Free walking tours in Sesimbra and what to see

Must-sees

Sesimbra is a fishing village tucked into a bay in the south of the Setúbal peninsula, sheltered by the Arrábida hills. Its town beach, with calm water, sits next to the centre, and the Santiago fort looks straight onto the sand. The streets of the old town slope down to the sea, full of grilled fish restaurants.

Above it all stands Sesimbra Castle, of Moorish origin, with views over the bay and the Atlantic. A few kilometres away, Cabo Espichel, with its sanctuary and the cliffs where dinosaur footprints have been found, is a must. To the east the coves of the Arrábida begin.

Free tours and guided visits

There is no standard free walking tour in Sesimbra: the village is easy to explore on your own. What people book most are activities at sea, such as dolphin watching in the Arrábida natural park, kayak tours along the coast and sunset boat trips to Cabo Espichel.

There are also coasteering, private boats and 4x4 routes combining the Arrábida and Cabo Espichel. The protected waters of the area are good for diving.

How long to spend

One day lets you see the village, climb to the castle and visit Cabo Espichel. To enjoy the sea and a boat or kayak trip, two or three days are better. In summer and at weekends it fills with visitors from Lisbon, less than an hour away by car; on weekdays and out of season it is much quieter.

Where to stay

Staying by the beach and the centre lets you forget the car, although the streets are steep and parking in summer is hard. In the developments on the outskirts and on the road to Cabo Espichel there are apartments and hotels with more space and a pool. For nature and calm, the Arrábida hills have scattered country houses.