We spent some days in Sesimbra, which is a small town 45 minutes with car south of Lisbon. The town has a long beach. There are mostly Portuguese tourists here, a typical destination for couples and families, as well as those seeking to experience nature. It is a fairly quiet town. not exactly a party place. People come here for the fresh and delicious fish as well as the beautiful beaches and water sports. Sesimbra is also known to be one of the best places for diving from the Portuguese mainland. We went scuba diving with Anthia diving center, a very professional and accommodating diving company with experienced diving instructors.

The surrounding areas have many beautiful landscapes. The best way to access and experience these amazing areas is by car. We rented one in Sesimbra and drove along the coast towards Setubal. We had a pit stop at Cape Espichel which has impressive views of cliff formations. But the most breathtaking sights was the Parque Natural da Arrabida, a collection of spectacular landscapes and beaches.

This natural park lies between Sesimbra and Setubal. Driving through this area was incredible, especially as the road climbs the ridge and gives you a picturesque view from the top, pristine beaches on one side and you can see all the way to Lisbon on the other.

Porthinho is a beach worth visiting, people drive all the way from Lisboa to spend the day here. It is secluded, beautiful with its crystal clear waters and possibilities for water activities like kayaking and scuba diving.

We enjoyed our visit to Sesimbra, but it’s a good idea to have activities planned for the stay. For us three days in Sesimbra was more than enough. I would say it was the surrounding areas and not the town itself that made our Sesimbra trip interesting.