This tiny fishing village is regarded as one of the most stunning in all of Portugal, and it’s only 45 minutes from Lisbon! Laying on the coastline of the Arrábida National Park it’s a beautiful and isolated experience.
Where is Portinho da Arrabida?
Portinho da Arrábida is on the coast of the Serra da Arrábida, in the Arrábida National Park. It is approximately 40km south of Lisbon, or 13 km west from Setúbal and 21 km east from Sesimbra. It lies within a small bay on the Atlantic Ocean.
How to Get to Portinho da Arrabida?
This part of Portugal is difficult to explore by public transport, so the only way to really experience this stunning coastline is with your own vehicle or with a tour. This isolation is part of the magic and by all accounts has kept mass tourism away.
If you’re driving the only access road is Rua do Portinho da Arrábida, there is no through road. The roads around the area are beautiful too and offer multiple stopping points and miradouros like Miradouro do Portinho da Arrábida. So if you’re driving, plan to allow time for stops.
What is Portinho da Arrabida like?
Stunning, breathtaking, awesome, its very hard to describe just how beautiful this tiny village and stretch of coastline really is. There are no major roads, no major hotels, no hum of a city or town here. The backdrop of the Serra da Arrábida leads directly to the ocean and several sandy beaches.
Praia do Portinho da Arrábida
Its biggest beach Praia do Portinho da Arrábida offers soft white sand that leads you into crystal clear water. This part of Portugal offer gets compared to the Caribbean or Tropics and from just the views its easy to see why! However, the cool Atlantic waters will definitely chill you! During the summer, the sea temperature peaks around 19-20 °C, during the winter they can drop as low as 14-16 °C.
Forte de Santa Maria da Arrábida
The small bay and harbour was protected by a fortress that was originally built in the 17th century. Today it houses the Museu Oceanográfico. A small but fascinating museum with exhibits on the surrounding coastline!
Activities in Portinho da Arrábida
If you’re looking for more than one of the most stunning beaches in Portugal, then the top activities on this part of the coast are Kayaking, Snorkelling, Diving, and Coasteering. It’s also a popular area to watch dolphins in their natural habitat. Although to experience that, you’ll need to head to Setubal or Sesimbra. Here’s the top activities!
- Dolphin Watching from Sesimbra (€45)
- Setúbal: Dolphin-Watching Boat Tour (€37)
- Lisbon: Coasteering Adventure Sesimbra/Arrábida Natural Park (€65)
- From Lisbon: Arrabida Park Small Group Kayak Tour
Where to Stay in Portinho da Arrábida?
The village itself has only one guesthouse, Casa da Adôa. It’s a cosy Bed & Breakfast with 8 bedrooms, with several facing the ocean, and several rear facing rooms with views into the mountainside. For other accommodation options, you’ll need to head inland, or along the coastline east to Setubal, or west to Sesimbra.
Will you be Visiting Portinho da Arrabida?
Nearby:
Miradouro do Portinho da Arrábida
Lapa de Santa Margarida
