Many Portuguese and, of course, Lisboners, choose the Algarve to spend their big summer vacations, but perhaps few know that between the capital and the Portuguese Riviera lies a beautiful Alentejo Coast that deserves to be explored more… and on it a “balcony” where you can admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in the country.
We love Lisbon’s beaches, from Linha to Costa da Caparica , as well as some of the more “secret” beaches in the surrounding area, but when it comes to summer vacations, it’s to one of these two areas of the country that we go: Costa Algarvia or Costa Vicentina, and this year it’s to this second option that we’re pointing our GPS.
The Alentejo Coast
To travel to the Alentejo coast is to embark on an adventure to the roots of our country, where everything remains untouched and the wild landscapes satisfy all our senses.
Here you can still taste authentic flavors and travel along little-known paths. Here, you have a thousand and one beaches to discover. And it’s here that you’ll have the best vacation of your life, whether as a family or as a couple.
We could write many more lines about the Alentejo Coast, which we love so much, but that would be spoiling your experience. So we’ll just leave you with a short guide that can serve as a starting point for your adventure in the summer months ahead.
The journey down from Lisbon to our destinations takes around two hours. Yes, it does! It’s that quick and that close to get to this “paradise”.
The “balcony” for the best sunset in Portugal
Every time we go on vacation or on a getaway to the Alentejo, we usually go straight to the beach before checking in at the rural accommodation where we’re staying, so as not to waste too much time and make the most of the beach day.
This time, our choice was Praia de Almograve, one of the best-kept spots on the Costa Vicentina, where you’ll find a bar with the best view of the Alentejo sunset. And it’s not far from the truth! We loved it!
The beach is quite long, with room for everyone, the sand is clean and white and the sea – on that still cold day – is quite calm, with some areas along the hillside that are sure to delight the little ones, thanks to the small natural pools that form on the rocks.
On the way down to the beach we found the place that everyone talks about, Bar da Praia, the one with two “balconies” facing directly onto the beach and the sea, and which, at the end of the day, offers a sunset like we’ve never seen before.
And if you’re there at the weekend, from 5pm onwards there’s always a small gathering of friends with a DJ in the mix, making this moment even more enjoyable and unique.
We took the opportunity to snack on something from the extensive list of delicacies: we chose a Tosta Alentejana (€10), a Hambúrguer da Praia (€12) and a Brushetta de Queijo, Noz & Mel (€9.50), with juices and beer to accompany. We also “dated” the cocktails, which looked delicious and original, but that’s for a future visit.
Which wasn’t long in coming, since, after the beach, we stopped by a second time for the Sunset Party that usually takes place on Saturdays and Sundays. And yes, the sunset from these balconies is simply magical.
Dinner at an Alentejo estate
Gone are the days when people were reluctant to dine in rural Alentejo lodgings when they weren’t staying there.
Nowadays, the Alentejo offers a wide variety of estates with accommodation as well as restaurant space, which can be frequented by all tourists and visitors.
Our choice for dinner fell precisely on one of these idyllic places, which are increasingly winning over more and more people when it comes to choosing a pleasant and peaceful place to enjoy the last meal of the day.
We booked a table at Herdade do Touril, a rural retreat full of charm where the authenticity of the Alentejo can be felt in every detail.
We arrived a little early, to have a glass of wine by the firepit (the Alentejo can be a bit chilly at dusk), and then went into the small but friendly and comfortable dining room of this rural accommodation, where we were served a meal full of the flavors of this very typical area.
How good it felt, after an intense day of beach and fun, to indulge in so many delicacies , including Veal Carpaccio (€15.50), Goldfish Fillets (€22.50) and Black Pork Cheeks (€19) , a trio that combines the flavors of the Alentejo land and sea. Simply divine, and very well accompanied by one of our favorite Alentejo wines, Vicentino, so characteristic of this Atlantic coast. And yes, of course we tried the also typical medronho (ask if it has “the special”).
The quietest nights in Alentejo
It’s not the first time we’ve spent the night on vacation in the Alentejo, but with every experience we’ve had in these lands, the nights always seem more relaxing and peaceful.
By now, you’ll know that the Alentejo is one of the most serene and peaceful areas of the country for an invigorating night’s sleep. But before bedtime, the starry sky is an excuse to stay outside for a few more minutes, enjoying the cosmos and listening to the relaxing “silence” of the night.
We’ve slept in many places in the Alentejo , but Monte do Papa Léguas, which we chose because it’s a cozy and affordable rural accommodation, may well be one of our three favorites.
We stayed in one of the three small but quaint rooms that used to be the stables of this Alentejo estate, now transformed into a nice one-bedroom apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and terrace, perfect for a small family vacation, overlooking the countryside and with the right to wake up to the sound of birds, already thinking about a dip in the pool after a full and typical Alentejo breakfast.
What to do in these parts?
In addition to everything we’ve already mentioned, from the beaches you have to discover to the gastronomic and accommodation experiences, this part of our country is a whole map of entertainment for all tastes.
Just over a kilometer from Monte do Papa Léguas (which offers free bicycles) is the well-known village of Zambujeira do Mar, famous for its beach and also for the relaxed atmosphere in its narrow, picturesque streets, perfect for strolling around in the evening, before sitting down on one of the terraces to have a drink and try some of the area’s characteristic snacks, such as Percebes, Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato, Feijoada de Búzios or the shareable Tibornas Alentejanas.
On the south side of the town , you can also take a look at Praia dos Alteirinhos, with its many nooks and crannies when the tide is low; the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar, with its breathtaking view of the ocean; and, of course, the many trails of the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park, which offers breathtaking scenery.
The Alentejo coast is one of our favorite destinations for summer vacations, but it’s also often our first choice for a weekend break during the winter, when we really need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
And the fact that it’ s so close to Lisbon makes our decision even easier, as in a couple of hours you ‘ll be out of the hustle and bustle of the capital and into the heart of tranquillity.
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