15 Best Sights in South of the River, Lisbon

For a close look at the wine business, visit the manor house and cellars of the José Maria da Fonseca Company. The intriguing tours cover the winery's long history and allow you to see all stages of production, including a peek into its dark and mysterious prized Moscatel cellars, where 100-plus-year-old bottles are still aging gracefully. End the tour with a choice of wine-tasting experiences. There's a JMF wine bar nearby too.

Frequently cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, Galapinhos has such white sand and crystalline water that it appears almost Caribbean. Surrounded by the wild nature of Arrábida's hills (wild boar have been spotted taking a dip here during the heat of summer), it's best visited outside the July–September summer season, when things get busy and access to vehicles is restricted. There's parking nearby for the rest of the year, but you'll need to follow a rough path to reach the beach itself. Amenities: food and drink (summer). Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming; walking.

Calm and clear water, a workout station, and a diving platform make the western stretch of Sesimbra Beach a favorite with families and athletic young folk. Boats docking here in the summer whisk beach-hoppers off to hard-to-reach strands, but with the pine-covered hills stretching right down to the sand and a café-bar doing a brisk trade in wine, ice cream, and seafood, there's plenty of reason to stay put. The beach has wheelchairs and an access point during the July–September high season and has won national awards for accessibility. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer); parking (fee); showers; toilets (summer). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Lisbon's answer to Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated in 1959 as a mark of thanks for Portugal's safety during the violence of World War II. Today, it's an important religious site, but most casual visitors come here for the spectacular views from the free lookout or the 262-foot-high viewing platform, reached by elevator.

When young Lisboetas want to go to the beach, they'll often cross the bridge for the Costa da Caparica, which packs out in summer with bronzed locals. As a former fishing village, the town itself lacks charm but the beachfront is lively with dozens of cafés and bars catering to a relaxed surf-loving clientele. The further south you go, the quieter it gets. Each beach is different: the areas nearest Caparica are family-oriented, while more southerly ones attract a younger crowd with beach parties (there are some nudist beaches, too). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming; walking.

Almada's eye-catching Mouth of the Wind elevator is a fun, free, and photogenic way to travel between Almada's Old Town and the pretty gardens and noteworthy restaurants on the riverfront of Cais do Ginjal. Enjoy the views from the glass-fronted cabin as you ascend or descend. 

Vila Nogueira de Azeitão's agricultural traditions are trumpeted on the first Sunday of every month, when a country market is held near the center of town. Here you can buy wine, produce, clothing, kitchen goods, olive oil, and the renowned local queijo de Azeitão, a buttery sheep's cheese.

Olho de Boi ("Bull's Eye") is the local name for the riverfront area at the foot of Almada's Panoramic Elevator. From here enjoy incredible views over the Ponte 25 de Abril and across the shimmering river to Lisbon. Stroll through the pleasant green space at Jardim do Rio and past a rather ramshackle collection of warehouses to reach the area's Naval Museum in one direction and the famous Ponto Final riverfront restaurant in the other. Watch your step after dark.

The jewel in the crown of this winery set in a late-16th-century mansion is its box-hedged garden and striking azulejos. Visitors can tour the building, gardens, and wine cellars (advance bookings are advised). Among the highlights is the so-called Casa do Fresco, which houses the country's oldest azulejo panel. Dating to 1565, it depicts the story of Susanna and the Elders. Scattered elsewhere are dramatic bright blue sculptures, Moorish-influenced panels, fragrant groves of fruit trees, and enough restful spots to while away an afternoon.

Sesimbra's beachfront stretches the entire length of the historic downtown area, divided in the middle by a whitewashed fort jutting out to sea. The eastern side, known as Praia da California, is rocky at the far end, with some currents and small waves. During the summer it's packed with sun loungers, pedal boats, and splashing families, but it's blissfully quiet from mid-October through June. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer); showers (summer); toilets (summer). Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Still under the radar even among Lisboetas, Cova do Vapor is a fishing hamlet perched at the point where the Tagus meets the Atlantic. The soft-sand beach is Caparica's closest point to Lisbon, and while there are glorious views over the city, the rustic beach shacks make it feel like another world. While crowds of surfers pack most of the Costa da Caparica, there are still vast swaths of space on the sands and gentle dunes here. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Mammoth white sand dunes separate the calm lake at Lagoa de Albufeira from the crashing Atlantic waves on the other side. Kite surfers whiz by, families splash in the waters, and locals wade through the shallows, harvesting shellfish. It's a fascinating scene that gets very busy in summer, but the sunbathing and people-watching opportunities are unparalleled. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); water sports. Best for: walking.

Crashing waves, jagged cliffs, and tall dunes make for a dramatic view at Praia do Meco, which found fame in the 1970s as one of the first nudist beaches in Portugal. Today, this 5-km (3-mile) sweep of beach is a popular spot with surfers and day-tripping families, but those keen to get an all-over tan can head due south to Rio da Prata, a clothing-optional section of the beach. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee). Best for: solitude; surfing; walking.

One of the most celebrated of the famous Arrábida beaches, Portinho is a photogenic crescent of golden sand and turquoise waters, flanked on all sides by pine-covered hills. A high-season car ban makes access tough in the summer months, but it's a joy to visit at any other time of year. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The wild hard-to-reach Ribeiro do Cavalo has dazzling white sands and crystal-clear water in several shades of turquoise. Curiously formed rocks jutting out of the water are encircled by all manner of colorful fish, so bring your snorkel gear. During the summer, regular boat services speed sun seekers to and from the beach and Praia do Ouro in Sesimbra (a 10-minute ride), but for the rest of the year it can only be reached by private boat, kayak, or by a steep half-hour walk along a very rough track. Look out for the purple markings on the rocks that indicate which way to go. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.