Page 465 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

that’s great to stroll on
even when the weather’s TOP TIP:
nasty. THE SAGRES EAT
The Drive » Head back to the SCENE
main road and turn right onto A closely packed string of surfer-oriented places on
it. It’s about 10km from here to
Carrapateira. Rua Comandante Matoso offer a bit of everything,
whether it’s a coffee or a caipirinha you’re after: they
are cafes by day, restaurants serving international
7 Carrapateira favourites whatever time hunger drags you away
Surf-central Carra- from the beach, and lively bars by night. Further
down the same street, near the port, is a cluster of
pateira is a tranquil, more traditional Portuguese restaurants.
pretty, spread-out
village offering two
fabulous beaches with remote peninsula amid observe dolphins and
spectacular settings and picturesque seaside scen- seabirds. Mar Ilimitado
turquoise seas. Bordeira ery with a sculpted coast- (%916 832 625; www.marilimi-
is a mammoth swath of line and stern fortress tado.com; Porto da Baleeira) is PORTUGAL 33 ALENTEjO & ALGARVE BEACHES
sand merging into dunes (%282 620 140; http://www. a recommended operator.
2km from the north monumentosdoalgarve.pt/
side of town. Amado, pt/monumentos-do-algarve/ 54 p469
with even better surf, fortaleza-de-sagres; adult/ The Drive » Head back to Vila
is at the southern end. child €3/1.50; h9.30am- do Bispo and turn right onto the
The circuit of both from 8pm May-Sep, to 5.30pm N125 that will take you to Lagos,
Carrapateira (9km) is a Oct-Apr) giving access to a total drive of 34km. Promising
visually stunning hike a stunning clifftop walk. beach detours include Zavial
(or drive), with lookouts It also appeals for its ac- and Salema.
over the beaches and cess to fine beaches and
rocky coves and cliffs water-based activities; TRIP HIGHLIGHT
between them. In town, it’s especially popular
the Museu do Mar e da with surfers. Outside 9 Lagos
Terra (%282 970 000; Rua town, the striking cliffs Touristy, likeable Lagos
de Pescador; adult/child of Cabo de São Vicente lies on a riverbank,
€2.70/1.10; h10am-5pm (hlighthouse complex 10am- with 16th-century
Tue-Sat) is an intriguing 6pm Tue-Sun Apr-Sep, to 5pm walls enclosing the old
place to visit, with great Oct-Mar), the southwest- town’s pretty, cobbled
views. ernmost point of Europe, streets and picturesque
The Drive » The N268 barrels make for an enchanting plazas. A huge range of
restaurants and pumping
on right down to Portugal’s tip at visit, especially at sunset. nightlife add to the allure
Sagres (22km), via the regional Make sure you pop into
centre of Vila do Bispo. the small museum (adult/ provided by fabulous
beaches and numerous
child €1.50/1; h10am-6pm watery activities. Aside
TRIP HIGHLIGHT Tue-Sun Apr-Sep, to 5pm from the hedonism,
8 Sagres Oct-Mar) here, which has there’s plenty of history
interesting background
The small, elongated on the Algarve’s star- here: start by visiting the
village of Sagres, with a ring role in the Age of lovably higgledy-piggledy
rich nautical history, has Discoveries. From Sagres’ Museu Municipal (%282
an appealingly out-of- harbour, worthwhile 762 301; Rua General Alberto
the-way feel. It sits on a excursions head out to da Silveira; adult/concession
€3/1.50; h10am-12.30pm &

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