Daag jezelf uit met gevorderde surflessen in Vale Figueiras, Aljezur!

On the western edge of the Algarve, between hills and the Atlantic, Aljezur is a small town of white houses beneath a Moorish castle. Its wild coastline, its surf beaches and its sweet potatoes have made it a favourite of travellers looking for the quieter side of the Algarve.

History and identity

The town grew below its castle, taken from the Moors in the thirteenth century, and kept its riverside and hillside quarters. For centuries it lived from farming and fishing; today its beaches along the Vicentina coast — Amado, Bordeira, Arrifana — are among the most beautiful in Portugal.

What to see and do

• The castle and its views over the town and the coast.
• The old streets on both sides of the river.
• The beaches and clifftops of the western coast.
• Surfing and walking along the Vicentina coast.

Gastronomy and traditions

Aljezur is famous for its sweet potatoes — celebrated in the town’s annual festival — and for the fish and seafood of the western coast. Its markets are part of the simple life of the Algarve hills.

Nearby

The town is a gateway to the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, with its cliffs, dunes and walking trails. The beach village of Odeceixe, at the mouth of the Seixe, is the next stop on the coast.

Visiting Aljezur

Aljezur is in the western Algarve, about 30 kilometres north of Lagos, reached by road. Access to the town is free; for surf conditions and local events, check with the municipality before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-aljezur.pt.

Image credit: Aljezur, Portugal, by Bextrel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.