Sesimbra is a delightful and traditional beach resort, and is one of my favourite beach towns close to Lisbon. My love for Sesimbra stems from my Portuguese wife's family, who have been taking holidays here since they were young children.

Sesimbra is a destination adored by the Portuguese, who are drawn to its glorious sandy bay, exceptional seafood, and picturesque scenery. Even today, with tourism flooding the Lisbon region, Sesimbra remains authentically Portuguese, and makes for a wonderful destination for a beach day trip or short break.

The town is surrounded by the hills of the Arrábida Natural Park which shelter the coastline from the powerful winds, waves and currents of the Atlantic Ocean. This setting established Sesimbra as a fishing town and today provides one of the calmest beaches of the Lisbon region, ideal for families.

At its heart is a fishing harbour, with the fresh catch served in the many family-run 'Marisqueira' (seafood) restaurants that line the backstreets. These restaurants are loved by the Portuguese and was the reason I was first taken there 23 years ago.

High above the whitewashed houses and pretty beachside promenade, stands the Moorish era Castelo de Sesimbra, a reminder of the town's strategic position guarding the mouth of the Sado Estuary.

Beyond the town's immediate charm lies a region of spectacular natural scenery, perfect for adventurous activities. There are sea caves for kayaking trips, craggy cliffs for coasteering, forested hills for biking or hiking, and deserted beaches to discover. Sesimbra is slowly transforming into the adventure hub for Lisbon.

The town also serves as the perfect base from which to explore regional highlights, including the windswept headland of Cabo Espichel, the idyllic cove beaches of Portinho da Arrábida, and the picturesque lagoon at Lagoa de Albufeira.

Sesimbra’s easy-going charm and magnificent setting make it an enjoyable day trip, especially if you have a car to explore the surrounding region. This guide will provide everything you need to discover Sesimbra, whether you are planning a relaxing holiday or just have a couple of hours after a morning's kayak.

 

 

The Praia da Califórnia - The beautiful sandy beach that extends along the front of Sesimbra. With its calm sea waters and fantastic location close to the town, there is nowhere better for a relaxing day on the beach.

Marisqueira restaurants – Serving freshly caught seafood in restaurants that have been owned by the same families for generations. The best ones lie in the back alleys behind the main street such as O Rodinhas, Casa Mateus or Marisqueira Modesto.

The Serra da Arrábida – The picturesque hills that contain Portugal's most spectacular driving route (the N379 road) along with some of the country's most magnificent beaches such as the Praia do Creiro and Praia de Galapinhos.

The Cabo Espichel – A windswept and rugged headland that was once an important pilgrimage destination. Found at the site is a unique church complex with pilgrim rooms and two sets of dinosaur footprints.

Kayaking - The towering cliffs and high eroded coastline make for the Lisbon region's best sea kayaking experience. Paddle into caves such as the Boca de Tamboril or land at the Ribeiro do Cavalo beach.

Sesimbra has everything needed for a wonderful holiday destination.
There are glorious beaches, a traditional Portuguese atmosphere, and many interesting day trips in the surrounding region, including the port city of Setúbal or Azeitão for wine tasting.

As Sesimbra is primarily aimed at Portuguese tourists, it is not overrun by foreign tourists (as with the Algarve) and is a great location to immerse yourself in Portuguese culture. As it's popular with Portuguese tourists, you can expect great food, late nights in Sesimbra's bars and exceptional value for money.

Sesimbra has the added advantage of being close to Lisbon. The airport is less than 30 minutes by car, or it is just 45 minutes into the city centre by bus.

Sesimbra is so good, this is where I took my brother and his young family on holiday last year, and they all had an amazing time.
Related articles: Sesimbra's beaches - Sights and activities

Sesimbra is quiet outside of the Portuguese holidays but it does get busy and sell out during the school holidays. If you are planning a trip, always book your accommodation as far in advance as possible. The map below shows the location of the hotels and best rental apartments in Sesimbra; if you enter your dates, it will display current availability and prices.

The pretty backstreets of Sesimbra

Sesimbra is an enjoyable day trip from Lisbon, but to get the most from the region, you will need a car.

A trip to Sesimbra by public transport would be confined to the town, and could include visiting the castle, walking to the fishing harbour, strolling along the beachfront promenade, relaxing on a beach and ending with a delicious seafood meal. For a beach town day trip using public transport, Cascais is a better option in my opinion.

With a car, the whole of the Sesimbra region can be explored, making it a very packed day trip. You could also visit the Cabo Espichel headland, the Serra da Arrábida hills, and Azeitão for wine tasting. An alternative day trip is to divide the day equally between Sesimbra and Setúbal. (Setubal guide)

A car is the only real means to visit the region's outstanding beaches, such as the idyllic Portinho da Arrábida coastline, the picturesque Lagoa de Albufeira or the undiscovered beaches of southern Costa da Caparica.

Below is an interactive map for ideas for a day trip to Sesimbra. The green pins show the highlights of Sesimbra and the surrounding region, while the yellow markers show the best beaches nearby.

Sesimbra highlights: 1) Forte de Santiago 2) Castelo de Sesimbra 3) Cais dos Pescadores (fishing harbour) 4) Cabo Espichel 5) Estrada de Escarpa (Scenic drive) 6) Portinho da Arrábida 7) Azeitão (wine tasting at José Maria da Fonseca or Bacalhôa Vinhos)
Sesimbra beaches 8) Praia da Califórnia 9) Praia do Ouro 10) Praia do Creiro 11) Praia de Galápos 12) Praia da Figueirinha 13) Praia do Meco 14) Lagoa de Albufeira
Related articles: Day trip to Sesimbra

The Sesimbra region boasts some of the finest beaches in Portugal. The town sits on a wide sandy bay, with the eastern side called the Praia da Califórnia and the western side from the castle to the fishing harbour the Praia do Ouro. This bay has unexpectedly calm waters, considering the huge waves at Costa da Caparica, and is due to the shelter that the Serra da Arrábida hills provide. This makes Sesimbra’s beaches ideal for families, and is why I brought my 6-year-old niece here for her holidays. The shelter also applies to the wind, and if the rest of the Lisbon coastline is blustery Sesimbra will be much calmer.

The Praia do Ouro beach on a quiet Tuesday in May; during the summer it will be much busier

To the east of Sesimbra are the Serra da Arrábida hills, and along this coastline are some of Portugal's most picturesque beaches. The region is known as the Portinho da Arrábida and offers crystal-clear waters, soft golden sands and the stunning backdrop of the Serra da Arrábida hills. Popular beaches of this region are the Praia do Creiro, the Praia de Galápos and the Praia da Figueirinha. The downside to these beaches is that they are extremely popular in the summer, and you need to get to the beaches before 10am to have any hope of finding parking. On my last visit in August I watched the police fine many illegally parked cars.

The Praia do Creiro is a stunning beach

To the northwest of Sesimbra is the Costa da Caparica coastline, a 13km-long sandy shoreline that faces the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. These beaches have the perfect conditions for surfing and kitesurfing, but they can be very blustery, so only visit on calm days. A personal favourite beach along this coastline is the Lagoa de Albufeira, a pristine lagoon separated from the sea by a huge sandbar. The sandbar shelters the lagoon from the winds and is a great spot for families.
Related articles: Lagoa de Albufeira - Sesimbra beach guide

The Lagoa de Albufeira

Kayaking at Sesimbra
Sesimbra is a go-to destination for adventurous activities within the Lisbon region, and kayaking is the most popular activity among tourists.

The wind and wave-sheltered coastline is the best area for sea-kayaking and offers unique coastal features, caves to paddle into, and difficult-to-reach beaches. Most trips depart from Sesimbra harbour, paddle around the sea wall and head to the Ribeiro do Cavalo beach and even as far as the Praia da Mijona.

Along the route there is the Boca do Tamboril, a cave with a hole in the top that illuminates the green, clear water. Other sights include the Pedra do Leão, a rock formation said (dubiously) to look like a lion, and the Caverna do Frade, the largest cave of the coastline.

It is possible to either join an organised tour (with transport from Lisbon) or rent a kayak and visit independently. I have done both and each has its advantages. The tour offers a knowledgeable guide and the safety that brings, but the pace will always be limited by the slowest paddler and tours can feel time restricted - having only so long at each location. Renting independently has more freedom and flexibility, but do heed any local advice before going.

For my first kayak trip I booked through GetYourGuide, and a selection of their best kayaking tours can be seen here.

Pulling our kayaks onot the Ribeiro do Cavalo beach

Coasteering at Sesimbra
The other popular adventure activity along the Sesimbra coastline is coasteering. This involves scrambling along the cliffs, jumping into the sea from heights of up to 8m and swimming between rocky outcrops. I've done it twice and it is great fun, except it is incredibly draining.

Only book if you are fit, enjoy heights, are a decent swimmer and have boundless amounts of energy. When booking, try to select a group with the fewest people, as in a big group there can be a lot of waiting around for people to make the same jump.
My two experience were with Vertente Natural and I booked it though GetYourGuide.

Scrambling over the sharp limestone cliffs down to the first 5-metre jump into the freezing water.

Paragliding
The third adventure activity of the Sesimbra region is paragliding, either over the southern part of the Costa da Caparica (from the Praia das Bicas) or over the Serra da Arrábida Hills and coastline. The actual departure will depend on wind direction and strength.
I have never done this, but I often see paragliders skimming the cliffs and being buffeted by the winds. For the right person this could be amazing (but not for me!). This activity can also be booked through GetYourGuide.

Sesimbra is renowned for its seafood, with regional specialities based around the fresh catch from the town's fishing fleet.

The most popular dish is Arroz de Marisco, a hearty fish stew containing shellfish, crabs and sticky rice, which is served in a large clay pot and designed to be shared. The best location to sample Sesimbra's fish is in the family-run "Marisqueira" restaurants, which are found down the back alleys of Sesimbra.

It is a joy to wander the streets around the Rua Joaquim Brandão and Rua Marques de Pombal in the early evening, smelling the cooking of fresh fish. My three favourite Marisqueiras are Marisqueira Modesto, O Rodinhas and Casa Mateus. If you prefer a more conventional restaurant setting overlooking the sea, the O Velho e o Mar is fantastic.

Our delicious meal at O Rodinhas. These were some of the first mussels my nephew ever tried, and they were honestly some of the finest I have ever eaten

The Cabo Espichel is the dramatic and windswept headland on the southwestern tip of the Setúbal Peninsula, and is a region of raw, natural beauty.

Perched at the top of the colossal cliffs is one of Portugal's most powerful lighthouses, while in the exposed cliff faces are two sets of dinosaur footprints. The bleak headland was once an important pilgrimage destination, and there is a unique church complex that includes an 18th-century accommodation building for pilgrims.
Insight: The Cabo Espichel is stunning at sunset, with the sun setting out over the Atlantic Ocean. There are excellent organised tours, which combine the sunset at Cabo Espichel with a romantic evening boat ride, and further details can be found here.
Related articles: The Cabo Espichel

The massive cliffs at the Cabo Espichel

The Parque Natural da Arrábida protects the Serra da Arrábida hills, that are situated between Sesimbra and Setubal. These limestone hills extend from the beaches of the Portinho da Arrábida up to Formosinho point (500m), while on the northern side, the fertile lands are renowned for the Muscat grapes used to create Muscatel wines.

Within the Serra da Arrábida are numerous enjoyable hiking trails and challenging cycling tracks that cross the steep hills. Contained within the hills is the spectacular driving route, the Estrada de Escarpa (the N339 road), which winds up the hills, crosses a ridge and provides outstanding views of the region.
Related articles: The Serra da Arrábida

High above Sesimbra is the Castelo de Sesimbra which was constructed by the Moors during the 8-11th century. The castle is surprisingly large and provides outstanding views of the region from the battlements. It is a demanding 20minute uphill walk to the castle from the town centre.
Related articles: Castelo de Sesimbra

It’s a steep walk up to the castle but the views are worth it

A car is always the best way to visit and explore Sesimbra but there are regular bus services covering the region and to Lisbon. The Lisbon to Sesimbra bus is operated by Carris Metropolitana (carrismetropolitana.pt) and the 3721 route departs from Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon. The bus takes 70 minutes to reach Sesimbra and a single is €4.50.
Related articles: Lisbon and the airport to Sesimbra

Foreign visitors are slowly discovering the allure of Sesimbra, and each year the town becomes more popular.

Sesimbra is loved by the Portuguese, who flock here during the August holidays and at sunny weekends. During the summer Sesimbra is at its most vibrant and hotels must be booked far in advance. Outside of the short peak season, Sesimbra has a relaxed and calmer ambience, and tends to attract tourists of a more mature age.

The weather is suitable for spending time on the beach from May until the end of September.

Our most popular guides to the Sesimbra region