Sagres, Portugal is a must visit place that belongs on any Algarve travel itinerary. While there are many amazing things to do in Sagres, it's not a large town by any means. It's possible to visit Sagres on a day trip and see the important and main attractions.
Cape St. Vincent, a headland that's part of the Sagres region, sits at the farthest southwestern point of continental Europe. For this reason, Sagres is known as the "end of the world".
After visiting Cape St. Vincent, drive about 6km to the village of Sagres and another historic attraction with incredible views, Sagres Fortress. Sagres has many beautiful beaches and it's a very popular destination for surfing due to the high winds here.
Jump to:
- Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent)
- Things to Do in Sagres: Sagres Fortress
- Lunch at Laundry Lounge Sagres
- Coffee at Picnic Sagres
- Things to Do in Sagres: Ceramica Paraiso
- Beaches in Sagres, Portugal
- Tours in Sagres
- Getting There
- Where to Stay in the Algarve
- More Algarve Travel Guides
- Don't forget travel insurance!
Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent)
Our first stop of the day, and one of the best things to do in Sagres, was visit Cape St. Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente). It is the most southwestert point of Portugal and of mainland Europe.
For this reason, it's often referred to as the "end of the world". Before the ages of explorers, people living in Europe for thousands of years didn't realize that the world existed beyond this point.
From Cape St. Vincent, you can gaze far off towards the ocean and watch the deep blue sea extend uninterrupted to the horizon. While Justin and I started our day with a trip to Cape St. Vincent, it's also a brilliant place to watch the sunset.
There are steep, rugged cliffs all around. In fact, you'll be standing on top of these cliffs to admire the scenery. Not only is this a wonderful spots for the views, but it's also a great place to go birdwatching.
This is an environmentally protected area that's part of the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Nature Park.
There's an impressive lighthouse that stands at the edge of the cape. This modern lighthouse was built in 1846, though the original smaller lighthouse was built in 1520 (it was destroyed by an English sea captain).
You'll need to drive to this point. There's free parking for visitors. If you're hungry, there are a few little food trucks and stalls. Sadly, there aren't any vegan options, so we chose to eat in town instead.
Things to Do in Sagres: Sagres Fortress
We drove back towards the town of Sagres, stopping at the Sagres Fortress. This is another must visit attraction in the Algarve and one of the top things to do in Sagres.
This fort is positioned at the edge of the Sagres Peninsula and was designed to protect Portugal from North African invaders. Atop the tall rocky cliffs, this was already an amazing strategic position for a fortress.
There's a massive wall that stands to protect the mainland. Then, there's a vast open space right to the edge of the headland.
Many elements of the fortress were destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. The height of the tidal wave actually exceeded the height of the cliffs (higher than 60 meters!).
Set aside at least an hour to walk around the entire property, admiring the lighthouse, the chapel building, the scenery and the fort walls themselves.
There's a really intriguing structure in the middle of the property. This is an art installation called A voz do Mar, and it is a chamber of sound exhibit. There are curved walls that you'll walk inside, circling until you reach the center.
There's a hole in the land at the middle of the art installation that extends way down to the ocean below. You'll be able to listen and hear the sounds of the crashing waves resonating inside this open air chamber.
Lunch at Laundry Lounge Sagres
Laundry Lounge Sagres is a really interesting spot. At first glance, it looks like a place to relax and unwind while doing your laundry. Yes, it is an actual laundromat.
At the same time, this is a restaurant and bar that's open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks in the evening. Everything is homemade, fresh, and Laundry Lounge offers vegan-friendly dishes, too.
We started our meal with a platter of salsa, guac and chips. Then, I ordered a vegan pad Thai with a stunning presentation.
And if you're interested in doing some yoga in Sagres, they offer yoga classes every morning on the terrace. There's no need to book the classes in advance, simply show up for these drop-in classes.
Coffee at Picnic Sagres
Picnic Sagres is a cute coffee shop in the heart of Sagres. It's a calming and minimal environment, filled with leafy plants. It's my top pick for coffee shops in Sagres.
They offer delicious specialty coffee and espresso beverages, freshly baked sourdough bread, craft beer and natural wine. Please note that they are open from sunrise to 17h and remain closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Things to Do in Sagres: Ceramica Paraiso
On your way out of Sagres, stop at Ceramica Paraiso. It's located just outside of town as you head east on N125.
You really can't miss this bright yellow building covered in all sorts of ceramic dishes in a rainbow of colors. This is a large ceramics shop with traditional pottery and Portuguese ceramic pieces.
Please note that this shop only accepts cash. If you don't have cash, there is an ATM on site, but there's a pretty steep charge to use it. Definitely have cash on hand if you plan to shop here.
Beaches in Sagres, Portugal
Sagres has four main beaches located on both sides of the peninsula. There are two main coastlines in Sagres, one that faces the south and another that faces the west.
Since Sagres is a windy destination, especially at the edge of the headlands, these Atlantic Ocean waters tend to be more wavy. For that reason, Sagres is a very popular destination for surfers.
Here's where you can book surf lessons in Sagres, perfect for beginners or those looking for a refresher class and assistance.
Praia da Mareta
Praia da Mareta, or Mareta Beach, is the main beach of Sagres. It's the largest and most popular public beach in Sagres, facing the south coast. It's a short walk from the middle of the village, so it's easy to combine a trip to the town and a trip to the beach.
The reason why Mareta Beach is so popular is because it's mostly sheltered from the high winds of this region. The sea is relatively calm and the swimming conditions are ideal.
It's not far from restaurants and there are lifeguards here during the busier tourist season, which is perfect for families with children. If there's one beach that you visit in Sagres, it should be Praia da Mareta.
Praia do Tonel
Praia do Tonel, or Tonel Beach, is the most famous Sagres beach for surfing. This beach is surrounded by high, rugged cliffs and features a rock stack in the center of the bay.
Many surf schools head straight to Tonel Beach for the excellent surf conditions. The view in the above photo was taken from Sagres Fortress.
Tonel Beach has some protection from the high winds due to the tall cliffs all around. At the same time, it offers some more challenging and larger waves than the beaches on the south coast.
Praia da Martinhal
Praia da Martinhal, or Martinhal Beach, is a lesser frequented beach in Sagres, but that doesn't mean that it isn't wonderful to visit. This is a very peaceful and beautiful beach, located just east of Sagres.
There's always room at this spacious beach, even in the height of tourist season. The waters are shallow and calm, so it's great for families.
Plus, there's free parking, on-site facilities, and two nearby restaurants, making it easy to spend the day here. At the same time, it's also a great beach to try watersports like kayaking and snorkeling.
Praia do Beliche
Praia do Beliche, or Beliche Beach is located to the west of Sagres. It's a little bit outside of town, so you will need to drive from Sagres to Beliche Beach.
This is another beach that's really popular with surfers. It's surrounded by 40 meter high cliffs and there are continual waves that are ideal for surfing.
Prefer to sunbathe? There's plenty of room to relax on this quiet, pretty beach. There are strong tides and waves, so the water is best suited to confident swimmers.
Tours in Sagres
If you don't have access to a rental car, it might be best if you choose a tour that includes transportation. There are also some excellent guided tours or outdoor activities that are available as bookable tours.
Getting There
The closest airport is the Faro airport, though you can also fly to Lisbon and drive down to the Algarve.
Here's where you can find great prices on flights to Faro or great prices on flights to Lisbon.
Pick up your rental car in Faro or Lisbon at the airport. We always use Discover Cars to find the best prices on car rentals.
Where to Stay in the Algarve
When Justin and I traveled to the Algarve for a week, we stayed in an apartment in Lagos called Casa Aurora. We loved staying at this spacious accommodation and thought Lagos made for a great home base.
If you're looking to spend the night in Sagres or base yourself in Sagres for an Algarve trip, please use the handy map below to find your accommodation. Enter your travel dates for more accurate details. Click each property to learn more and book your stay.
More Algarve Travel Guides
We spent one amazing week in the Algarve. Here are our travel guides that will help you plan your trip:
Want more travel tips and inspiration? Follow me on Instagram! I share daily adventures, whether I'm at home in Ontario, Canada, or halfway across the world!
Don't forget travel insurance!
Heading out of the country? Don't forget to get travel insurance. It's best to be covered in case of an emergency, cancellation or accident.
Anthony says
Loved reading this. Thank you for actually going deep on this. Thanks for sharing!
Linda King says
Hello there! Awesome breakdown. I've been looking for something like this for a while. Looking forward to more posts like this.
Lisa Williams says
Haven't commented in ages but this deserves one. Fantastic post! Much appreciated.