The small town of Carcavelos (Portugal)is located just 12 km from the heart of Lisbon. The popularity of this resort town has recently gained, when it was discovered by surfers and gastronomic tourists. And if the former highly appreciated the long coastline with noticeable tides, then the latter go to Carcavelos to taste the famous Portuguese wine, appreciate the gastronomic delights in numerous local restaurants. Over time, the popularity of this resort in Portugal has increased, now Carcavelos has a lively and fun atmosphere at any time of the day and year.
Vacation in Carcavelos: what is important for tourists to know?
When is the best time to go?
Numerous photos of Carcavelos explain why the local places are so popular with tourists. Once a tiny town located on the Atlantic coast, it attracts Portuguese and visitors alike with its long coastline and clean sandy beach.
The climatic conditions of Carcavelos allow you to relax here on the beach from the beginning of June until the end of October (to enlarge the image, click on the image). Although the water temperature finally warms up only by the end of July, some people do not refuse to take ocean baths even at a temperature of 18 degrees.
Carcavelos has a convenient location. Its borders are located at the mouth of the Tagus River. The waters of the Atlantic warm up to +13…+15 degrees in the winter months, in the spring the temperature reaches +15 … 16 degrees, and in the summer months and until the end of October, the water temperature stays around +18…+19 degrees. As you can see, the water in this part of Portugal is never like fresh milk, but you can still swim.
Where to stay and how much does it cost?
The village of Carcavelos itself is small, but there will be no problems with housing here. However, if you are planning to visit the resort during high season, book your hotel rooms at least 3 weeks in advance. There are about 30 hotels located in the settlement, and you can also rent apartments from the local population.
The number of 4* hotels in Carcavelos itself is only 2, but in its vicinity the choice is much larger. The cost of accommodation in these hotels is approximately the same — for a night stay you will have to pay from 80-90 EUR, in high season – from 110 EUR.
Prices for apartments in Carcavelos and rooms in guest houses vary greatly. The price depends on the season, distance from the beach, size of accommodation and availability of various amenities – condition of furniture, availability of air conditioning, Wi-Fi, parking, etc. The average price per night is 70-80€, in the summer months – 110-130€. But you can find an apartment both for 50-60€ per season, and for 350€ / night. When booking apartments for a period of 7 days or more, you can expect a 10-20% discount.
Where to eat and food prices
Numerous restaurants, cafes and bars await guests of Carcavelos. #1 according to tourist reviews-Taverna D’s Pereiras-offers European and Portuguese cuisine at reasonable prices.
The resort offers dining options for every taste, but the star is always the famous Portuguese wine, which is made right in the town. One of the most famous drinks in Portugal is made from several grape varieties. Almost all wines are dry, but connoisseurs can also try a special fermented drink – afabad, which is prepared using a special technology and aged in barrels for 3-5 years. Experienced tourists advise guests of the resort to try Mozambique Curry shrimp in olive oil.
The menu of one of the best restaurants in the town (Marisqueira Atlantico) is shown in the photo (click once on the photo to enlarge). The translation is automatic, but you can understand it. Prices are average in Carcavelos.
On average, for a meal for two, you will need to pay 30-35€, including wine. If you move a little away from the most visited tourist places, the bill will drop to 22-27€. The cost of a salad or hamburger in a middle-class restaurant will be 8-10 €, a main meat or fish dish-13-20€, soup-3-7€. Often there are favorable offers of the “menu of the day”, in fact, this is a set lunch. You can eat well and the prices are quite attractive-usually 11-15€.
Be prepared for the fact that you will be brought snacks and bread that you did not order. This can be olives, sliced cheese or jam. Please note that this is not a treat, if you try them, you will have to pay (1.5-3.5€).
The most budget option is to have a snack in a cafe where fast food is served. Grilled fish with vegetable stuffing in a bun will cost a tourist only 3-4 euros.What should I do?
The few sights of Carcavelos are visited by all travelers. Here you will find a fort and a castle, a local picturesque park. In your free time, you can take a sun bath, swim in the ocean, lazily lie on the beach or conquer the wave by surfing.
Every quarter, a market opens in the city, located near the train station. Here you can buy high-quality items, souvenirs and other goods for a reasonable price. Fans of shopping will be able to treat themselves to a trip to Cascais or the Portuguese capital Lisbon, where a train ticket costs about 2.5-3
Carcavelos Beach
Only one, but quite a large beach is waiting for vacationers. Mostly Lisbon residents come here to swim. In Carcavelos, the beach is ideal for water sports such as beach volleyball, windsurfing and surfing. Here you can also play soccer and go fishing. Surf equipment rental points are open on the embankment, and there are schools teaching this sport. Two hours of training with a professional instructor will cost 25-30€.
In early summer and late spring, the ocean is quite cold, so only surfers in special equipment can swim for a long time. Guests can enjoy a walk along the sandy beach. The sand here is well trodden, but clean enough.
By the way, Carcavelos beach is one of the best beaches in the vicinity of Lisbon.
Carcavelos attractions
Travelers choose the town not only to admire the ocean waves and try their hand at surfing. Connoisseurs of history and archeology are happy to go on sightseeing tours.
Fort of São Julião da Barra
Once a prison for political prisoners, and now Fort São Julião da Barra is located at the mouth of the Tagus, it is built of rounded stone. The main feature of the fort is its round tower, as well as the stunning view that opens from here. It was built in the XVII century from wood, but in the XIX century the wood was replaced with stone.
On a note! Try to set aside a day for sightseeing in Sintra, which is only a 25-minute drive away. And then you can meet the sunset at the westernmost point of Europe — Cape Roca.
Quinta da Alagoa Park
This place in Portugal attracts tourists who want to relax in the shade of trees by a small lake. Flocks of ducks, geese, and turtles have found their home here. Guests can watch the peacocks that roam freely in the park and feed the pigeons. Restaurants and cafes can be found in the park, and you can play lawn tennis on the free court.
Palace of the Marquis de Pombal
Built in the XVIII century, it is located not in Carcavelos itself, but not far away – in the nearby town of Oeiras. The palace welcomes guests with semicircular arches and Chinese cornices. Landscape design and interior design of the palace should be appreciated not only by experts in the field of architecture, but also by ordinary curious tourists. The cost of the visit is 3 euros.
How do I get there?
To get to Carcavelos (Portugal), you can use:
- Railway-the train departs from Lisboa — Cais do Sodre stations in Lisbon. The ticket price is 2.25€. Travel time is 40 minutes. Trains run every 12-30 minutes from 5: 30 am to 01: 30 am. Current prices and schedules can be viewed on the website www.cp.pt
- Car rental – several agencies offer car rental services. The cost of the service will depend on the class of transport and the rental period.
- Taxi – you can take it directly at the airport of the capital. The cost of travel will be about 20€.
