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A relaxing holiday in the quiet and historic town of Estói, Portugal
Estói – Portugal, Algarve
On the side of a hill a few kilometres north of Faro is the town of Estói. It is a small, quiet town, a world away from the traditional tourist towns and resorts and has a number of local shops, a bank and a number of bars and restaurants.
It is a great holiday destination if you want to relax in a real Algarve town and soak up the atmosphere. If you are after a lively resort with plenty of entertainment and nightlife then you have come to the wrong place.
Getting here is easy if you have arrived in the Algarve at Faro airport, as Estói is only 10 km away. It’s also just of the main IP1 motorway, so an ideal base for exploring the rest of the Algarve. You are only about 12 km from the beach here, and you’re well positioned to explore the less-touristy towns of the Eastern Algarve, such as
Olhăo,
Tavira
and
Vila Real de Santo Antonio.
In and around Estói, Portugal
The town itself is quite quiet, certainly compared to some of the busy coastal resorts like Vilamoura and Albufeira. The main street and square is where most of the ‘action’ takes place. However, there are no nightclubs, just a selection of bars and restaurants. Nightlife revolves around these. This makes it great for couples that want to relax, but not so good for teenagers or young adults wanting a bit more ‘life’.
In the centre of the town, in the square, is the 18th Century parish church. It is built on the site of a 16th Century medieval chapel. It is worth a visit and there are some good views from here.
There are two other attractions, which Estói is noted for. These are the Estói Palace and the Roman ruins, both of which are described below.
Estói Palace
This large palace dates from the 19th Century, and has been steadily falling into a state of disrepair. It is very distinctive in the fact that it is painted pink, interlaced, with blue Portuguese azulejo tiles decorated with huge floral designs. Describing the finely decorated interior and the stepped gardens with its statues and fountains and tiled terrace is a bit pointless, as both the palace and its gardens have been closed to the public for a number of years.
This is because it is being turned into a luxury Pousada (which is a state controlled hotel). This refurbishment is likely to cost 10 million Euros and is due for completion in September 2008.
Estói Roman ruins
The Roman ruins (and visitor centre) are open to the public, but there is a small admission charge. The ruins are of a 2nd Century Roman villa (or spa – nobody seems to know). However, it is very well preserved and worth a visit.
These Roman ruins are to be found Milreu, about 1 km west of Estói. It is open daily (not Mondays or holidays) all year round, although it closes a little earlier out of season. It is closed at lunchtime from 12.30pm – 2pm.
Contact Tel: 289 997 823.
Restaurants in Estói, Portugal
There are a number of restaurants in and around Estói. A selection of these are detailed below:
Monte do Casal
Monte do Casal is a small 4-star rural hotel
just outside Estói. Apart from being a luxury retreat, it also has a rather fine restaurant, which is open to the public. It is in beautiful surroundings and the food is highly regarded by those in the know. The style of cooking is modern with French influence and you can choose from the á la carte menu or a daily tasting menu consisting of 5 small gourmet courses. Even vegetarians have their own full menu (which is unheard of in most of Portugal!)
As you can imagine, it is quite popular, particularly in the holiday season, so you really need to book in advance. It is open daily for lunch and dinner each day, and major credit cards are accepted.
Monte do Casal
Estrada de Moncarapacho
Contact Tel: 289 990 140
Flor da Ameixa Restaurant
Flor da Ameixa serves good quality Portuguese food. It is very friendly and good value for money.
Lagos e Relvas-Alface
Faro 8000
Contact Tel: 289 991 116
A Sambada
Coiro there Burra
8005 Estói
Contact Tel.: 289 991 560
Accommodation in Estói Portugal
There are a number of
villas to rent in Estói
Portugal, ideal for a peaceful and relaxing holiday.
There are also a couple of hotels worth considering:
Casa de Estói
Casa de Estói was built in 1901 and has just undergone renovation. While it is a large house, it is a small hotel and only has 6 rooms, each one named after a wild flower. Outside there is a heated swimming pool with sun loungers.
Casa de Estói
Rua de Faro, 80
Estói
Faro 8005-463
Algarve, Portugal
Monte do Casal, Estói, Portugal
Monte do Casal is a beautiful country hotel, built in the 18th Century. It is a small, beautifully presented ‘boutique’ hotel with 12 individually designed rooms. It has recently been refurbished to a high standard.
Find out more here...
Things to do in Estói, Portugal
Being close to Faro, it is ideal for exploring the less touristy Eastern Algarve, with its real fishing villages, and with a car a day trip over the bridge to Ayamonte in Spain is possible.
Faro is also worth a visit. Most holidaymakers don’t think of Faro as a holiday destination, but just as an airport. But it does have plenty to offer, with plenty of shops, restaurants and also historic churches and museums.
If you want to get closer to nature then the Ria Formosa Natural Park is on your doorstep, with miles of walks, bike rides, beaches and a plethora of plants and animals.
Both east and west from here are a number of great golf courses to play. To the east are
Quinta de Cima
and
Quinta da Ria
golf courses near Tavira and a few kilometres west on the coast are the golf course at
Quinta do Lago,
Vale do Lobo
and
Vilamoura.
In Estói itself, there is the market. It is one of the biggest in the Algarve and operates in the morning on the second Sunday of the month. It is a slice of real town life, being a proper market, not one just set up for tourists. There is everything imaginable a market would sell here, including goats and horses. It can certainly be a place to pick up a genuine bargain.
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