Excellence Luxury Villas · Sesimbra
Luxury Villa Rentals in Sesimbra
Villas above a fishing harbour and the long sands of Meco, around 40 minutes south of Lisbon
As featured in
A working harbour between a cape and a mountain
Sesimbra is a fishing town that never quite became a resort. Its boats still land the catch below a Moorish castle, and the bay faces south, sheltered from the summer northerly. Many Lisboetas drive down at weekends for the grilled fish on the seafront. To the west lies Cabo Espichel, and to the east the limestone hills of the Arrábida Natural Park.
Our Sesimbra collection runs to 48 villas, the largest with 16 bedrooms. They range from family villas with private pools to sea-view houses above the coast, and they are spread between the town, the pine woods and dunes around Meco and Lagoa de Albufeira, and Quinta do Conde inland.
Here is how the area divides up, and when to come.
Sesimbra at a glance
- Villas
- 48 around Sesimbra, with up to 16 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,600 to £4,400 a week, from around £1,400
- Best areas
- Sesimbra town, Meco and Lagoa de Albufeira, and Quinta do Conde inland
- Best time
- June to September for the beach; May and late September for walking
- Airport
- Lisbon, around 40 minutes by road, traffic on the bridges allowing
Browse all 48 villas in Sesimbraor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Nortada Aleluia Sesimbra: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Sea Views – Sesimbra9 bedrooms
Rent Cliff Perch Villa Portugal4 bedrooms
Villa Esmeralda Cavalo Sesimbra: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool – Sesimbra4 bedrooms
Villa Morango Portugal6 bedroomsWhere to stay in Sesimbra
Sesimbra town for the harbour, beaches and restaurants, Meco and Lagoa de Albufeira around Casa do Infantado for dunes and space, and Quinta do Conde for a quieter base near the Azeitão wineries.
Fishing boats, a fort and a castle on the hill
Sesimbra curves around its bay. The seventeenth-century Fortaleza de Santiago sits at the centre of the seafront, with the town beaches of Praia da Califórnia and Praia do Ouro on either side. In the back lanes behind the seafront, family-run restaurants let you choose your fish from the counter, then grill it outside.
The castle stands above it all. It was a Moorish stronghold until Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king, took it in 1165. You can walk the walls for free, and the view from them takes in the whole bay. From a villa in or above the town the harbour is a short drive away, or a steep walk back up after dinner.
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Dunes, a lagoon and a king's hunting lodge
Over the hill from the town, on the open Atlantic coast, the long sands of Praia do Meco run beneath low cliffs and pine woods. Beyond them lies the Lagoa de Albufeira, a lagoon held back from the sea by a bank of sand. Its calm water draws windsurfers and kitesurfers, and birdwatchers come for the quieter Lagoa Pequena.
Our villas here sit around Casa do Infantado, named after a nineteenth-century hunting lodge that King Pedro V had built and which now stands in ruins near the lagoon. The houses are set among pines and fields, a few minutes from the beach. They suit families who want space more than streets.
Browse villas around Casa do Infantado
A pilgrims' cape, limestone hills and moscatel
Cabo Espichel is the wild western tip of the peninsula, with sheer cliffs, a lighthouse and the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo. Long rows of lodgings built for pilgrims flank the church. Dinosaur footprints are visible in the rock below, and medieval locals took them for the tracks of a mule that had carried the Virgin up the cliff.
East of Sesimbra, the Arrábida hills drop to clear water and sheltered beaches such as Portinho da Arrábida. The sea there is a protected marine park, good for snorkelling and diving. Inland, Quinta do Conde makes a quieter base near Azeitão, a town known for its sheep's cheese and Moscatel de Setúbal.
Browse villas in Quinta do Conde
Grilled fish, the Festa das Chagas and a long September
Sesimbra eats from the sea. You will find grilled fish on the seafront, caldeirada stew, and black scabbardfish, a long, dark fish landed by the local fleet. The town's great day is 4 May. After more than a week of concerts and seafood stalls, the procession of the Senhor Jesus das Chagas, patron saint of fishermen, stops at the water's edge to bless the sea and the boats gathered in the bay.
The beach season runs from June to September, and the bay is often calm when the open coast is windy. May and late September are the months for walking at Espichel and in the Arrábida hills. Our concierge can arrange boat trips, wine tastings in Azeitão and tables by the harbour.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Sesimbra
Villa do Meco Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,763 a week
Rent Crystal Waters Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,563 a week
Villa Jordao Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,276 a week
Casa Falou Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £3,099 a week
Villa Alfie Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £3,099 a week
Casa Meco Sesimbra: Spacious 3-Bedroom Apartment with Pool & Air-Con – Sesimbra3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,933 a week
Villa Veriana Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £2,795 a week
Rent Casa Caldeira Portugal3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,772 a weekWhy book your Sesimbra villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Sesimbra's villas are spread between the harbour, the dunes at Meco and the pine woods inland, and we know which are a walk from the sand and which need a car. With 48 properties in Sesimbra, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat and kayak trips along the Arrábida coast, diving in the marine park, wine tastings in Azeitão, harbour restaurant tables, car hire and transfers from Lisbon. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Sesimbra?
Sesimbra town suits those who want to walk to the harbour, the beaches and the restaurants. Meco and Lagoa de Albufeira, around Casa do Infantado, are best for long beaches and space. Quinta do Conde, inland, is a quieter base close to the Azeitão wineries.
How do I get to Sesimbra?
Lisbon airport is around 40 minutes away by road, across one of the Tagus bridges, though summer weekend traffic can add time. There is no railway to Sesimbra, so a hire car or a private transfer is the practical choice. Our concierge can arrange either.
Can you see dinosaur footprints near Sesimbra?
Yes. At Cabo Espichel, a short drive west of the town, dinosaur trackways are visible in the cliffs. They include the Pedra da Mua tracks below the Ermida da Memória chapel and the Lagosteiros site, which is a short walk from the sanctuary.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Sesimbra?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Sesimbra cost?
Across our 48 villas in Sesimbra, weekly rates typically range from £1,600 to £4,400, with the most affordable from around £1,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
When is the best time to visit Sesimbra?
June to September is best for swimming, although this is the Atlantic, so the sea is refreshing rather than warm. May and late September are best for walks at Cabo Espichel and in the Arrábida hills, and 4 May brings the Festa das Chagas.
Are there villas in Sesimbra for large groups?
Yes. Our Sesimbra collection includes properties with up to 16 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Sesimbra
48 villas between Sesimbra, Meco and the Arrábida hills, booked direct with our concierge on hand