Sines Guide
Sines
Sines, on the Atlantic coast south of Setúbal, is a fishing port and now resort with a history stretching back to Roman times. The Romans, as they did in many parts of Portugal, had a fish-salting industry in the area.
The town has a population of less than 20,000 people that increases in the summer months.
South of the city the coastline is part of the Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park and includes the smaller, more popular resort of Porto Covo.
Sines is also the birthplace of Portugal's most famous explorer, Vasco da Gama.
The town has a number of refineries and is also an important source of both wind and thermal power. The container port and industrial complex at Sines was largely built up in the 1970's under the premiership of Marcello Caetano during the Estado Novo period. The Sines Coal Power Plant is the largest thermal power plant in Portugal. The Sines Logistic and Industrial Zone (Zona Industrial e Logística de Sines; ZILS) also contains Portugal's largest refinery. The local city now encourages tours of the industrial facilities in the town.
Sines & Porto Covo Beaches
The main beaches near Sines are Praia de Pescadores, right in town and Praia da Costa Norte, Praia da Lagoa and Praia do Canto Mosqueiro, all to the north.
Porto Covo has better beaches such as Praia dos Buizinhos, Praia Pequena and Praia do Banho.
Praia do Salto between Cerro da Águia and Cerca Nova is an officially recognized nudist beach.
Sines Attractions
The main attractions in Sines include two small forts built to protect the town from pirates. These are the 15th century and later Manueline Castelo de Sines and the Revelim Fort which dates from the 17th century.
The castle was begun in the 14th century when Dom Pedro I raised the status of the settlement to a town and was completed in around 1480. Though damaged in the 1755 Earthquake, the walls and keep remain standing.
Sines has a few museums and cultural centers including the modern Arts Centre of Sines (Centro de Artes de Sines), designed by the architects Francisco and Manuel Aires Mateus and Vasco da Gama's birthplace inside Sines Castle, which relates the history of the town and its great hero of the Age of Discovery.
The Centro de Artes de Sines contains the town's main library, an art gallery, a 175-seater auditorium and the Historical Municipal Archives.
A statue of Vasco da Gama stands outside the castle where his father was the alcade-mor or governor of the town.
Churches in Sines include the Igreja Matriz where Vasco da Gama was baptized and the Capela da Nossa Senhora das Salas, near where he was born. Vasco da Gama's coat of arms can be seen on the church's façade, ordered placed there by the explorer. The interior includes exquisite tile panels and gilded woodwork along with a small treasure house containing jewels and other donations to the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Other places of interest include the Centro Cultural Emmerico Nunes housed in the former Hospital da Misericórdia, which stages exhibitions by local artists.
The Centro Histórico (Old Town) preserves much of the former heritage of the Sines. Places to seek out include Teófilo Braga Street, Tomás Ribeiro Square and Adega de Sines, a former winery, now a recommended restaurant.
Largo dos Penedos da Índia is another place of interest. It has one of the best panoramic views of the bay. Since 2015, an elevator connects to Avenida Vasco da Gama and Vasco da Gama Beach.
Sines also hosts the annual world music festival the FMM Sines in July. Acts from all over the world converge on the town during the festival.
Traditional festivals include the Carnaval de Sines, one of the largest and liveliest carnivals in Portugal, the Festa de Nossa Senhora da Salas on the 14th and the 15th of August and Festa de Nossa Senhora da Soledade on the 29th of August.
Sines Tourist Office
Sines Turismo is within the castle grounds.
Sines Tourist Information
Castelo de Sines / Museu de Sines
7520-152 Sines
Tel: 269 860 095
Getting to Sines
Train Travel in Portugal
The nearest train stations are Setubal Station and Grândola. Setubal Station has trains from Sete Rios, Entrecampos and Roma-Areeiro. From Setubal there are regular Rede Expressos buses to Sines (1 hour, 50 minutes).
Car Travel in Portugal
Sines is on the A26-1 south from Comporta. From Lisbon Airport the journey is 90 minutes to 2 hours by car on the A2 and IP8 highways.
Bus Travel in Portugal
There are buses from Sines to both Lisbon and Lagos.
From Sete Rios Bus Station the journey is 2 and a half hours. Journey time is about the same from Lagos. More local buses go to Santiago do Cacém (40 minutes).
There are also buses from Sines to Grândola. Journey time is 55 minutes.
Check www.rede-expressos.pt for the latest details on times and fares.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
There are a number of hotels, villas and guest houses in Sines with more accommodation options in Porto Covo.
Some recommended places to stay include the Hotel Veleiro, with views of the harbour, Hotel Dom Vasco with four stars, an outdoor pool, a garden and gym, and the budget Abimar Residencial near the bus station.
See here for a listing of hotels and apartments in Sines.
Book Hotel Accommodation in Sines
Hotels in Portugal - Booking.com
Hostels in Portugal - Booking.com
Eating
Sines has some fine eateries especially catering for seafood. Recommended are the historic, family-run Adega de Sines at Rua Gago Coutinho 40 for authentic Portuguese cuisine.
Also of note are Restaurante O Castelo, O Galo at Rua Marques de Pombal 103 and Cais da Estação at Av. Gen. Humberto Delgado 16.
Drinking
There are several local bars to choose from which all stay open late in season. Cervejaria Sacarrabos is recommended for its views, O Alentejano on Rua Cabo de Sines 7520-314 for its food and drink.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel/villa rental contact Advertising
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
Get more weather information for Portugal
Algarve Resorts
Other places to visit in the Algarve region of Portugal include Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Alvor, Cabanas, Cacela Velha, Faro, Ferragudo, Fuseta, Lagos, Loulé, Monchique, Olhão, Portimão, Praia da Rocha, Sagres, Silves, Vilamoura and Vila Real de Santo Antonio.
Map
