Where Is Cacela Velha: Map, Distances and How Not to Confuse It with Vila Nova de Cacela

Cacela Velha is a village in the Algarve, in the parish of Vila Nova de Cacela, municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, Faro district. It sits above the lagoon at the eastern end of the Ria Formosa (VRSA municipality), about 13 km by road from Tavira and from Vila Real de Santo António.

Map

• Coordinates: 37.157° N, 7.546° W (OpenStreetMap; Wikipedia gives 37°09′26″ N, 7°32′46″ W).
• Open in Google Maps · Open in OpenStreetMap

Cacela Velha and Vila Nova de Cacela are not the same place

Many people mix up the two names, and the train and bus stops are simply called "Cacela".

• Cacela Velha is the historic village, high above the lagoon. It is where you go to see the fort, the church and the view over the Ria Formosa. See Things to do in Cacela Velha and the history of the village.
• Vila Nova de Cacela is the parish seat, about 2.6 km by road from the village (2.3 km in a straight line). It has the "Cacela" railway station, on the Algarve Line (Baixo Guadiana).
• Bus stops: the Vamus Algarve planner lists a "Cacela Velha" stop, the closest to the village, and another, "Cacela (Largo da Camponesa)", in Vila Nova de Cacela.
• Sítio da Fábrica: this is where the boats to the beach leave from, and it is in Vila Nova de Cacela. See Fábrica beach.

If you come by train or bus, choose "Cacela" and cover the last stretch to the village. See Cacela Velha without a car.

Road distances from Cacela Velha

These are estimates without traffic, calculated with OpenStreetMap data (OSRM, 22 October 2026). The times for Faro and the airport are the usual ones for people who make the trip.

• Vila Nova de Cacela: 2.6 km, about 5 minutes.
• Tavira: 12.6 km, about 15 minutes.
• Castro Marim: 13.1 km, about 15 minutes.
• Vila Real de Santo António: 13.2 km, about 20 minutes.
• Ayamonte (Spain): about 22 km, about 25 minutes.
• Faro (city): about 49 km, about 45 minutes.
• Faro Airport: about 55 km, 45 to 55 minutes depending on the route, and under 1 hour.
• Seville: about 156 km, about 1 h 50. See Seville to Cacela Velha.

Getting there

• By car: on the A22, Altura / Monte Gordo exit. See how to get to Cacela Velha. Compare car hire at Faro Airport.
• Without a car: train to Cacela station and a taxi for the last stretch. See Cacela Velha without a car.
• From Faro airport: Algar Vip Travel, private transfers with a driver.

Where to stay

There is no accommodation inside the village itself. The closest bases are Cacela Velha and surroundings, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. Compare in the guide by area · Booking.com · Hotels.com · Vrbo.

Where to eat and what to do

• Casa da Igreja and Restaurante Casa Velha, in the village. See the best restaurants near Cacela Velha.
• Boat trips on the Ria Formosa: check the departure points on the page.
• What to do in the area and tides in Cacela Velha.

Sources

• OpenStreetMap (Nominatim): Cacela Velha — location and parish; distances: OSRM.
• Wikipedia: Cacela Velha. Vila Real de Santo António municipality: Cacela Velha.
• Baixo Guadiana: Cacela railway station; CP: regional timetable; Vamus Algarve.
• Photographs: Marc Ryckaert (CC BY 2.5) and Jose A. (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.