What to see in Aljezur ?

Aljezur is one of the rare towns on the Portuguese coast to have resisted mass tourism pressure. Wedged between the hills of the Costa Vicentina and the raw Atlantic, it lives to the rhythm of its morning surfers and farmers. The ruined Moorish castle that dominates the lower town sets the tone: here, history fades discreetly into the landscape without attempting to sell itself.

Spring (April-May) is the ideal window, before beaches like Praia da Arrifana become too crowded. Allow two to three days, a car essential as public transport is virtually non-existent in this protected zone. The classic pitfall: limiting yourself to the coast and ignoring the hinterland, where dirt roads lead to cultivated valleys that most visitors never see.