Pedro DominguesOdemira is one of the largest municipalities in the Alentejo. It occupies a vast territory, not only along the coast, but also inland. That’s why there are also tourist attractions outside the sea area. Have you heard of the Santa Clara Dam or Pego das Pias?
Of course, the places not to be missed when visiting Odemira are along the coast, where there are two beaches that are a wonder of Portugal. You’ve almost certainly heard of Zambujeira do Mar or Furnas beach near Vila Nova de Milfontes.
In this article I’m going to tell you all about the places I liked best in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes. If you want to discover the best beaches, the best viewpoints and the most incredible rock formations or cliffs, you’re reading the right article!
Where are Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes located, in Portugal?
To visit Odemira is to discover the seat of Portugal’s largest municipality. It covers an area of 1720 km² and has just over 26,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Alentejo coast and borders the municipalities of Sines, Santiago do Cacém, Ourique, Silves, Monchique and Aljezur.
Odemira has 55km of coastline alone, all of it in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. 12km are beaches, with Zambujeira do Mar and Vila Nova de Milfontes being the most popular.
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Shortlist for visiting Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
Don’t have time to waste? Do you want a quick answer to the questions that brought you to this article? If the answer is yes, I’ve prepared a summary list of all the places not to be missed in the municipality of Odemira. Of course, I’m going to detail them later, with lots of photos, and even tell you about my experience of visiting them. I’ll also add other less obligatory ones.
- Amália Beach.
- Zambujeira do Mar beach.
- The River Beach of Santa Clara Dam.
- Pego das Pias.
- Tonel Beach.
- The brutal views and cliffs of Cape Sardão.
- The town of Odemira and its windmill.
- Almograve beach.
- Vila Nova de Milfontes and the surrounding beaches: Furnas, Franquia, Farol and Patacho.
- Malhão beach.
My visit to Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes (with video!)
I visited Odemira from south to north. I did this because I was coming back from a few days’ trip along the Algarve coast, from Vila Real de Santo António.
But it’s Odemira I’m talking about now. It turned out to be a nice surprise for me: the first municipality on the Alentejo coast that I passed through on my trip. Here’s a video of my stay there and also on the Vicentine Coast.
My favorite beaches were undoubtedly Amália beach and Tonel beach. The former because of the trail on arrival; the latter because it has the best sunset in the whole natural park. The colors of Tonel beach leave you knocked out by its beauty, and Amália beach shines because of its connection with the famous fado singer.
At Cape Sardão, meanwhile, I found the best rock formations in Odemira, and Pego das Pias was a good retreat from the sea.
These 4 places, together with Vila Nova de Milfontes, are my top 5 highlights of Odemira. Zambujeira do Mar is a beautiful place, but it didn’t make my top list.
Historical note on Odemira
Some say that the name “Odemira” originated when it was occupied by the Arabs. According to legend, a mayor named Ode lived in the castle with his wife, and when she saw the Christian troops coming over the horizon she shouted at him: “Ode, look at the enemies!”. This is said to be the origin of the name Odemira. Was it really? (“look” can be written as “mira” in portuguese).
More reliable studies show that Odemira refers to the notion of a watercourse and the importance of the river. Thus, Ode derives from the Moorish term “wad”, which means river; mira is related to water, although it may have a pre-Celtic origin.
In fact, the River Mira has always been important in Odemira’s history. Because of it, Odemira had easy access to the sea and the inland Alentejo. The town has passed from hand to hand over the centuries since it was reconquered from the Moors: first it was donated to the Bishop of Porto, then it belonged to the crown, then it was donated twice to the Pessanha family, then it was owned by the Order of Santiago, etc.
The first Count of Odemira was D. Sancho de Noronha (1446).
Useful tips for visiting Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
Below are the main travel tips for visiting this region of Odemira.
1. Have a car to visit Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
Think seriously about visiting this region with a car, because you won’t be able to get to the beaches in the southwest of Alentejo easily by public transport, at least not outside the major towns, such as Vila Nova de Milfontes or Zambujeira do Mar. If you don’t have a car, don’t hesitate to rent one with Discover Cars.
In any case, here’s some information on public transport. Rede Expressos has regular routes to Odemira from Lisbon. If you’re coming from another part of the country, check their website for other options: you’ll probably find something.
2. When to visit Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes?
- Summer is the best time to visit this region, especially if you want to take advantage of the best beaches on the Vicentine Coast and Southwest Alentejo, and get into the water.
- You should visit Odemira in less hot months if you want to go hiking, such as the fishermen’s trail.
- To see the landscape or admire the rock formations by the sea, any time of year will do! The same goes for visiting the historic center of Odemira.
- To find out about the weather in Odemira throughout the year, I’ll leave you with this link. There you can read all about the temperature, rain, fog, hours of sunshine, humidity, wind and other aspects of the weather. It’s a tip for this and future trips.
3. Fishermen’s Trail
There are 4 stages of the fishermen’s trail that you can take when you visit the municipality of Odemira:
- Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes
- Vila Nova de Milfontes – Almograve
- Almograve – Zambujeira do Mar
- Zambujeira do Mar – Odeceixe
4. Vicentine Coast Historic Route
I’ll also leave you with some trail suggestions related to the Vicentine Coast Historic Route.
- Cercal do Alentejo – São Luís
- São Luís – Odemira
- São Teotónio – Odemira
- Sabóia – Odemira
- São Teotónio – Odeceixe
5. Gastronomy and Restaurants in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
What to eat in Vila Nova de Milfontes and Zambujeira do Mar? Seafood, of course, as in any other part of the Vicentine Coast and Southwest Alentejo. In my opinion, if you want meat, you should go further inland.
Here’s a short list of restaurants that are a good bet. Be prepared for queues and lots of people wanting to have lunch or dinner there. In some cases, reservations are not accepted.
- Azenha do Mar – in the beach of the same name.
- Marisqueira Costa Alentejana – Zambujeira do Mar
- Tasca do Celso – Vila Nova de Milfontes
- Porto das Barcas – Vila Nova de Milfontes
- Fonte Férrea – Odemira
6. Accommodation tips to visit Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Quinta do Paraíso | 9.3 | São Teotónio |
| Monte da Galrixa | 9.3 | São Teotónio |
| Quinta do Chocalhinho | 9.5 | Odemira |
| Duna Parque Beach Club | 8.7 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Guarda Rios | 9.4 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Villa Eira | 9.4 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Herdade do Freixial | 8.6 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Três Marias | 9.1 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Casa do Adro | 9.7 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Born To Stay In Milfontes | 9.1 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Raminhos Guest House | 9.5 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Naturarte Rio | 9.1 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Casa da Alagoinha | 9.2 | Vila Nova de Milfontes |
| Herdade do Touril | 9.3 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Monte das Alpenduradas | 8.8 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Herdade do Sardanito | 8.9 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Herdade do Kuanza | 9.5 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Rosa dos Ventos | 8.7 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| AZUL | 9.2 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Hostel Nature | 9.5 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Hakuna Matata Hostel | 9.1 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Monte Soalheiro | 9.3 | Zambujeira do Mar |
| Herdade Amália | 9.5 | Praia da Amália |
Things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
Finally, everything to visit, see and do in Odemira. I’ll start by sharing with you a map with all the sights of this article. 😉
Map | Things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes
Discover the Atlantic coast of Odemira, including Milfontes and Zambujeira
From south to north, I’m going to write about Odemira’s best beaches. And also about the best rock formations and cliffs by the sea.
1. Azenha do Mar Beach
Azenha do Mar has a very famous restaurant in southwest Alentejo. I’ve mentioned it in the relevant section of this article. Azenha do Mar beach doesn’t have the splendor of the others in this article, which is why it’s optional, but the rock formations you’ll find there are top-notch. A good stop on your way north.
2. Amália Beach
Amália beach owes its name to the fado singer Amália: this was her beach of choice in southwest Alentejo. She had her vacation home on the cliff top. Before it was known as Amália beach, it was called Brejão beach, because it’s next to the village of that name.
In Brejão I would highlight the murals with the fado singer’s image: they remind us of the connection with her. To visit the beach, you need to take a small trail that starts near the entrance to the Amália estate. Have you checked the prices and conditions for staying there?
Perhaps because of its difficult access or its wild appearance, it was one of my favorites. I loved the trail and its tunnels through the vegetation. And of course all the suspense on the approach to the beach helped my opinion. For me, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the municipality, and you should definitely add it to your itinerary.
From Amália beach to Zambujeira do Mar I found farms with animals that are unusual in Portugal. First ostriches, then deer. Passing by them brightened my day.
3. Zambujeira do Mar
Zambujeira do Mar beach has gained fame because of MEO Sudoeste festival. It is surrounded by high cliffs and has an ideal sea for surfing or other similar sports. When visiting Zambujeira do Mar, I would definitely highlight the square at the top of the cliff, home to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar.
It should be noted that it won the title of Portugal’s best urban beach and is therefore a wonder of Portugal. You have to include it in your Odemira itinerary!
- Accommodation tips to visit Zambujeira do Mar: Herdade do Touril | Monte das Alpenduradas | Herdade do Sardanito | Herdade do Kuanza | Rosa dos Ventos | AZUL | Hostel Nature | Hakuna Matata Hostel | Monte Soalheiro
4. Porto das Barcas in Zambujeira do Mar
Porto das Barcas is located between Zambujeira do Mar and the fantastic Tonel beach. It is Zambujeira’s main port, so I recommend you stop by to admire the boats, as well as the impressive rock formations.
5. Tonel Beach near Zambujeira do Mar
Don’t confuse this beach with the one with the same name in Sagres. This is a beautiful bay, for me the most beautiful you’ll find when visiting the outskirts of Zambujeira do Mar and Vila Nova de Milfontes. It has absurd sunset colors, a strong orange.
The hard part is not getting to Tonel beach, but getting down to the sand. This descent is made down the steep cliff with the help of ropes, where there are any! That’s why it’s so little frequented, but beware: at high tide the sand isn’t very big either!
I recommend a visit to this beach if you have the dexterity to reach it. Safety first, don’t forget! Anyone can reach the top of the cliff, so a visit to the sunset is within everyone’s reach.
6. Cape Sardão
Cape Sardão has a lighthouse, amazing viewpoints of the cliffs, and wooden walkways for easy access to them. Do you want more reasons to visit this cape, which is the westernmost point of the Alentejo coast?
I think the image that struck me most there was the white storks and their nests on the top of the steep cliffs.
Cape Sardão is dramatic, and the cliffs there are special, a bit like those at Cape of São Vicente were for me: raw! In some places the colors are surreal.
Tip: Close to Cape Sardão is Cavaleiro beach. Although I didn't visit it due to lack of time, it was on my list of attractions. I think it's worth a detour when visiting Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes.
7. Almograve beach
I arrived at Almograve beach and immediately noticed a memorial at the top of the cliff next to the access to the beach: “clean sea”. It came about after the environmental disaster caused by the “Marão” ship accident in Sines, which led to a crude oil spill in 1989. That was one of the biggest oil spills in history off the coast of Portugal, and this beach was the worst affected. There were around 6,000 liters of crude oil!
The beach has good access and facilities. It’s also one of the most touristic beaches in Odemira, after Zambujeira do Mar and Vila Nova de Milfontes.
Not far from Almograve, how about taking a look at the Longueira Windmill? 😉
8. Vila Nova de Milfontes
At the mouth of the River Mira, visiting Vila Nova de Milfontes is getting to know the best the Alentejo coast has to offer. Near Vila Nova de Milfontes you’ll find one of the beaches voted as a wonder of Portugal, and many others with similar quality:
- Furnas beach, the one that won the title of best river beach in Portugal. It has sea and river, appealing to everyone.
- Lighthouse beach, also with sea and river. It’s next to the statue of the Archangel and the Milfontes lighthouse, and has remarkable rock formations to explore by the sea. Be sure to stop by at sunset and explore these rock formations at low tide! 😉
- Franquia river beach, with calm waters and ideal for water sports: canoeing or windsurfing.
- Patacho beach. It lies to the north of Vila Nova de Milfontes, where there is a shipwreck.
If I had to choose one place in the municipality of Odemira to visit and give it its due prominence, I would undoubtedly choose Vila Nova de Milfontes. It’s a village that once belonged to the municipality of Sines, and only joined Odemira in 1855.
It is the place where the mouth of the River Mira is located. For this reason, it was often attacked by pirates in the past, which is why the Castle of Milfontes, or Fort of São Clemente, was built.
Everyone loves visiting Vila Nova de Milfontes. In addition to São Clemente Fort, I would highlight the church of Nossa Senhora da Graça and Rossio Square.
- Accommodation tips to visit Vila Nova de Milfontes? Duna Parque Beach Club | Guarda Rios | Villa Eira | Herdade do Freixial | Três Marias | Casa do Adro | Born To Stay In Milfontes | Raminhos Guest House | Naturarte Rio | Casa da Alagoinha
9. Barcas Fishing Port
North of Vila Nova de Milfontes, don’t miss a stop at Barcas Fishing Port, for me the most beautiful and picturesque port in Odemira, usually with several colorful boats.
10. Malhão beach
I only visited Malhão Sul, where the walkways are. I think it’s also the area with the most beautiful and outstanding cliffs. To the north, the sand is long, stretching almost to Pessegueiro Island. Due to its length, it has an official nudist area.
Visit Odemira town center
Odemira is a town without many points of interest, in my opinion. Even so, it’s worth a short visit! In the center you can visit the windmill and the churches: Santa Maria, Salvador and Misericórdia. You can also explore what’s left of the Castle and walk through the garden of Square Souza Prado.
1. Odemira Windmill
This windmill is undoubtedly the main tourist attraction in the town of Odemira. It dates from 1874, i.e. the 19th century. A miller was hired so that the tradition wouldn’t be lost, and local people can buy flour there or have their own grain milled.
2. Odemira’s main churches
- The Church of Santa Maria belongs to a former Franciscan convent from the 16th century.
- The Church of São Salvador is the Mother Church and was founded in the 14th century.
- The Church of Misericórdia dates back to the 16th century, but has served purposes other than religion.
3. Souza Prado Square
Souza Prado Square is the most central in Odemira. It has two lakes and several garden benches for resting in the shade.
4. Cerro do Peguinho
Cerro do Peguinho is a viewpoint in Odemira. It offers a very pleasant view of River Mira and the houses. You’ll find traces of the old Odemira Castle there.
5. Mira Riverside Garden
Next to river Mira you will find a Thematic Trail to do. It makes for an excellent walk, and you’ll find places set up for watching the river.
Discover the best river beaches in Odemira
In this section I’m going to show you the two best river beaches in Odemira. There are two brutal places waiting for you, one wilder and the other more scenic.
1. Santa Clara Dam River Beach
At Santa Clara dam there is a floating platform that serves as a river beach. Watch out for deep water as soon as you enter. When you get out, be careful not to slip because of the mud. The waters may not be crystal clear, but the reservoir is still worth your time.
I visited at the end of my trip to the south of Portugal, and it was a great way to escape the sea beaches for a morning. I found few people, a quiet place and water that wasn’t as cold as the sea.
The hillside next to the beach has tables for a quick snack, and the beach has a lifeguard. While in the area, why don’t visit the Church of Santa Clara-a-Velha and Bridge of D. Maria? This bridge was built in the 18th century, although it is wrongly called Roman Bridge.
Santa Clara Dam was once the largest dam in Portugal. Its name was once Marcelo Caetano Dam, and it was built on River Mira to irrigate the entire municipality.
2. Pego das Pias River Beach
I visited Pego das Pias on the same day as Santa Clara Dam. This river beach is located on the Torgal stream (a tributary of Mira river).
Pego das Pias doesn’t have many means of support (not supervised, for example), and it’s difficult to access. Getting there by car is possible but not easy, so you should leave the car at the start of the dirt road and walk.
It’s a place for perfect contact with nature. There’s plenty of shade, as it’s surrounded by trees. I saw lots of people camping there.
I also spotted many young people jumping from the top of the cliffs into the natural pools. This is still a secret place that you can discover when you visit Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes. It’s ideal for those who want to get away from the crowds.
MEO SUDOESTE in Zambujeira do Mar
And do you want to know what to do in Odemira when it comes to entertainment? Or which events in Odemira are not to be missed?
There is no other festival in Odemira with the prominence of MEO Sudoeste. It takes place in the summer in Zambujeira do Mar, at the beginning of August. It’s five days of partying.
As well as lots of music, there is free camping space for those who buy a ticket for all the days of the festival. The first edition took place in 1997, and since then big names in music from Portugal and abroad have been there!
For more details, click here.
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope you enjoyed this article with things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes. Have a nice time in my country! 😉
