Visit Sines Portugal

Sines, Portugal, is a coastal city with a rich maritime history and picturesque scenery. Known for its deep-water port, it has played a large role in Portugal’s trade and industry. The city’s historic center exhibits captivating architecture, while its beaches and proximity to the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina attract nature lovers. On Portugal’s Atlantic coast and south of the capital, you will find numerous villages, such as Comporta, and some must-see towns.

The coastal town

One of them is Sines: a small fishing village. Characterized by its fishing village roots, it preserves the colors, culture and charm of a village with this lifestyle. Sines is a Portuguese town in the Setúbal district. It is the seat of a municipality with an area of 203,30 km² and 14 238 inhabitants, subdivided into 2 parishes (Sines and Porto Covo). The municipality is bordered to the north and east by the municipality of Santiago do Cacém, to the south by Odemira and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

The coast of the municipality, south of São Torpes, is part of the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina. Only 1h45min drive from Lisbon, Capital of Portugal, and 53min from Comporta, it is a very special place to visit and discover. Sines will allow you to have different experiences at various levels, both gastronomic and cultural as well as fun and relax on the beach. Sines is a good place to visit with your family or friends, you have a lot in one place, you have beach, history (cultural heritage), you have good food, and you are visiting a wonderful place.

sines

Sines in Portugal, a city in the Alentejo, which has had a visible growth in recent years, being an important port-industrial complex, increasingly invites and attracts tourists, especially in summer. Its long history is marked on the cliff, where the castle and the Fort of Revelim are located: both were originally built as protection, but today they are two of the most beautiful viewpoints in Portugal.It was the connections with the sea and its resources that developed the economy and culture of this small town. Formerly a fishing-oriented town, which is still a local activity today, it becomes a place to visit for tourists.

Some traditions and legends affirm that the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, discoverer of the sea route to India, was born here, and that he is one of the most present emblems of this city. But the exact place where he was born is unknown. Sines is the scene of various celebrations: Feast of Our Lady of Salas, Feast of Our Lady of Solitude and Carnival of Sines. But it is also known for its traditions in gastronomy and handicrafts. It is a very culturally rich city, with a wide range of monuments and archaeological remains that can be visited.

What to do in sines

In Sines, Portugal, discover the medieval castle of Sines and its panoramic views. Stroll through the old town center, encountering old-fashioned stores and cafes. Relax on Vasco da Gama beach or discover the rugged coastline. Visit the Vasco da Gama House Museum to learn about the city’s maritime heritage. Enjoy the sparkling seafood at nearby restaurants. Here are some ideas for your visit to this beautiful city:

Heritage Culture

Sines, Portugal, has a rich maritime heritage, evident in its historic architecture, traditional festivals and the Vasco da Gama connection, which preserves a vibrant cultural legacy. It is a city with abundant Roman influences. Therefore, in addition to the beauty of the beaches and the cliff, get to know the most charismatic streets and spaces of the area, such as: Rua direita, Rua da Praça, Praça Tomás Ribeiro, Largo do Muro da Praia, Largo do Poeta do Bocage and Largo dos Penedos.

Museums

Museu de Sines – The Museum of Sines was inaugurated in 2008 and contains a dynamic exhibition on the 20th century in Sines in historical, ethnographic and developmental terms. In this modern museum you will also find an exhibition of the most significant pieces of archaeological heritage belonging to this region, such as the well-known Gaio Treasure and also Visigothic stones.

House of Vasco da Gama – The House of Vasco da Gama, which is part of the museum, has a set of multimedia equipment where you can learn about the biography of the famous Vasco da Gama, the places where he lived in this castle, his ships and the importance of his achievements for the History of Humanity.

Tesouro de Nossa Senhora das Salas – A must-see is the “Treasure of Our Lady of Salas”, a museum space in the Church itself, where jewelry and utensils offered over the centuries to the image of the Virgin are exhibited. You can also see pieces from other religious monuments of the municipality of Sines, some of which have already disappeared, such as the Convent of St. Anthony and the Chapel of Santa Catarina.

Fortress

Castelo de Sines – The Castle of Sines is a medieval fortress built on a cliff with successive occupations since the Paleolithic, of great defensive utility and today one of the best viewpoints of the bay. The castle was built during the first half of the 15th century.

Forte do Revelim – The Fort of Revelim (or Nossa Senhora das Salas) was built in the 17th century, designed by Eng. João Rodrigues Mouro, to defend, together with the castle, the inhabitants and boats of Sines. The fort is not open to the public. For guided tours, please contact the Sines Museum.

Forte do Pessegueiro – Built by Dom Pedro II in the 17th century to defend the coast from pirates and corsairs. It is located on the cliff in front of Peach Island, Porto Covo. It was used together with the fort built on the island, ruined by the earthquake of 1755. It has been a Monument of Public Interest since 1957 (Decree No. 41191 of July 18). The fort is not open to the public. For guided tours, please contact the Sines Museum.

Churches

Igreja Matriz de São Salvador – The early construction of the Mother Church dates back to the Middle Ages. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the church was deeply remodeled, with the authorization of the Order of Santiago, gaining the current look, typical of Joanino baroque. The 1755 earthquake forced several restoration works. The best way to visit it is to arrange a guided tour with the Sines Museum.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Salas – Considered a National Monument, the Church of Our Lady of Salas is a very popular center of Marian devotion, especially among seafarers. The chapel was built by Vasco da Gama. The early temple dates from the XV century, having undergone alterations during the XVI century. Every year on 15 August, a festival takes place with processions on land and sea.

Capela da Misericórdia – The Church of Mercy (or Holy Spirit), commonly called Chapel of Mercy, was built at the end of the century. XVI, by permission of King Philip I of Portugal. The church is currently closed to the public, being used, sporadically, for the realization of events.

Igreja de Porto Covo – Currently used as a parish church, the Church of Porto Covo (also popularly known as Church of Our Lady of Soledade, because it houses the image of the patron saint of the locality), was built in the century. XVIII, based on a project by Joaquim Guilherme d’Oliveira. It is located in Largo Marquês de Pombal and is annually the center of the feasts of Nossa Senhora da Soledade. The church is not prepared for autonomous visit by tourists.

Ermida de São Sebastião – Ordered by good men of Sines on an undetermined date before the sixteenth century. It is currently used as a place of worship for the Evangelical Church.

Ermida de São Bartolomeu – Built by the Friars of the Order of Santiago, fulfilling, it is admitted, orders of Dom Pedro I (14th century). It becomes pilgrimage destination.

Sines – Attractions to visit

Sines, Portugal, captivates with its many attractions. In addition to the medieval castle of Sines, sunbathing at Vasco da Gama Beach and strolling through the charming city center, we have other attractions that will make your days more complete.Find out what you can do in this city full of history and places to explore

Antiga Estação dos caminhos de Ferro – The Sines train station (a project by architect Ernesto Korrodi) was used for rail transport between 1936 and the mid-1990s. The beautiful tile panels depicting scenes from Sines’ history and fisherman’s life give it a beauty that makes it stand out in the city’s urban fabric. At this time only an independent visit to the outside of the station (tile panels) is possible because this train station was transformed into a restaurant.

Centro de Arte de Sines – Winner of the 2005 AICA / MC Award and finalist of the 2007 Mies van der Rohe Prize, the Sines Arts Center is a landmark building of contemporary Portuguese architecture and the main cultural and arts and education support equipment in Sines.

Vasco da Gama Statue – It was not until 1970, on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the anniversary of his birth, that Sines had the desired statue (inaugurated on December 19, by the Minister of Public Works), next to the west tower of the city. Sines Castle.

Sines BEACH

Portugal is a country with a long coast and offer beautiful beaches over the country. Sines offers you 30km of coast with beaches for all tastes. The large sands in the north and the small beaches intersected by the cliffs in the south give a wide variety of environments and landscapes to the 30 kilometers of Sines coast. The dunes, which occur predominantly north of Ribeira dos Moinhos and south of Ribeira da Junqueira, are very sensitive ecosystems.

Vasco da Gama Beach – Integrated in the urban fabric of the city of Sines and witnessing the main events of its history, Vasco da Gama Beach is the heart of Sines in Portugal. Adjacent to Fishing Harbor, it is a charming urban beach that deserves to be visited, both in summer and winter. Its marginal is widely used for walks and jogging. Under the jurisdiction of the Port of Sines Administration, the beach line has a length of 360m. The protection of two jetties makes her very calm.

S. Torpes Beach – The most crowded beach in the county is linked to the legend of São Torpes. A beach with the warmest water, which makes this beach a favorite with tourists. It has good conditions for surfing. It has a paved road access on municipal road and parking for 696 seats. It is an extensive beach, with 2000m of line.

Morgavel Beach – Non-urban beach with easy access, good parking and several restaurants in the surrounding area. The length of the beach line is 350m. It has good conditions for surfing.

Vale Figueiros Beach – Vieirinha: Beach associated with dunes, with access on municipal road and paved parking for 226 places. It has good conditions for surfing and restaurants.

Small beaches of Porto Covo

There are no beaches like the beaches of Porto Covo, one of the most beautiful villages in the country and certainly one of the most beautiful coasts. The whole coastline of the parish is full of small beaches of fine sand and clear water, separated by large cliffs that seem to have been made to create a sense of intimacy and exclusivity. The beaches belong to everyone, but you want to say: choose yours! Samoqueira and Buizinhos are some of the names of these treasures as small as precious. Note that all these beaches are in good sanitary condition, but some of them are difficult to access and have no permanent surveillance.

Salto Beach (naturist) – One of the small beaches of Porto Covo is Salto beach. Located between Cerro da Águia and Cerca Nova, with an environment of privacy and tranquility, since 2002 has been part of the restricted group of naturist beaches officially recognized in Portugal.

Porto Covo Beach – The main urban beach of the village of Porto Covo. It has a beach front extension of about 200m. Good surfing conditions and good parking lots. Proximity to many other small beaches to the south and north.

Ilha do Pessegueiro Beach – Beach with extensive sandy beach in front of the island of Pessegueiro. On the island, there are traces of a Roman fish salting factory. In the eighteenth century, there were plans to use the island for a large seaport (the blocks that show the beginning of its construction are still visible). It has paved road access on municipal road and parking for 131 places. On the cliff by the beach is the Forte do Pessegueiro.

PORTS OF SINES IN PORTUGAL

Another mandatory stopping point is the ports of Sines. Facing the ocean, this small fishing town has the only recreational port on the sea coast from Setúbal to Algarve. Porto de recreio de sines is next to Vasco da Gama Beach, a mandatory stopping point for pleasure boats that travel the Portuguese coast on national or international routes. It is the only seaport recreation port between Setúbal and the Algarve. The Porto de pesca( Sines fishing port) can be reached in Avenida Vasco da Gama, where you immediately enter the atmosphere of the fishing port: you can hear the cries of seagulls and the sirens of arriving boats, and you can see the colorful trawlers in the calm waters of the bay. Sines is an important port for Portuguese artisanal fishing, one of the most caught species being sardines and octopus.

What experiences does Sines offer tourists?

Land experiences

This is a territory full of large escarpments, dune complexes, small streams, heathlands, mountain ranges. On foot, by bike or on horseback, there are very interesting places to discover in the interior of the county, from the almost secret Lagoa da Sancha (with a pedestrian route opened in 2019), to the rural areas of Cabeça da Cabra, Provence and Sonega. The southern part of the county is part of the Rota Vicentina, a network of footpaths in southwest Portugal. In this region you are very close to the “jungle in Alentejo soil”. If you are traveling with your children a good option may also be to visit Badoca Safari Park which will guarantee you an unforgettable adventure.

Sea Experiences

The municipality of Sines in Portugal is the perfect place to enjoy the sea. Characterized by its good waves, sea-related activities are highlighted. So in this region you can do: surfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, fishing, diving, boating … São Torpes is the surfers paradise of the region. There are surf schools open all year round and with academic offer for all ages and experience levels. In Sines, one can also learn sailing and kayaking.

Where to eat in Sines?

If you are looking to delight in a good fresh fish and a good variety of seafood, be sure to visit Sines in Portugal and its restaurants, which are privileged to offer you the best ingredients to provide you with a wonderful meal and to ask for more! You can not miss the delights of the Alentejo! Some of the restaurants you can’t miss: Cais da Estação (which won a premium certified for best lingueirrice), Arte e Sal, Bom petisco, Adega de Sines, Pedra da Casca and Magic Catus.

WHERE TO STAY

There are some offers in the city of sines. But if your aim is to visit the coast, we recommend the area around Comporta, which is becoming increasingly popular and is definitely a dream destination. The whole region should be visited by car, due to the lack of public transport, but only with a car is it possible to discover that deserted beach that nobody knows about. Get to know this coastline (almost 60 km long) and get to know the Alma da Comporta project.

Alma da Comporta

Due to the proximity of Sines to Comporta, you can always visit this beautiful historical city and enjoy your stay in holiday rentals in Comporta. Carefully decorated houses, designed to offer to our visitors the best experiences the place has to offer, combined with the comfort of being in a home. A project designed by a family that wants to share with their guests what Comporta has to offer, with magnificent views over the rice fields. Be sure to visit us and get to know the Alma da Comporta project. This entire Vincentina coast has breathtaking landscapes and beaches for all tastes! If you have time be sure to visit this coast that has so much to offer.

Obs: Photographs taken in person, from the sines town hall website and the westend61.de website.