Cabo de São Vicente

The Cabo de São Vicente is the south-westernmost point of mainland Europe, a headland of sheer cliffs where the land ends and the Atlantic begins. Its lighthouse, its constant wind and its sunsets have made it a place of pilgrimage for travellers for centuries.

The end of the world

In antiquity the cape was known as the end of the known world, and it remained a landmark for navigators through the age of the discoveries. Its cliffs rise about 75 metres above the sea, and the lighthouse, one of the most powerful in Europe, still guides ships along the coast.

What to see and do

• The lighthouse and the cliffs at the point.
• Wide views along the coast towards Sagres and north towards the Alentejo.
• Sunsets over the Atlantic, among the most dramatic in Portugal.
• The nearby Fortaleza de Sagres and the town of Sagres.

Visiting the cape

The cape is about six kilometres from Sagres, in the Algarve, and can be reached by road. Access is free; the cliffs are exposed and windy, so take care near the edges and check conditions before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-viladobispo.pt.

Image credit: Cabo de São Vicente, by Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.