Portinho da Arrábida & Galapa Beaches

A sleepy village with tranquil swimming spots.

Nestled in the Arrábida mountains, a village has developed below a former barefoot friar monastery. Today, it boasts a few restaurants, a small oceanic museum in the old fort, and two lovely beach sections. Although not overcrowded, they can seem that way because of their small size. Many tourists skip this spot since it's only accessible by car. The few residents are relaxed, the sea is calm, and the scenery is fantastic. You can also explore the cave. There is direct access to the village beach and Praia do Creiro, the latter of which you can reach without detouring into the village. On the way, you’ll pass one of the many ancient Garum production sites, the soy sauce of ancient Rome.

If you drive a bit further along the coastal road towards Setúbal, you'll recognize more beach sections typically marked by inappropriately parked cars in places where no one would usually park. You can reach Praia dos Coelhos after about ten minutes of ”roughly in this direction” through the underbrush. A bit easier to find are the Galapa beaches, which are officially among the most beautiful around — and occasionally you might even see pigs swimming, much like in the Caribbean. These beaches also offer infrastructure: a beach bar, showers, and toilets.