Sesimbra is a fishing town on the south side of the Arrábida hills, about 40 minutes from Charneca. It sits in a sheltered south-facing bay, which makes its water warmer and calmer than the Atlantic beaches near us.
The town and the bay
A seafront of seafood restaurants and a long town beach, backed by steep streets. Above it, a Moorish castle on the ridge with a wide view; on the water, the small fishing harbour, still landing catch. Boat trips run west along the coast to Ribeira do Cavalo, a cove reachable otherwise only by a rough scramble.
Cabo Espichel
Fifteen minutes on, the cape at the far end of the Arrábida is a windswept plateau with a pilgrimage church, a lighthouse, and — on the exposed rock — dinosaur footprints.
Good to know
- About 40 minutes by car from our apartment, over the hills
- The bay faces south and is calm — better for swimming with children than the Caparica surf
- Sesimbra is known for its swordfish and its fish stew
- Parking in the centre is hard in summer — come early