Sesimbra is a delightful coastal town situated on the southern side of the Setúbal Peninsula. With its beautiful sandy beach, fantastic seafood restaurants and close proximity to the picturesque scenery of the Serra da Arrábida hills, Sesimbra is a popular choice among holidaymakers.

Over my 25 years of visiting Sesimbra, I have travelled there from Lisbon in every conceivable way. For me, it comes down to two realistic options: the bus, or, if you are in a hurry and travelling as a group or family, one of the ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Bolt. Driving is the obvious, fastest and most convenient method, but I find the traffic in Lisbon draining and in the summer it can be difficult to find car parking in Sesimbra.

So, for a quick answer on the best way to travel to Sesimbra, I would choose the bus that departs from Sete Rios bus station for the hour-long journey. When I was travelling there with my brother and his young family for their holiday to Sesimbra, I booked us an Uber XL. It cost much more, but the convenience when travelling with children was worth it. I have also used Uber for day trips, and, though expensive, the return fare is less than a meal at Casa Mateus.

You may have seen beautiful images of the Serra da Arrábida coastline, known as the Portinho da Arrábida, but do know that parking there in summer is almost impossible. It is such a nightmare that I now refuse to drive, or even visit, in July and August.

I'm Philip, and I live in Graça (in Lisbon) with my Portuguese wife. We both adore Sesimbra, me for the activities and beaches, my wife for the family outings she enjoyed there growing up. We regularly head to Sesimbra, whether for the glorious beaches, a weekend away when Lisbon has got too busy for us, or even a special evening meal. This guide details all of our first-hand knowledge so you can travel to Sesimbra hassle-free.

The bus is my go-to option when travelling to Sesimbra. The service is regular, the journey is a similar length to driving, and it is inexpensive. In fact, the bus is what I choose for around 80% of my trips, with the option of taking an Uber back to Lisbon if I get tired or miss the last one.

The bus is operated by Carris Metropolitana, and the express service from Lisbon to Sesimbra is route 3721. The service is an express route (Linha Rápida) and takes 1 hour 10 minutes to travel the 40km between Lisbon and Sesimbra. 70 minutes does sound a long time, but driving from my flat in central Lisbon takes me around an hour at least (or 52 minutes traffic-free, which it never is).

A single ticket costs €4.65. There are no return tickets, and you buy your ticket on board. The tickets can be purchased in cash from the driver or paid for by card using the yellow validator. In practice, I always plan to pay with cash, or at least keep enough on me as a backup to the card. Card machines on buses always seem temperamental: no reception, cards declined for no reason (it is only a tap, with no keypad or slot to insert the card) or simply not working with foreign cards. Wherever you go in Portugal, always have cash with you.

There are hourly departures between 7am and 11pm, Monday to Friday, increasing to every 20 minutes during rush hour. At weekends and on public holidays, this drops to just nine services a day.

The latest timetable can be seen on the Carris Metropolitana website below, and I would encourage you to check it, if travelling at the weekend:
www.carrismetropolitana.pt/lines/3721

The 3721 route departs from Sete Rios bus station, but not from inside the main terminal; instead you catch it on the Avenida das Forças Armadas, the road beneath the IP7 expressway. Only intercity bus services (operated by Rede Expressos) depart from inside the terminal. This odd departure location confuses many visitors, and I often see people traipsing around the bus station with their beach gear, clearly not wanting an intercity coach.

The bus stop is here: maps.app.goo.gl/SA2WWfh9tAGE4iQD6 (link to google maps)

It doesn't help that the stop is on the opposite side from the metro, with no obvious path to it: you either walk around the entire complex or cut through the car park.

The bus stop for the Sesimbra services, is outside of the main terminal.

The route to Sesimbra crosses the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge, so if you can, get a seat on the left (the driver's side), as this gives the best views of Lisbon as you cross.

In Sesimbra, the bus terminates at the Terminal Rodoviário de Sesimbra (GPS: 38.445, -9.099). This is to the north of the town, on the Avenida da Liberdade, the main street that leads down to the beach. From the bus station it is a 5-minute downhill walk to the beach and town centre. Conveniently, next to the bus station is a My Auchan supermarket, where you can buy inexpensive water and beach snacks, so there is no need to lug them from Lisbon. On the walk down is the bustling Avenida café, a great spot for a coffee or drink before your day on the beach or sightseeing.

If you have booked an activity such as kayaking or coasteering, be aware that the departure points near the fishing harbour are a long way from the bus station. It is a 35-minute (2km) trek around the bay and past the fish-processing factory to where the activity companies are based, near the Terra do Peixe restaurant. For that final stretch I would book an Uber, or at least factor the walk into your plans.

The express bus to Lisbon waiting in Sesimbra bus station

Sesimbra’s activities
Most visitors come for the beaches and the seafood, but Sesimbra has quietly become Portugal's best base for adventure sports. This is where I take friends when they want more than a beach day: kayaking, coasteering and even paragliding. I've worked with GetYourGuide for the last eight years, and these are the activities I would recommend:

The links above are affiliate ones. If you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I really appreciate it, as it helps me keep this site free and running.

There is a secondary route to Sesimbra that goes via the town of Cacilhas. This may be of interest if you are based in the tourist areas of Lisbon (such as Cais do Sodré or Baixa), as reaching Cacilhas involves only a very short ferry ride. This removes the need to travel to Sete Rios bus station and swaps the tedious drive through the city for an enjoyable ferry ride.

The ferry departs from Cais do Sodré, with up to four crossings every hour, and the 10-minute trip costs just €2.00 (full ferry guide here). Cacilhas bus station is linked to the ferry terminal. The 3536 bus route connects Cacilhas to Sesimbra and takes 1 hour 15 minutes. As this is a Linha Longa ('longer') route, the fare is cheaper at €2.60. The 3536 timetable can be seen on the Carris Metropolitana website:
www.carrismetropolitana.pt/lines/3536

I wouldn't recommend this route for a beach day trip, but if you are sightseeing and want to see a bit more of Lisbon, the route via Cacilhas is an enjoyable alternative. Equally if you are planning to hire an Uber or Bolt (detailed in the next section) this short ferry ride and hiring the Uber from Cacilhas will save lots on the fare.

The ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas

If you have the budget, Uber and Bolt are a solid option for the journey to Sesimbra. It will cost significantly more than the bus, at around €25 for basic, €40 for XL (more than 4 passengers) and €32 for comfort. These are the quiet-time fares, so expect to pay 10-20% more during the day.

When travelling with my brother, his family and all of their luggage, Uber XL was the only way we considered. The hassle of getting to Sete Rios and catching a bus, with luggage and two young children, would have been extremely difficult. I've also caught an Uber back at the end of the day when tired and wanting the convenience of being dropped right at my flat.

The only issue with Uber/Bolt is that demand can be extremely high at certain times of day, particularly in Lisbon during the evening rush hour from 5pm to 7pm. Sesimbra has far fewer drivers, so it can be a long wait to connect to one, especially if you are out at one of the beaches and trying to return at the end of the day. For any return journey with Uber/Bolt, plan in a bit of flexibility in case there are no drivers around.

As mentioned above, taking an Uber or Bolt from Cacilhas will greatly reduce the fare, as the driver will not have to navigate through Lisbon. It also reduces the fare heading back into Lisbon, as the bridge toll will not have to be paid. On top of the savings, I like Cacilhas, and it's a great place for an evening meal after a day on the beach.

A car is invaluable if you are on a longer holiday and wish to explore the surrounding area, which I strongly encourage you to do. While there is good public transport between Sesimbra and Lisbon, the local bus network around the town itself is very limited. The sights around Sesimbra, such as the Cabo Espichel headland, the Serra da Arrábida hills and the Portinho da Arrábida coastline, can only be reached by car or by calling an Uber/Bolt.

Driving around Sesimbra is safe and hassle-free, as the roads are good and empty. Driving in Lisbon is the complete opposite, with busy roads, erratic drivers and no parking.

The route from Lisbon to Sesimbra is simple once you are out of the city, following good roads all the way. It leaves Lisbon southwards via the A2 expressway and crosses the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. This is a toll bridge, though you only pay when travelling northwards into Lisbon. After following the A2 for 10 km, the route turns onto the N378 national road, which leads directly to Sesimbra.

The streets of Sesimbra's old town are narrow, with a confusing one-way system and almost no parking. If you have a car, I suggest parking in the paid car park close to the bus station (called the Parque do Terminal) or on the gravel car park on the far side of the My Auchan supermarket (called the Parque do Estádio).

All parking in Sesimbra is paid, and the machines require oddly specific amounts. If you plan to park in the town, always have a handful of small change for the parking fees. The traffic wardens are also very quick to issue fines. I've seen one handed out at 5:50pm, when enforcement ended at 6pm.