Sesimbra Guide
Portugal City Travel Guide: Sesimbra
Sesimbra is located in the district of Setúbal about 30 km west of the town of Setúbal itself. It is on the western edge of the beautiful Parque Natural da Arrábida and also an easy drive from the Troia Peninsula.
The southern edge of the Costa da Caparica is to the north and the wild and remote Cabo Espichel and its Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo is to the west.
Also nearby is the pleasant wine-producing town of Azeitão - known for its white wines and runny cheese, best enjoyed together.
Sesimbra itself was an important port during the Portuguese Age of Discovery and King Manuel I is thought to have lived here for a time.
Still a working fishing port, the town is now more a resort and is particularly popular with Lisboetas, some of whom maintain second homes here. The beach is fine for swimming and Sesimbra is known for its many excellent restaurants, especially, but not exclusively, seafood eateries.
The fishing port is in Porto de Abrigo along the beach to the west. From the port as well as fishing vessels, various tour boats set sail including a traditional sailing boat. There are dolphin-viewing tours and trips out to Cabo Espichel on offer in the summer.
Attractions
The Fortaleza de Santiago in Sesimbra was built for coastal defence by Manuel I in the 16th century. It was then used as a holiday home by Portuguese monarchs from the 18th century.
Nowadays it houses the Museu Marítimo de Sesimbra with exhibits on the history of the sea, fishing and the fishing community in the area. These include explanatory wall panels, short movies, actual boats, fishing gear and photographs.
The fort we see today was constructed between 1642 and 1648 over an existing Manueline fort from the preceding century.
The present-day fort is largely the work of João de Cosmander, a Dutch Jesuit military engineer who found employment in Portugal. Cosmander also improved the fortifications at Belver Castle, the Castelo de Campo Maior in Campo Maior and those at Elvas Castle (Castelo de Elvas).
Sesimbra Castle (Castelo de Sesimbra) was built over a previous Moorish fort dating back to the 9th century. Unfortunately the castle was severely damaged in the 1755 earthquake and largely abandoned. The grounds include two exhibition spaces, the church and disused cemetery and a cafe.
11 km west of Sesimbra, the remote Cabo Espichel featured in Wim Wenders' movie A Lisbon Story (1994). The wild and windswept cliffs drop almost vertically into the ocean and are often covered in mist. Also near the cape is the pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora do Cabo. Infrequent buses run out here from Sesimbra.
The town's two beaches are Praia da Califórnia and Praia do Ouro on either side of the Fortaleza de Santiago.
Tourist Office
Rua da Fortaleza
2970-734 Sesimbra
Tel: 21 228 8500
Access - Getting to Sesimbra
From Lisbon there are TST buses from Sete Rios bus station and Alcântara (207 bus) and also from south of the Tagus in Cacilhas to Sesimbra (203 bus). on summer weekends it may be quicker to take the ferry across the River Tagus to Cacilhas to avoid the queues on the Ponte 25 de Abril.
The town also has buses to Setubal, Lagoa de Albufeira, Aldeia do Meco, and Cabo Espichel.
The bus station in Sesimbra is on Avenida de Liberdade.
Accommodation
Some recommended hotels and other places to stay in Sesimbra include the Four Points by Sheraton Sesimbra with outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and bar.
The Sesimbra Hotel & Spa boasts luxurious rooms with sea views, spa and outdoor swimming pool.
Also at the higher end of the market is the SANA Sesimbra Hotel a 4-star hotel with rooftop hot tub and an outdoor covered swimming pool.
More budget options are the Casa da Praça, Lá em Cima and Vila Canto do Lua, located a few kilometers north of town.
See here for a full listing of accommodation in Sesimbra.
Entertainment - Eat & Drink
There are some great seafood restaurants in Sesimbra but there are also other options too. Try O Zagaia at Rua Dr. Peixoto Correia 33 for great Portuguese cuisine, O Formiga at Rua da Cruz 11 or O Rodinhas at Rua Marques de Pombal 25.
Salmonete (red mullet) is a local specialty.
Aloha Cafe on Avenida 25 de Abril has a vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic menu.
Sesimbra Map
