Odeceixe is a small village on the Seixe River in the west Algarve. That same river forms the natural border between the Algarve and the Alentejo region. The village falls on the Algarve side of the border, and is a typically charming Algarve village with whitewashed houses and terracotta rooftops.
Where is Odeceixe?
Odeceixe is one the western coast of Portugal in the Algarve. If you’re travelling along the coast from the north, Odeceixe is the first Algarvean village you’ll come across as you head into the Algarve. Likewise, if you’re travelling from the south, it’s the last. If you’re coming along the main route N120, you’ll almost skip the village if you’re not careful, and Odeceixe’s famous beach is actually 3km towards the coast.
What’s the difference between Odeceixe, Praia de Odeceixe Mar, and Praia de Odeceixe?
Confusingly, the names of the three distinct places are very, very similar, but they do refer to 3 different places located a very short distance from each other.
Odeceixe – The small town of Odeceixe is much bigger than the seaside village and is located 3km inland along the river. Odeceixe has a wider variety of restaurants, hotels and services.
Praia de Odeceixe is the incredible beach.
Praia de Odeceixe Mar refers specifically to the Atlantic ocean facing beach.
This guide is about the village, if you’re looking for specific information on the beach, read our related beach guide to Praia de Odeceixe.
What to See and Do in Odeceixe?
Odeceixe’s quiet streets are filled with the typical charm of a village largely free of mass tourism. You’ll be able to wonder it’s cobbled streets at you own pace, and you’ll rarely see many other visitors.
Moinho de Odeceixe – A Local Windmill
Coming from either direction, at the top of the large hill is a traditional Algarve windmill – moinho in Portuguese. This is a fantastic example of a restored moinho and it adds a suitably charming and rural scene to this slow paced village. The windmill actually dates to 1898 so it’s over 120 years old.
Igreja Matriz de Odeceixe
Officially named Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Piedade (“Church of Our Lady of Pity”), Odeceixe’s parish church was initially constructed between the early 14th and late 15th centuries. It underwent significant alterations and restoration in 1527 and acquired its present form in the early 1600s. The church features a modest façade, but inside, it houses Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) altarpieces from the mid-1500s, a silver crown dating back to 1564, and a silver monstrance from the late 17th century.
Praia de Odeceixe – Odeceixe’s Stunning Beach
In 2012, Praia de Odeceixe was voted as one of Portugal’s Seven Natural wonders, which really gives you a sense of just how stunning this beach is. In fact, most visitors to Odeceixe are here for the incredible beach!
Praia de Odeceixe is a roughly horse shoe shaped beach that is wrapped by the Seixe river. Situated between the river, and the steep valley means that often this beach is sheltered from the Atlantic winds. You’ll find people on both sides of the beach, those facing the river, and the typical ocean facing portion. It’s an incredible beach and it is easy to see why it is considered one of Portugal’s natural wonders.
Read the full guide to Praia de Odeceixe to get to know the beach!
Hiking around Odeceixe – Rota Vicentina Trails and Odeceixe Circular Routes
For hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, you’ll find several incredible hiking routes through Odeceixe and its coastline. The most famous is the Fisherman’s trail of the Rota Vicentina. The Fishermans trail runs almost entirely alongside the coast, and it has a total length of 226,5km and 13 stages. It officially starts in Sines, in the Alentejo and follows the full length of the coast to Lagos in the Algarve.
The section near to Odeceixe heads along the Seixe River, through the village of Odeceixe and back towards the beach. The Rota Vicentina is regarded as one of the best hikes in Portugal, and even if you’re not committed to walking the whole thing, just small sections are well worth it.
Odeceixe Circular Routes
Alternatively, there are two circular routes the number 14 – Odeceixe to the Sea route and the number 15 – Odeceixe to the River route. Both routes are around 15km (9 miles) in length and both take around 4 hours to complete.
How to Get to Odeceixe?
Odeceixe is a little off the usual tourist route in the Algarve, and for people relying on public transport can be a bit difficult to get to. The Vamus bus 79 runs infrequently from Lagos to Odeceixe, operating only on weekdays and taking approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes.
By car, the journey is under 1 hour from Lagos, around 1 hour from Sagres, and 2 hours and 35 minutes from Lisbon. Odeceixe is a popular stopping point for people taking the coastal route between Lisbon and the Algarve. Alternatively, you can take an express bus from Lisbon to the center of Odeceixe, but if you want to visit the beach you’ll need to find onward transport, or be prepared to walk the 3km along the river.
Should you Visit Odeceixe?
The west Algarve is often recommended for outdoor enthusiasts and nature seekers and Odeceixe is a perfect example of why. With some of the best hiking trails, and one of the best beaches in Portugal, it is well worth visiting.
