Arrábida: paradisiac nature, hidden beaches & Portugal's best sunset

There is a place in Portugal that the locals keep jealously to themselves: the Arrábida area. Only a few kilometres away south of Lisbon, at the Setúbal peninsula, this virgin area offers authentic Portuguese food, ancient castles and forts, white sand beaches and lots, lots of nature. To top it all, there is a very special sanctuary there, from where I have witnessed the most beautiful sundown of my life. I can tell you: there is no way you can resist the Arrábida experience, with its paradisiac nature, hidden beaches, and the best sunset of Portugal!

Natural Park of Arrábida

Driving the N379 road around this park is one of the most amazing experiences you can have. It feels like being in a movie. The turquoise ocean on one side, mountains with dense forests on the other. Look out, you may miss the beaches’ entries if you do not pay attention. There is one, Pilotos Beach, that is not even signalised: I just happened to be walking, found some stairs and followed them. I had to jump over some rocks, and there it was. It disappears when the tide is high, so be careful not to get trapped there! 

Many beaches of this coast do not have easy access: you have to walk snaking earth paths to reach them. However, the result is really worth it: quiet beaches to enjoy nature, white sand, clear waters to dive if you are into it. It is a dream! 

Sesimbra

Sesimbra is the place to have really good food for a really good price. It is a charming little city, with high quality sea food, very lively bars and a couple of beautiful spots to visit. A walk around the Fishers’ neighbourhood is highly recommended. Do not miss the Santiago Fort, which towers over the ocean if you like fortresses. The castle is quite nice as well, a very early construction from the Moorish (8th to 9th century). It is on the top of a hill and, as you can imagine, walking the steep uphill is quite demanding, but the view from the top highly rewards it. 

Espichel Cape

Last but not least, my favourite spot: Espichel Cape. I was not expecting this scenario. When you walk up there, the view is breathtaking, and you understand why it is so enticing for the pilgrims to visit this sanctuary. The wild landscape, with the hills that come up dramatically from the ocean, the stunning beauty of the surrounding nature - it all appeals directly to the visitor’s soul. Most of the buildings you can see there were built in the 18th century, but the sacred spot is three centuries older. 

According to the legend, in 1410, a giant Virgin Mary was seen walking up the hill straight from the ocean, riding an accordingly huge mule. Funny enough, at the same spot, two sets of dinosaurs’ footprints have been discovered. The sets are very near each other, but they were made 50 million years apart. 

One of them, Pedra da Mua, is directly below the Memory Chapel, built at the place where our Lady would have been seen. It has a very unique architecture, looking almost like Moorish instead of Christian, erected right at the edge of the cliff, on its own, giving a sense of dignified greatness. I strongly advise visiting during the golden hour and staying there for the sunset. It is a spectacle that should not be missed, the last rays of the dying sun lighting the sanctuary. 

Not far away, a pretty lighthouse sheds its guiding light on the ocean. It looks like a neat cottage, all white and bright red. Also worth a visit!

And the best of all: you can find all this only 40 km away from Lisbon! So, discover the Arrábida experience, with its paradisiac nature, hidden beaches, and Portugal's best sunset.