The Quinta Monte Gião located near the picturesque town of Moncarapacho, where you can find two small supermarkets, a bakery, a post office, several banks, a pottery shop and a gas station. Moreover there are good value restaurants, cafes as well as a local museum, a chapel and a weekly market offering original Portuguese flair.

A few minutes' drive south-east and right on the inland waters of the Ria Formosa, is the small port town Fuzeta. A small covered market, a pedestrian zone and the numerous cafes and restaurants invite you to stroll. From the port small ferries and water taxis commute between Fuzeta and the off-shore island Ilha Fuzeta with its miles of deserted beach and the attractive dunes.

The major port city, Olhão, is situated in South-western direction of Quinta Monte Gião. It is famous for the two historic market halls, with their wide range of fresh fish and seafood, as well as the full range of local cheese, sausages and meat products, fruits and vegetables. The culinary offerings range from cafes and patisseries, to international and Portuguese dishes. There is a regular ferry service between the port nearby the market and the islands of the Ria Formosa.

In North-eastern direction there is Tavira, a city founded by the Phoenicians, which nowadays is also known as the "Venice of the Algarve". Numerous historical sites including the old fort, 37 churches and the Roman bridge over the Gilão are among the places of interest which Tavira has to offer.

Tavira´s famous marine salt works are located directly behind the huge market hall which offers a similarly wide range as Ohio's market. Its extracted saline "Flor de Sal" has been repeatedly awarded. Moreover, Tavira´s beach has been classified as a Top 10 beach "holidays with children" by Lonely Planet. There you'll find as well the anchor cemetery at Praia do Barril, of which the photography probably is being published in nearly every Algarve travel guide.

The hinterland way North of Monte Gião Quinta is well-known for handicrafts, fruit and flower growing and offers beautiful trails for cyclists and mountain bikers. Thanks to the good transport connections Faro and the Western Algarve are easily to be reached.