Discover beaches in the Alentejo

Beaches between Comporta and Cabo Sardao

Which beaches in the Alentejo are suitable for you? The coast south of Lisbon is very varied. The beaches on the west coast in Alentejo alternate between miles of sandy beaches. South of Sines and in the region of Comporta there are beaches that do not seem to end. In some regions, they are also very broad. In between, however, there are always rugged coastal landscapes with cliffs. These fall off steeply. Either directly into the sea, or to small sandy coves, where you find remote swimming. Because many of these protected bays are accessible via stairs. They are a bit reminiscent of the Algarve coast. Only that they are lonelier than those.

The Alentejo is still a region where tourism is not as significant as in other parts of Portugal. Here day by day the fishermen go out to catch fish. With their small boats, they do not venture too far from the coast. Nevertheless, their work is not safe. In some places, they have to overcome the wild surf to get back to their home port. At others, their boats are at the mercy of the waves of the Atlantic. These take a long way to the west and build up to considerable wave mountains. Of the beaches you can often see the Portuguese fishermen working off the coast.

Sunsets

On some beaches there are restaurants or simple beach cafes, where you can watch the beach walkers. These are often barely recognizable, because the sandy areas at the seashore are often so wide that the eye sees the people only with difficulty. It is nice there especially in the evening, when the sun sinks into the sea. This often happens with spectacular color spectacle. Then the sky turns a reddish purple, red or gold. The sun seems to get bigger and bigger, before finally disappearing behind the horizon in a breathtaking show. Every night, the spectacle is different.

Which beach from Comporta to Porto Covo

If you like original beaches, you will love the beaches in the Alentejo. We were there in January. Actually, the Alentejo beaches begin near the town of Tróia in the north of the peninsula, which separates the lagoon of Setubal from the Atlantic. The trip to Tróia, however, we spared us, because the place except a few hotels and Roman ruins has no special attractions. But worth a visit are the beaches stretching from Tróia south to Porto Covo.

Comporta beach

We used the time we had saved instead of visiting Tróia for a stay on the beach at Comporta. This place consists of only a few houses and is located about fifteen kilometers south of Tróia. Even in winter, the beach of Comporta is worth a detour. Boardwalks lead from the car park over the dunes to the kilometer-long wide sandy beach. Above the beach, there is also a beach café, which in the summer are certainly popular. In January, however, it is closed. However, it offers beautiful photo opportunities with its blue-painted wooden walls. In any case, from this beach you can look out onto the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. An uplifting feeling!

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Carvalhal

Only a few kilometers further south, more beaches join. We make a detour to Praia do Pego in Carvalhal. Here, the Sal restaurant awaits its guests in summer. In winter, it is closed. No wonder, we have the beach at this time of the year almost for us alone. There we experienced on our Drive along the fishing path in the Alentejo one of the most beautiful sunsets of our trip. In the summer, it may be fun to watch the setting sun from the terrace of the restaurant as it sinks into the sea.

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The next day we drive south to Porto Covo. There the beaches look different. While we have seen only long sandy beaches, we find here small sandy bays protected by steep cliffs. At their foothills in the sea, the waves break, which roll over the Atlantic. Porto Covo is also within easy reach of Lisbon. From there you will private day trips to the southwest coast * offered. You can also do well in this region hiking on the fishing path Portugal along the coast.

Porto Covo

At the port of Porto Covo, a steep staircase leads up the cliffs to a viewing platform. This can also be reached by car, if you follow the signs to the beach in town. From there you also have a good view of the Praia dos Buizinhos. It is one of those beaches that lie in sheltered coves surrounded by steep cliffs. Most of them are accessible by stairs. Therefore, you can find in these coastal regions of the Alentejo sandy coves, where you can swim in the summer. In January, we also meet tourists at the caravan parking lot, who spend the cold season here enjoying the view.

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Following the coastline from Porto Covo to Sines changes the look of the beaches. While Praia do Banho and some of the other bays to the north offer sheltered bathing spots, the beaches in the Alentejo from Praia de Morgavel to Sines are instead flat, wide, miles long and sandy.

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Morgavel

On our visit in January, we share the beach with just a few lonely joggers and seagulls frolicking on the sand. Above the beach there are some fish restaurants, which are also open in winter. At the Dom Luis restaurant, we just drink a short espresso to enjoy the view from the terrace. In the nearby restaurant Arte y Sal On the other hand, a delicious fresh fish menu awaits us from the market in Sines.

The wintry beaches in the Alentejo impress us. Each of them is different. Therefore, everyone will find the right beach on this short stretch of coast.

Check out Petar's video too. There he summarized the most beautiful moments of our enjoyment journey along the Rota do Peixe:

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Travel Arrangements:

Check in:

The nearest airport is Lisbon. From there you can also rent a car.

Cars:

Cheap Car Hire - Book Fast and Easy! *

Trips:

beech Excursions to Alentejo * here

Accommodation

Hotels and accommodations near the coast of the Alentejo * You can also book through our partner booking.com. We are in there Hotel Vila Park in Santo André * and in a holiday apartment in Monte do Zambujeiro * spent the night.

Travel Guides

Find Travel Guide for the Alentejo * here

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Find more Slow Travel Destinations here. Discover travel tips here. Other tips for Portugal and the Alentejo have been published here. Are you interested in Portugal's discoveries? Then you will find here extensive information. Or do you want to know more about what the Portuguese seafaring history looked like? In this article, we introduce life aboard the overseas vessels, as it was at the time of the discovery story.

Source: own research on site. We were invited to this trip by Aptece, Visit Alentejo and the Rota do Peixe. Our opinion, however, remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline