Free walking tours in Figueira da Foz and what to see

Must-sees

Figueira da Foz is a beach town at the mouth of the Mondego, known for its huge Claridade beach, so wide that from the promenade you have to walk a good while to reach the water. The promenade, with the Santa Catarina fort at one end, is the centre of life in summer.

In town, the Sotto Mayor palace, an early 20th-century mansion, and the casino, one of the oldest in the country, are worth a look. To the north, the Buarcos quarter keeps its fishing-village air and remains of walls, and the road climbs into the Serra da Boa Viagem, with viewpoints over the Atlantic. South of the river, the Cova-Gala beaches are quieter.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Figueira da Foz: it is a town for strolling on your own by the sea. What is offered from here are day trips, such as the tour of the schist villages in the Lousã hills, with dark stone houses in the middle of the mountains.

The town is about forty minutes from Coimbra, where there are free walking tours and guided visits of the university, and close to the Roman ruins of Conímbriga. On the coast, surfing and bodyboarding are the most popular activities.

How long to spend

Figueira is a beach destination: many travellers stay several days or a week in summer. To get to know it, one day is enough for the promenade, Buarcos and the Serra da Boa Viagem. If you stay here, you can take day trips to Coimbra, Aveiro or the Buçaco forest.

Where to stay

The centre, by the promenade and the casino, is the most convenient: beach, restaurants and nightlife in summer. Buarcos, to the north, is quieter and has seafront places to stay with a village feel. Across the river, Cova-Gala and the south side offer apartments and hotels with less crowded beaches, better with a car.