Best time to travel to Lisbon

Arrábida Nature Park in Lisbon

This area offers a wide selection of activities—hiking, diving, exploring flora and fauna, and local product tasting

Best time: April–October (all year round)

Arrábida Nature Park
Arrábida Nature Park
Arrábida Nature Park
Arrábida Nature Park

After leaving Lisbon and driving for around 40 minutes, you will find yourself in a vast nature park that covers over 16 hectares. Due to its mild climate, the area preserves hundreds of vegetation species some of which are pretty rare. During the spring, you can enjoy walking on the hills of Serra da Arrábida and spotting wildflowers in bloom.

Even though the highest point of the area is just 500 m, you can still go hiking and mountain biking here. The picturesque trails will lead you to the top of the Serra da Arrábida—the view from the top is amazing as you can see the Portinho cove with crystal clean blue-green water.

During the summer, you can check out beautiful beaches of the park. Portinho da Arrábida is a great place for scuba diving, especially in the clear waters of Pedra da Anixa—a tiny island just off the beach. You can also learn about local fauna and flora in the Oceanographic Museum housed in the Santa Maria da Arrábida fortress. If you want to explore other beaches, hear to Figueirinha, Galapos, Galapinhos, or secluded Praia dos Coelhos.

Aside from walking around and enjoying some sports, you can also visit Convento Da Arrábida, a medieval monastery which still hosts plenty of cultural events. Arrábida’s local gastronomy is also worth your attention: you should not miss tasting Azeitão cheese, Arrábida’s honey, butter from sheep milk, local wines, and seafood.

You can visit the park year round, however, the best time runs April through October as it's much more pleasant season for swimming and hiking in the area.

Practical info

When is the ideal time to explore Arrábida Nature Park in Lisbon?

April to October is the perfect time to explore Arrábida Nature Park in Lisbon. The climate is mild, ideal for hiking, and swimming. Early in the season, when wildflowers cover the hills and valleys, is a perfect time to visit if you adore them. The park's stunning beaches and water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing are perfect to experience in summer. Show more

Which beaches are highly recommended to visit in Arrábida Nature Park?

Portinho da Arrábida is a well-known beach for its fine sand and crystal-clear waters in the region, and it's not to be missed. Praia dos Coelhos is a quiet, secluded beach, making it an ideal place for relaxation. Galapos, Galapinhos, and Figueirinha are some of the other popular beaches within the park that are highly recommended to visit in Arrábida Nature Park. Show more

What other outdoor activities can one explore within Arrábida Nature Park beyond hiking and biking?

If you're an outdoor enthusiast, Arrábida Nature Park in Lisbon has a lot to offer besides hiking, mountain biking, and cycling. The park's exquisite beaches, which are ideal for sunbathing or water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing, should not be missed. You can also explore the park's flora and fauna, which include wildflowers, marine life, and rare vegetation species. Visitors can attend various cultural events, such as the Convento Da Arrábida Medival monastery. Show more

What are some of the events hosted at Convento Da Arrábida?

Convento Da Arrábida is a Medieval monastery where several cultural events take place throughout the year. It has museums showcasing 16th-century art collections. Visitors can enjoy religious celebrations, music concerts, and theater performances. A visit to the beautifully lit-up monastery during Christmas is a surreal experience. People interested in the culture and celebrations around the monastery should not miss the events hosted here throughout the year. Show more

What are the local culinary delights worth trying in Arrábida Nature Park?

The local gastronomy of Arrábida is mouth-watering, boasting plenty of dishes that you must try! Local fish, octopus, clams, sardines, and crabs are unmissable for seafood lovers. Moreover, Azeitão cheese, Butter from sheep milk, and Arrábida's honey are must-haves. The area also has some of the country's most magnificent wineries that produce red and white wines, as well as Moscatel de Setúbal, a sweet fortified wine, which visitors should not skip tasting. Show more

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin