For a taste of the real west Algarve, come to Sagres Portugal

Guide to Sagres Portugal You’ll find Sagres a complete contrast to the coastal towns and resorts further east, and is far less commercialised with fewer hotels, restaurants and tourist amenities. Sagres is a stark town, which is remote, rugged and windswept. It is surrounded by scrubby countryside, dramatic cliffs and wild beaches. It is by no means an attractive town, but it is not short of a devoted set of fans who return here year after year.

Wind rose compass at Sagres Fort

Who goes to Sagres? Very popular with backpackers and independent travellers and those who hanker for the real Algarve, away from the commercialism of other resorts where the force of nature meets the tourist. It is fair to say that it does have a devoted following. Beaches around Sagres Portugal The beaches around Sagres are some of the most unspoilt beaches in the Algarve, and as an added benefit are generally uncrowded. The main beaches in the area are: Martela is a sheltered beach by the Sagres headland. It is relatively quiet yet is one of the most popular. Close to the harbour is Praia da Baleeira while, Martinhal is to be found east of the harbour. It is a wide beach and is the largest in the area. It is also the most sheltered and is home to the watersports. Beliche is located in between Sagres and Cabo St. Vicente. Tonel is next to Beliche beach. Telheiro – up the west side of the coast from Cabo St. Vicente. Things to see and do in Sagres Portugal There is not a town centre as such to Sages. The nearest to it is the Praca da Republica, at the top end of town, which is a popular meeting place for people. It is surrounded by some restaurants and bars. The road down to the pretty working harbour is off here, where there are a few good restaurants worth trying, which also have superb views. Sagres is usually said in the same breath as Cape St. Vincent, which 6 km east. This is the most south-westerly point in mainland Europe. Here you’ll find a lighthouse, with such a strong light that it be seen for nearly 100km. It can be cold and windy here, but worth vsiting. Also here is a blow-hole which amplifies the sound of the crashing waves below, which is quite eerie to listen to. A little to the west of town is Sagres Fort, the Forteleza de Sagres which was built in the 15th Century on the Ponte de Sagres promontory, and is said to be the place where Henry the Navigator had his school of navigation, the Vila do Infante, although we may never know as it was wrecked by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th Century. Externally it has been restored, but now looks sad, rendered in grey concrete. Inside is a 16 Century chapel and a small museum. Sagres fort also has an exhibition centre housing art exhibitions and the like. Next to Sagres fort is the rosa dos ventos or wind compass, an impressive 43m stone circle, supposedly used by Henry for navigational calculations, although no-one can determine whether it is from the same time period. The other Sagres fort is Forteleza de Beliche, which can be found a couple of kilometres west of Sagres. It is a 17th Century castle, which contains a small chapel and nowadays, its own restaurant. It also has a couple of rooms if you want to stay, but you’ll have to book well in advance. With such a dramatic coastline, you won’t be disappointed with a boat trip to view the Costa Vicentina Nature Reserve or perhaps indulge in a half day dolphin watching or a Big Game fishing trip. Scuba Diving is also very popular and lessons or dives can be arranged through the Scuba Diving Centre (Tel: 282 624 594), although there are others to choose from. With the rollers coming in from the Atlantic, Sagres is a mecca for surfers and if you’re here in mid-August you might catch the annual Sagres Surf festival, when the whole town becomes alive with music and parties. Most of the beaches in the area are suitable for surfing, although Praia de Martinhal is best suited for sunbathing. If you fancy giving surfing a go, try the International Sagres Surf School (Contact Tel: 914 482 407 or visit www.internationalsurfschool.com) or the Free Ride Surf Camp (Tel 916 089 005 or visit www.freeridesurfcamp.com) For those of you who don’t want to spend time under or bobbing on top of the waves, the area is a great place for walkers and nature lovers who can enjoy the rugged landscape walks and good variety of wild flowers and land and sea birds. For golfers, the nearest golf course can be found at the Parque da Floresta resort, a little less than 20km east of Sagres at Budens. Other courses in the western Algarve are within easy reach if you have a car. For more information on golf courses in the Algarve, click on the link. Sagres Accommodation There are various options for Sagres accommodation, although the choice is not as wide ranging as in other parts of the Algarve. Sagres has a campsite, Camping de Sagres which is a pleasant site near the lighthouse at CBV. It has over 900 pitches for tents and some for tourers located amongst pine trees. There is a bar and restaurant on site. Cerro das Moitas 8650-998 Vila de Sagres Portugal Contact Tel: 282 624 371 Website: www.orbitur.pt Sagres has a selection of villas and apartments and several hotels. One of the most popular hotels is the 3-star Don Tenorio Aparthotel, just 800m from the beaches. For something a little different why not try a Pousada. There are only three Algarve Pousadas (with a fourth on the way), and the one here is the Infante Pousada Sagres, which is perched above the Martela beach. Restaurants and bars in Sagres Portugal There are a number of good restaurants in Sagres, particularly if you’re into fish and seafood. They are dotted around town, but a good selection can be found from the main square and down the road to the harbour. A Tasca Restaurant - has a good reputation for seafood. Sit down on the terrace and enjoy the view overlooking the harbour. A Tasca Praia da Baleeira 8650 - 362 Sagres Portugal Contact Tel: 282 624 177 Forteleza do Beliche This restaurant is set within the fortress, which is perched on a cliff, so the sea-views are amazing. Menu is modern Portuguese cuisine, with seafood a speciality. Forteleza do Beliche Restaurant Estrada Cabo Sao Vicente Sagres Portugal Contact Tel: 282 624 225 There are a couple of late night haunts you can try. These are: Arcadas Disco bar Estrada Nacional 268 8650 - 355 Sagres Portugal Contact Tel: 282 624 423 Topas Disco is located near the campsite Sítio da Botelha 8650 Sagres Portugal Contact Tel: 916 610 353 A Rosa dos Ventos is a bar situated in the Praça da República, attracting an eclectic International mix of clients. Also in the square is the Columbus Bar. Distances and getting here Distance from Faro to Sagres is 100km If you are getting the train or bus from Faro, you will have to first get to Lagos an then take a bus to Sagres, which is a further 45 minutes away. We have more advice and information on using Algarve train or Algarve bus services, just click on the appropriate link.

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