Aljezur is a municipality in southwestern Portugal in the Algarve. And it’s absolutely beautiful! These are the most beautiful places in Aljezur.
About Aljezur
Aljezur is a municipality in the northwest of the Portuguese Algarve. It is 323.50 km² in size and it has less than 6000 inhabitants. People have lived in this region for a long time, since 7000 BC. . As you might understand, Aljezur has a long history, which is reflected in the villages and various ruins along the coastline.
Why do you want to visit Aljezur? In this municipality, you’ll find several beautiful towns with typical Portuguese houses. It is a lot less touristy than the southern part of the Algarve and it’s easier to connect with the locals.
In addition, the coastline is a spectacular sight with all the high cliffs with many colors. There are also several beautiful beaches that are very suitable for surfers.
The most beautiful places in Aljezur
Would you like to visit Aljezur? These are the most beautiful sights in Aljezur.
Aljezur
Centrally located in the municipality Aljezur is the town Aljezur (yes, it’s the same name). You can easily spend a full day here. Aljezur consists of two parts: the old part and the new part. The old part consists of many narrow winding streets along a hill. On top of a hill, there is a castle ruin that you can visit (for free). It serves as a great viewpoint.
In the new part, you can visit the large cathedral from the eighteenth century and here you will see many houses with beautiful colored Portuguese tiles.
- Where to stay: Aljezur Old Town – charming holiday home with roof terrace in the old part of Aljezur.
- Where to eat: Cervejaria Mar – nice sea-themed restaurant.
Carrapateira
At the very south of the municipality is the village of Carrapateira. It is a bit hilly and full of white houses with bright colored edges. A beautiful place to explore. Go to the church for the best view of the mill and the coastline.
- Where to stay: Carrapateira Lodge – cozy guest house with shared kitchen and communal lounge area.
- Where to eat: Alecrim – great restaurant with delicious food. They also have various vegan options.
Praia da Bordeira
Praia da Bordeira (also known as Praia da Carrapateira) is the beach near Carrapateira and it is located a few kilometers outside the village. It is a very wide sandy beach and with high tide, there’s some sort of river behind the beach. A very interesting sight, which you can see from one of the many viewpoints on the cliffs. It is wonderful to discover them all, one viewpoint is even more beautiful than the other.
Tip Also check out Praia do Amado, a little more south. Here too you have beautiful cliffs and on one of the cliffs, you will find the remains of an Islamic settlement.
- Where to stay: Hortas do Rio – Casa de Campo – rooms in a beautiful restorated farm overlooking the pool and the countryside.
- Where to eat: Restaurante do Cabrita – located between Carrapateira and Praia da Bordeira. Typically Portuguese dishes with a cozy terrace. On the menu you’ll find mainly (fresh) fish dishes.
Praia da Arrifana
Praia da Arrifana is a beach west of Aljezur and one of the most famous beaches in the region. The black cliffs are very high and therefore it is a very photogenic landscape. At the very tip of the cliffs, there is a ruin of a fortress and this is one of the best viewpoints.
Praia da Arrifana is very popular with surfers and bodyboarders, you have surf schools everywhere here and you can rent a surfboard in many places.
- Where to stay: Arrifana Destination Boutique – nicely decorated hotel rooms with swimming pool.
- Where to eat: Tasca d’Arrifana – a cozy restaurant with many (local) fish specialties.
Praia de Monte Clérigo
As far as I’m concerned, Praia de Monte Clérigo is one of the most beautiful places in Aljezur. It is a picturesque village with brightly colored houses in a dune landscape. Next to it is a beautiful large sandy beach with many cacti. Very photogenic and a wonderful place to relax for an afternoon.
From here, walk or drive out of the road to the north. Along the coast, you have several boardwalks and wooden stairs to beautiful viewpoints and at the end, you can see the Ribeira de Aljezur flowing into the sea. A beautiful sight!
- Where to stay: You don’t have hotels, hostels, or guest houses in Praia de Monte Clérigo, but this is a good place to book a house or a villa (some of them have a private swimming pool). Lucas House, for example, is a beautiful house in the village overlooking the beach. A fantastic place to relax for a while.
- Where to eat: O Sargo – fusion restaurant with delicious food. From the terrace you have a beautiful view of the beach.
Odeceixe
In the far north of the municipality of Aljezur is the town of Odeceixe. This is also a photogenic place because the town (with the typical white houses) is located against a hill, which creates a beautiful effect. In the center you have several beautiful squares with terraces. At the top of the hill is an old mill from 1898 (renovated in 1998), which you can visit.
Odeceixe on the river Ribeira de Seixe and it is therefore recommended to take a look at Praia de Odeceixe, where the river and the sea flow into each other. Also a good place for surfing!
- Where to stay: Bohemian Antique Guesthouse – beautifully decorated B&B with private rooms and a dormitory.
- Where to eat: Chaparro – typical Portuguese restaurant with a cozy terrace.
Extra tip: hike the Fishermen’s Trail in Aljezur
Did you know that you can visit all these beautiful places in Aljezur during a hike? The Fishermen’s Trail is a long-distance trail of over 200 kilometers along the coast of Alentejo and the Algarve, passing right through Aljezur.
The Fishermen’s Trail between Odeceixe and Carrapateira consists of three different stages (each about 20 kilometers). It is highly recommended to discover this region on foot because in this way you’ll visit many places that you cannot reach by car. The view from the cliffs is breathtaking!
Curious? On this page, you can find my trail journals of the Fishermen’s Trail.
Book your trip to the Algarve
These were my tips for Aljezur. Would you like to make a trip to Aljezur and the Algarve? These websites are useful for booking your trip.
- For a vacation in the Algarve, it’s best to fly to Faro and continue your trip from there. Check Skyscanner to find the cheapest tickets.
- Prefer sustainable travel? Traveling by train is of course also possible! You can reach Portugal by train from everywhere in Europe. It might take a while, but it’s a great and relaxing way to travel. Check Rail Europe for timetables and prices.
- A rental car gives you complete freedom during a vacation in the Algarve. Check Discover Cars and Rental Cars to find the best deals.
- You can book a lot of fun tours in the Algarve. For example, jeep safaris, wine tastings, or boat trips. Check Get Your Guide for all possibilities and prices.
Read more about the Algarve and Portugal
Would you like to visit the Algarve? These travel guides are full of information:
I myself stay in the Algarve almost every winter and I have already discovered many beautiful places in this Portuguese region. That is why you can find a lot of information about a trip to Portugal on this website. For example, check out these articles:
- Silves, the oldest town in the Algarve
- 14 awesome things to do in Portimão
- 15 things to do in Tavira, Algarve
In addition, I regularly share fun travel stories and tips for the most beautiful destinations in my monthly newsletter. Subscribe here.
Hi, and how nice of you to read this disclaimer! As you may understand, maintaining a website like this is not free. That is why some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you use these links to book or buy anything, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Support this website.
Leave a reply