Today it is a very popular beach town in central Portugal, however back in the days Sesimbra was a hillside village. The first inhabited settlement was founded on the hill dominated by the Moorish castle, which today represents the best panoramic point of the city.
Sesimbra is not the typical Portuguese beach town; it is mostly a popular domestic destination. It is the perfect place for those looking for an authentic atmosphere far from the dynamics of mass tourism.
Behind Sesimbra there is the Arrábida National Park with its beautiful hills covered with a Mediterranean vegetation, cliffs and untouched beaches; from Sesimbra it is also easy to reach Capo Espichel, where there is a famous sanctuary and where dinosaurs footprints have been found.
Sesimbra is very close to Lisbon and it is a perfect destination for a day trip, although many tourists decide to stay here for a few nights and enjoy the several activities offered by this town, like excursions, walks, and water sports.
Whether you decide to stay for a night or for a week, do not miss the chance to taste the delicious local cuisine based on fresh fish and crustacean.
Sesimbra is located on a sandy bay boarded by high cliffs to the west and by a fishing port to the east; the municipal beach is split into two by a fort.
Near Sesimbra there are the beaches of the Arrábida Natural Park, which are considered among the most beautiful beaches of Portugal. The most famous one is Praia do Figueirinha, a long sandy shore kissed by calm and crystalline waters.
The best panoramic view to admire the city of Sesimbra and its bay is the castle perched on a 200 meters cliff.
The castle was built by the Moors and it was conquered in the 12th century by Alfonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, and later it was conquered again by the Moors. It was finally conquered again by the Christians by Dom Sancho I. The main attraction of the castle is its magnificent Igreja Santa Maria do Castelo, a small white church decorated with blue and white azulejos.
If you don’t want to go up to the castle you can still visit the Fortaleza de Santiago, located in the center of Sesimbra, which played the role of a defensive fort as well as the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family.
Many tourists come to Sesimbra to enjoy an active holiday in the Serra de Arrâbida, a protected mountain area which extends behind the town. It is one of the most suggestive green areas of Portugal and it is crossed by several hiking paths, suitable both for trekking and mountain bike lovers.
If you don’t feel like being too active, it is still possible to drive to the park and enjoy the beautiful view over the hills and the ocean.
Being a pretty famous tourist destination in Portugal, Sesimbra offers a wide choice of hotels and apartments, many of which are mid-range hotels. Almost all hotels have sea view rooms or indoor pool.
Besides the traditional hotels, you can choose to rent a room at a private house, country home, or a luxury resort or villa. Low cost travellers will find a couple of hostels and campings.
Despite it is not very far from Lisbon, it is not easy to reach Sesimbra by public transport. There is a direct bus, but rides are not very frequent.
For this reason if you choose to visit Sesimbra on a day trip it is necessary to rent a car; this is the best solution also if you choose to stay for a day or more.
What's the weather at Sesimbra? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Sesimbra for the next few days.
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