Travel guide for renting a house in Aroeira on the coast of Portugal
Best restaurants and Beaches, and hints and tips for your visit in Villa Feria
Welcome to Aroeira and well done for having chosen to rent with Villa Feria!
This small guide does not aim to replace or compete with a formal travel guide like “lonelyplanet” for example; we are more aiming to complement the information you may find in a travel guide with our personal recommendations.
The hints and tips you will find in here represents the places where my family and I love to go and have been going for years.
The list is far from being exhaustive, and we are looking forward to receiving your feedback so that we can discover and add new places into this guide.
- Location and directions
- Grocery Shopping and stores
- House equipment and maintenance
- Beaches
- Restaurants
- Must do
- Before leaving the house
Location and directions
The exact address is 3 Praceta Mario Cesariny, 2820-053 Aroeira, Charneca da Caparica
As this is a new street, it may not appear on your GPS. In this case just look for “rua Carlos Lopes” in Aroeira and turn right.
Aroeira is located near Charneca da Caparica, in the South region of Lisbon. From Lisbon you need to cross the A2 SUL Bridge called “Ponte do 25 do Abril” and take A33 towards Charneca da Caparica. You will then find an exit for Aroeira directly. From there, follow the beach sign “Fonte da Telha” which will get you on the main avenue called “Avenida do Mar”. You only need to take a right before the Aldi supermarket at street “rua Antonio Pedro”, followed by 3 rights.
Important point for drivers!
Portuguese highways are managed by automatic tolls. You will not be able to take a ticket and pay by card. In order for you to avoid getting any ticket, it is important that you purchase a toll pass that will associate your plate number with your credit card. You can do this while in Portugal either at the border, or at a gas station.
If you are renting a car, make sure to activate the automatic toll service to avoid any bad surprise (it is called Via Verde).
More information on buying a toll pass here
Grocery shopping and stores
Just 500 meters away from the house you will find a big Aldi supermarket. It is located on the main avenue “Avenida do Mar” so just make a right after coming out of the house when you are in the street “rua Antonio Pedro”.
This Aldi is very recent and you will find most goods you may need there: fruits, vegetables, meat, pasta, rice, cheese, cereals, yogurt and milk, delicious fresh bread and pastries, wine, beer, all you need!
If you are looking for more choices and different products including fresh fish and meat, a new “Continente” supermarket opened in September 2016 just 10 minutes away from the house. Drive towards Charneca de Caparica.
Between the house and Charneca de Caparica, you will find a fish store, a meat store and a nice little café in the city called “Marisol”. It’s just 5 minutes away from the house.
The closest pharmacy is located in “Marisol” too.
Also note that there is a pharmacy inside the Continente supermarket mentioned above.
If you would like to do some shopping, you can go to the “Almada forum” mall. It offers all types of nice shops, there is a supermarket at the bottom, and a cinema and large food court at the top. It’s about 20 mins away from the house, a very easy ride (towards Lisbon).
House equipment and maintenance
The garden equipment (chairs, long chairs, umbrellas) are stored in the garage. Please ensure that you always keep the main umbrella closed when you are not using it to avoid damaging it with wind blows.
When you arrive, you can place the wooden steps located in the garage to create a path from the terrace to the outdoor shower. You can then switch on the outdoor shower (which is solar heated) by opening the tap at the water point located on the right hand side of the shower (follow the pipe behind the small trees).
We kindly ask our tenants to always take a quick shower before using the swimming pool.
Water and electricity in the house are active, you have got nothing to do. The garden irrigation is automatic, and the maintenance of the garden and cleaning of swimming pool are being managed by an external company, you do not need to do anything.
You will need to turn the fridge on, this is done simply by using the touch screen button located inside the fridge panel door. Please keep in mind to switch it back off before you leave the house at the end of your stay.
We kindly ask you to access the garden preferably going through the door located in the garage. Please make a conscious effort to minimize the use of the door located in the living room that could also grant access to the garden. This door is wide and heavy and should not remain open for long periods of time and on top of that there is a high probability of slamming it due to the wind current.
The barbecue located in the garden, next to the garage door is at your disposal, so feel free to use and enjoy it.
Beaches
Fonte da Telha
The main beach is located 3km away from the house, straight at the end of the main avenue “Avenida do Mar”. You can’t miss it!
This beautiful sand beach is 30km long, so feel free to walk along before choosing your spot, there is plenty of space where you can get more intimacy and peace.
It is a pretty good spot for Surfers, and you will also find several choices of beach bars and restaurants to go to (see the restaurants section below).
The beach also offers free showers located right at the entrance near the main path in front of the parking spaces and the mini market.
MUST DO: watch the wonderful sunset from the beach
Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is located about 15km away from the house and is a more developed and touristic beach with more bars and restaurants than Fonte da Telha.
Costa is the sweetspot for surfers, with many events and competitions happening throughout the year. There is often wind and waves on this beach.
It is a great place to go in the evening, have a walk along the ocean while breathing a fresh air and eating an ice-cream or even the famous Portuguese churros called “Farturas”.
Note: there are many beaches between fonte da telha and costa da caparica which you will be able to access by car. Just drive along and let yourself be surprised!
To get there from the house, drive to Fonte da Telha and then continue on the road until you get to the first roundabout. At this roundabout turn left. This will take you to a road along the beach where you will notice signs for each beach (Praia do Rei, Praia da Princessa, etc) and at the end of that road you will arrive in Costa where you can make a left to park to the beach and restaurants. It is an easy drive but you may prefer to use your GPS at first.
If you are a bit adventurous and sporty, you could even hike from Fonte da Telha to Costa by foot. It is about 20km in total for the round-trip.
Sesimbra
Sesimbra is a small fishermen town very romantic and authentic.
The beach is smaller than Fonte da Telha, and can be crowded at times. The water is much calmer and there is little wind there.
Sesimbra offers numerous places to eat and drink for tourists, fresh fish guaranteed.
It is about 40mins away from Aroeira, see the itinary here.
Portinho da Arrabida
This is a dream beach classified as UNESCO natural reserve. Also one of my own favorite beach and the one where I spent most of my summers when I was a kid.
The water is very calm there, but also slightly colder and you can at times find sea weed near the shore which can be unpleasant for some bathers.
It is a great place for some scuba diving because you have many rocks and therefore lots of fishes around.
Take the direction of Azeitao (very nice small village that produces an amazing Moscatel wine which you can taste there).
It is about 40mins away from Aroeira, see the itinary here.
Restaurants
Note: if you wish, make sure to mention that you have been recommended by Greg Henriques from Villa Feria. Never know: you might get better service of a free coffee 😉
Note: we voluntarily left Lisbon out of this list because there are many guides that exist which would be a much better source of information
O retiro do pescador, Fonte da Telha
The best restaurant we can recommend you. Feet on the sand, facing the ocean by the shade, this restaurant will not offer you a menu but rather present you the fish that were caught on the day. They will then grill it on their barbecue and serve you an amazing platter with vegetables, salad, and the most delicious fish you can ever taste!
Note to the ones with good appetite: the portions are huge. The prices are more than affordable for such a place (about 15 euro per person).
You will not regret it!
First restaurant on the left when you arrive in Fonte da Telha beach.
Rampa beach club, Fonte da Telha
This beach club has the shape of a big ship, and it is the ideal spot to enjoy a famous Portuguese “Sangria branca” jar, feet on the sand, view of the ocean, and you might even even live music mixed by a DJ after 5pm.
They also serve food but it is not necessarily their best strength.
Located on the left side of Fonte da Telha beach at walking distance from the main parking.
Beira Mar, Fonte da Telha
An alternative of the Retiro do Pescador restaurant, with a slightly more sophisticated menu and slightly higher prices.
Located in front of the restaurant Retiro do Pescador.
Borda da agua, praia da morena
The ultimate beach lounge located next to Fonte da Telha. You could either get there by a 20min walk along the beach (heading on the right side when you face Fonte da Telha with the parking in your back) or by car getting to praia da morena between Fonte da Telha et Costa da Caparica.
Ginny would recommend you to taste their ocean salad (salade do mar) but they serve all sorts of plates. The view and the environment are outstanding.
A merendeira, Costa da Caparica
A must see! This authentic place will serve you a home cooked traditional meal for just 6 euro including: caldo verde soup, pasteis de bacalhau, oven baked bread with chorizo pieces, milk rice and a drink or coffee.
Atlantico, Costa da Caparica
An authentic and affordable restaurant to enjoy the most traditional sea food and fish based meals of Portugal. One of my favorite places to go when I am really hungry! My personal recommendations: Caldeirada, Cataplana, and the Feijoda do Mariscos.
O barbas, Costa da Caparica
An ocean vue restaurant along the long walkway in Costa da Caparica. This one is slightly more expensive but the plates are good and come in great portions. The owner is a Benfica fan, you will see 😉
O jardim, Cova da Piedade, Almada
This restaurant is for the ones who want to experience a typical local Portuguese restaurant with no tourist and no menu in English! This is right by where my grandmother lives.
The prices are really low and the quality and quantity of the food is amazing.
O Pote Do Leitão, Pombal
On the road between Porto and Lisbon, you will find this amazing treasure that serves one of the best roast of the country. It is served with an abundance of sides, starters and desserts. Want more? They will serve you more at the same price. Amazing quality for a really low price. A must!
The secret…
If you want to experience something unique, I advice you to watch for the fishermen coming from the ocean in Fonte da Telha around 10:30pm – 11pm.
You can’t miss them because they use strong lights and farm trucks to pull the nets.
Go there and hand someone a bill of 5 euro with a solid bag, they will fill it in with fresh fish that you can take away to the barbecue and grill at your own will. The most amazing fish you will ever taste!
Must do
- Have breakfast or at least a coffee and some patisserie in one of the numerous local “pastelaria” that you can find in every town (Almada is an ideal place for this). Enter, trust the Portuguese hospitality!
- Eat some grilled Sardines, at least once
- Drink a “sangria branca” jar by the beach
- Taste the famous “pasteis de belem” in Lisbon, and make sure you eat in and have a sit because this place is amazing
- Spend a night at a “casa do fado” restaurant in Alfama, Lisbon (plan for 50 euro per person but it is worth it). Pick any place, they are all pretty much the same.
- Attend a sunset at Fonte da Telha beach
- Visit the wineyards and caves of Jose Maria de Fonseco, taste their amazing Moscatel (the tour + 3 glasses of tasting costs 3 euro per person). Go to Azeitao and you will find it.
- …there are still so many other treasures to discover…Sintra, Cascais, Setubal, and of course the amazing and ever surprising Lisbon!
Before leaving the house
- Turn the fridge off
- Put the garden chairs, parasol, and long chairs back into the garage
- Take off the wooden steps from the grass and put them back into the garage
- Close the water point of the external shower
- Close the garage backdoor and lock it
- Take all house curtains down
- Switch off each air conditioning unit and all lights
- Put back the main keys into the drawer and the one key where you found it originally
- Close the sliding door of the barbecue
We really wish you an amazing stay at Villa Feria!
