon then most certainly you will be taking the A12. Take advice in Lisbon at your hotel or tourist info, a tourist info map should be helpful. Whichever road you take they will merge then stay on this road until finally after some +- 280kms you will have to pay at the toll booth. A few kilometres further the motorway joins the A22 motorway follow the signs for Lagos/Portimao/West do not follow Faro/Spain

You are now on the A22 heading west stay on here for about 35kms so do not turn off. You will pass the turn off for Silves/Lagoa, pass this, you will take the next turn off marked, Portimao and Monchique. At the roundabout take the first exit to Monchique.

You are now on the EN 124 travelling North. After a few kilometres you arrive at a roundabout at Porto de Lagos take the 2nd exit (straight on) and you continue northwards on the EN266, stay on this road and do not turn off. You will pass many hamlets and villages, namely, Rasmalho, Caldas de Monchique where there is a Spa, Nave where there is a granite quarry and Meia Vianna.

Continue on this road for 1km into the town of Monchique you will find a roundabout near the Intermarche Supermarket, take the 2nd exit (Straight on) and proceed into the centre of the village, follow signs for Foia. In the town the road splits turn left towards the towns square, keep bearing left and go up the steep hill to the roundabout. Take the second exit and follow signs for Foia. After about 2kms look for a restaurant on your left called “O Luar da Foia”, turn left immediately after this restaurant. Continue 200m and turn very sharp left into a steep tarred lane, we have a sign there “Villa Vida Nova” and it points in the direction of the villa. Continue right to the bottom of the lane and we are there on the right, again we have another sign next to the gate. Go another 30 meters and make a turn in the turning space and enter the drive this way, it's easier.

From Seville Airport to Monchique

 

Reset your trip counter.

From the car rental parking follow exit signs to a roundabout. Take 3rd Exit.

Then immediately, turn right : A-4 / E-5

At 0.5km Continue left : A-4 / E-5

Continue along: A-4 / E-5

At 2.7km Take the exit #535 towards: A-66A-49 Sign posted [Sevilla Este, A-8008 – Brenes, SE-020 - La Cartuja, Parque Alcosa, Mérida, Huelva]

At 3.0km Turn right : SE-020 / Ronda Super Norte Sign Posted [Isla de la Cartuja A-66 - Merida - A-49 – Huelva]

You will approach several roundabouts and take several left and right turns at intersections but always following signs that say SE-020 /Ronda Super Norte and or Huelva

At 13.3km At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit: SE-30 Sign Posted [Todas Direcciones]

At 15.6km Turn left Sign Posted [SE-30A-92 A-49 – Huelva E-5 - A-4 – Cádiz Málaga Granada]

Continue SE-30 / E-803 Sign Posted [SE-30 A-49 – Huelva E-5 - A-4 – Cádiz]

At 18.6km Take the exit Sign Posted [A-49 17B Camas E-1 - Huelva]

At 19km Take A-49 / E-1 Sign Posted [A-49 E-1 - Huelva]

At 96.5km Pay attention you are close to Huelva and the Motorway forks follow signs for Portugal not Huelva. (keep right).

Continue west in the direction of Portugal.

At 152km you enter Portugal over the suspension bridge which crosses the river Guadiana continue on the A22

At 263km take the exit Sign Posted [N124 - Portimão]

At the roundabout take the first exit to Monchique.
You are now on the EN 124 traveling North. After a few kms you arrive at a roundabout at Porto de Lagos take the 2nd exit (straight on) and you continue northwards on the EN266, stay on this road and do not turn off. You will pass many hamlets and villages, namely, Rasmalho, Caldas de Monchique where there is a Spa, Nave where there is a granite quarry on your right and Meia Viana.

Continue on this road for 1 km into the town of Monchique you will find a roundabout near the Intermarche Supermarket, take the 2nd exit (Straight on) and proceed into the centre of the village, follow signs for Foia. In the town the road splits turn left towards the towns square, keep bearing left and go up the steep hill to the roundabout. Take the second exit and follow signs for Foia. After about 2kms look for a restaurant on your left called “O Luar da Foia”, turn left immediately after this restaurant. Continue 200 meters and turn very sharp left into a steep tarred lane, we have a sign there “Villa Vida Nova” and it points left in the direction of the villa. Continue right to the bottom of the lane and we are there on the right, again we have another sign next to the gate. Go another 30 meters and make a turn in the turning space and enter the drive this way, it's easier.

 

Nigel provided great directions to the villa and since we were arriving late at night this was important, there was even a torch left next to the key code box, lovely touch! TripAdvisor