10 Ultimate Moments to Have in Portugal’s Alentejo Coast

Portugal saves its most incredible hidden gems for the Alentejo Coast. Only an hour’s drive south of Lisbon, the region is beloved by locals for its endless sandy beaches, wild landscapes and the laid-back sophistication of its resorts, restaurants and boutiques. Experience the magic of this Atlantic-lapped jewel before everyone else does with our easy road trip itinerary, complete with some insider hacks to get you there.

Day one: Start in Lisbon

10am: Take a step back in time deep beneath the city

Get your bearings in one of the oldest capital cities in the world by turning back the clock. Sprawled over five sites in the city’s historic centre, the Museum of Lisbon charts the capital’s rise from the Stone Age through to the present day. Hiding beneath the cobblestoned streets, the ancient Roman Galleries – a subterranean complex built to support the buildings above it in the first century AD  – are accessed via a manhole in the Rua da Prata quarter and are open to the public for guided tours just twice a year in April and September. About 3000 tickets are released three weeks advance on the museum’s website; keep your eyes peeled, as they’re snapped up quickly.

Communication coordinator Marina Marques says this special experience is an “opportunity to learn more about Lisbon in Roman times”. 

“Visiting the Roman Galleries is like travelling back in time. On the [street] surface, you can see an 18th-century neighbourhood rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1755. Going down a few steps, you enter the galleries that are over 2000 years old, which have remained intact,” Marques says.

1pm: Treat yourself to a luxurious lunch and shopping spree

Experience Lisbon’s thriving food and fashion scene at JNcQUOI (an acronym for the French expression “je ne sais quoi”). Housed in the ornate Teatro Tivoli, its sumptuous dining room features century-old frescoes and a life-sized dinosaur skeleton, while the European brasserie-style menu showcases premium Portuguese produce and wine including a carpaccio of white prawns from the Algarve matched with the crisp, floral white wine varietal, malvasia. After lunch, head to the lower floor for a menswear update assisted by a roll call of top designer labels, including Gucci, Balmain and Off-White, plus a footwear collection worthy of the biggest sneaker collector.

8pm: Head to Ribeira das Naus for sunset

Toast the day’s end at Lisbon’s vibrant downtown riverfront. Tucked between Praça do Comércio and Cais do Sodré, the historic former shipyard has been revitalised with lush lawns, grand promenades and a slice of sandy beach (take note: swimming isn’t allowed here). Grab a deckchair near the bustling kiosk, order a glass of sangria or Portugal’s own Coruja beer and watch the sun set across the twinkling Tagus River and its striking red suspension bridge.

TIP: Arriving early has its perks – whether it's nabbing the best waterfront spot for watching the sunset or getting to the airport well before boarding time so you can maximise your time in the lounge. With the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you will receive two complimentary Qantas Club Lounge invitations each year after your first Card spend on selected Qantas products and services⁴ and two Amex Centurion® Lounge passes to use at Sydney or Melbourne International Airport⁵. Lounge access entitles you to complimentary food and beverages, including wine and beer after 12pm. Enjoy free and fast Wi-Fi and more.

Day two: Make your way to the coastal village of Comporta 

11am: Visit epic rock formations on secluded beaches

Bid adeus to the lively energy of Lisbon and set out on a scenic drive south to the golden beaches and historic towns of the Alentejo Coast. Around 75 minutes from the capital, Praia da Galè beach is a geological wonder of weather-carved copper-coloured cliffs, enormous boulders and shape-shifting sand dunes. A boardwalk takes you down to the water’s edge, where natural rock pools glimmer a vibrant turquoise; look out for fossils, which date back almost five million years.

2pm: Do a spot of shopping in luxe coastal boutiques

You’ll quickly see why Comporta is known as “the Portuguese Hamptons”. Small in size but big in sophistication, this pretty seaside town attracts off-duty A-listers with its uncrowded beaches, relaxed restaurants and upmarket shops. In the village centre, Lavanda nails boho-chic fashion and accessories including linen playsuits and vibrantly coloured raffia clutches. 

7pm: Enjoy a refined dinner in refurbished horse stables

A masterful renovation has created the character-drenched Cavalariça, where dining booths are tucked into original horse stalls and scuffed flagstone floors are a throwback to the venue’s former residents. 

“There is this ‘wild’ and unexplored charm that makes Comporta a very different representation of Portugal's Alentejo. The beaches, the pine trees, the rice fields, the river's estuary area all combined make us feel very privileged to be here,” says chef Bruno Caseiro.

The restaurant’s inventive menu, led by Caseiro, is bedded in Alentejo produce. The mackerel crudo, gently licked by flames and topped with whisper-thin discs of radish in a citrus-spiked sauce, and Cavalariça’s signature pork croquettes – dabbed with mustard mayonnaise and bay leaf – are both must-orders.

TIP: Is venturing beyond the big cities for a gourmet getaway one of your favourite pastimes? You’ll love the $450 Annual Qantas Travel Credit² that comes with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Each year, you’ll receive a $450 Qantas Travel Credit to use on eligible domestic or international Qantas flights when booked through American Express Travel.

Day three: Embrace nature as you continue south along the coast

7am: Go for a dip or spot flamingos from an eco-friendly hotel room

Embracing the day starts with taking just a few steps from the plush bed in your Sublime Comporta cabana straight into the plant-filled pool. The nine unique bio-pool suites at this luxury resort take their design inspiration from local fisherman’s huts and seem to hover over the living freshwater ecosystem. Or head further afield and explore the untamed landscape of Sado River nature reserve, where pink flamingos, dolphins and otters can be spied from the deck of Cabanas no Rio (pictured). Three kilometres from town, the two minimalist wooden huts are perched on the riverbank – one with living quarters and the other housing a cosy bedroom. 

TIP: With limited rooms available, advanced bookings at these properties is essential – and it’ll also boost your Qantas Points balance. Pay with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and you’ll earn up to 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases¹. You'll also enjoy uncapped Qantas Points earning potential for every dollar you spend on your Card.

10am: Ride a horse through traditional rice paddies

Who needs a car when you can experience Comporta’s incredible landscape on horseback? Tour operators including Cavalos na Areia and Passeios a Cavalo Melides will guide you and your noble steed through the region’s network of low-lying rice paddy fields, dense forest and across the sand dunes to the dazzling blue of the Atlantic, where you’ll gallop along one of Europe’s longest beaches.

TIP: Travel around Portugal with confidence thanks to Complimentary Travel Insurance³ with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Receive domestic and international insurance for you, your partner and your dependent children, when you pay for your return trip on your Card. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age-limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

12pm: Wander through a vibrant hub of creativity

Take the scenic 20-minute drive south along the coast to Melides, a timeless village of blue-shuttered whitewashed houses which is home to a traditional covered market and the experimental creative community Melides Art Villas. Doubling as an artists’ retreat, the hub’s complex of luxury villas is surrounded by 270-hectares of private pine forest that’s decorated with whimsical life-sized sculptures. Check out their calendar of events for the chance to see arresting works including Marnie Weber’s colourful circus bear and Olaf Breuning’s majestic white stone creations.  

 2pm: Reset at a designer wellness retreat

French shoe designer Christian Louboutin loves Melides so much he opened a lavish 13-suite boutique hotel on the town’s southern outskirts in 2023. Vermelho (“red” in Portuguese) showcases his signature passion for colour amid an eclectic mix of traditional Spanish and Alentejo-inspired design. Take zen to a new level by planning your visit in time for one of the stay’s exclusive three-night yoga retreats in October this year.

TIP: Continue your wine connoisseurship with your Qantas Wine Premium Membership, which is complimentary with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Not only will you get access to exceptional wines and exclusive events, you'll also earn 3 Qantas Points per dollar spent on all Qantas Wine purchases⁶.

Have fun getting there

You can fly Sydney to Lisbon return by combining a Classic Flight Rewards seat and a return seat with our partner airlines

Discover Portugal’s ultimate moments with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points* when you apply online by 14 January 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months of your approval date. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.

Plus, you’ll also receive:

• An annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit² to use on eligible domestic and international Qantas flights booked through American Express Travel.
• The potential to earn more Qantas Points with up to 4 Additional Cards for family or friends, at no extra fee⁷.
• Two Qantas Club invitations each year after purchasing select Qantas products and services⁴, plus two complimentary entries to The Centurion® Lounge⁵ at Sydney and Melbourne International Airports.
• Complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership⁶, allowing you to enjoy gourmet food, exceptional wines and exclusive access to events around Australia.
• Domestic and international travel insurance³ (for you, your partner and dependent children) when you pay for the return trip with your Card. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

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