Praia de Melides
A wide beach beside a beautiful lagoon. Atis Beach Bar is usually open in summer; the restaurants by the car park are not our first choice.
Don't miss
A first taste of the coast and countryside, without trying to tick every box.
Castle & old town
Walk through quiet streets to the castle for views over tiled roofs, hills and plains towards the sea.
Roman Miróbriga
Wander between the forum, bathhouses and ancient racecourse. Bring water; there is little shade.
Monte Velho
A beautiful, quiet beach and the closest one to Santiago. There are no facilities, so bring food, water and shade.
Badoca Safari Park
An easy family outing, especially with younger children. Check current shows and times.
Rota Vicentina
For a shorter taste of the Fishermen’s Trail, walk from Praia da Baía to Forte da Queimada and back.
Wear sturdy shoesPraia dos Buizinhos
A tiny beach between the rocks, often wonderfully sheltered when the wind comes from the north or west.
Kalux & the bay
Easy for swimming and popular with surfers. Kalux is both a beach bar and surf school.
Three good days
No strict schedule, just a natural rhythm.
01
Santiago & Rome
Coffee in town → Miróbriga → late lunch → castle in the soft evening light.
02
Slow Melides
Village and market → lagoon → beach → early dinner in Melides.
03
The wild coast
Porto Covo → cliff walk → fish lunch → São Torpes or Pessegueiro at sunset.
Our tables
From fish straight off the quay to an old hippie with an unforgettable pine-nut tart.
Altinho do Lobo
Two restaurants joined together in a tiny village. At weekends locals come for lamb stew and wild boar. One portion often feeds two.
A personal favouriteMercado à Mesa
Above the covered market, with a polished take on traditional Portuguese cooking.
Giz a Praia
Close to the beach and good for lunch or dinner, with friendly service and a pleasant terrace.
O Bejinha
Choose your fish, squid or prawns at the counter and they go straight onto the barbecue.
Do not missMercearia 27
Small, atmospheric and refined. On Thursdays the tables make way for live fado around 10pm.
O Melidense
Carlos hosts this charming time-capsule restaurant. Order the pine-nut tart whenever it is available.
O Fadista
Often full at lunch and dinner. Plenty of fish specials and a warm Portuguese atmosphere.
Tosca
A lovely courtyard and excellent pizzas. There is also a takeaway hatch on the square.
Ti Lena
A polished restaurant with an extensive wine list and the feel of a South African wine estate.
Abranda
A lovely wine bar on the village square. Usually open Friday to Sunday; check before travelling.
Yabalulu
Ottolenghi-inspired plates, fresh juices and good coffee near a beautiful beach.
Sal & Sublime
Both sit beautifully at Praia do Carvalhal. Sublime is polished and expensive; Sal is friendlier on the wallet.
Eat like a local
Markets, bakeries and useful places that make a holiday day easier.
Pastelarias
Princesa by the market and Serra by the town hall are our Santiago picks.
Fresh & nearby
Mercado for fish, Talhos do Albano for meat and A Quinta do Horácio for farm produce.
Supermarkets
Lidl Santo André is large and has a market beside it on Thursdays. Continente and Aldi are reliable.
Feet in the sand
Lagoa ó Mar is the nearby beach bar where you truly sit in the sand, beside the lagoon.
Comporta day
Try Sublime Resort, Quinta da Comporta or Comporta Café by the sea.
More beach
In summer, Bar Beach Alentejana opens at Aberta Nova. Comporta and Carvalhal offer pricier beach clubs.
Good to know
Easy does it.
Best time to visitAll year. Winters are mild and the fresh Atlantic keeps summers pleasantly warm rather than oppressively hot.
Never too busyThe area rarely feels crowded. There is no need to set off early just to find somewhere to park.
A car helpsThe loveliest places are spread out and public transport is limited.
Atlantic breezeBring a light layer even on warm days, especially for evenings by the sea.
Short walkSalgueiral da Galiza is a half-hour boardwalk through wetlands beside the lagoon.
Opening timesHours change with the season. Check restaurants and beach bars before you leave.