Vila do Bispo is the westernmost municipality of the Algarve, with 5 717 inhabitants across 179 km², almost entirely within the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina.
Its coast has two sides: the south coast, with fishing villages and sheltered beaches, and the west coast, with high cliffs exposed to the Atlantic. The west coast has more wind and swell than the south coast of the Algarve, which makes it a surf destination, and lies inside a natural park, so it is less built-up.
Beaches in Vila do Bispo
- Burgau: fishing village beach at the eastern limit of the natural park.
- Boca do Rio: beach at a river mouth, below the ruins of the Forte de Almádena.
- Salema: fishing village beach.
- Ingrina: small beach between cliffs.
- Zavial: beach a few kilometres from Sagres, with surf.
- Praia do Telheiro: west coast beach below coloured cliffs, north of Cabo de São Vicente.
- Ponta Ruiva: beach with red cliffs and islets.
- Castelejo: surf beach below a viewpoint.
- Cordoama: wide surf beach north of Castelejo.
Monuments in Vila do Bispo
- Igreja Matriz de Vila do Bispo: one of the main Baroque churches of the Algarve, with walls covered in 18th-century azulejos.
- Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe: Gothic chapel near Raposeira, on the N125 road from Lagos.
- Forte de Almádena: ruins of a fort on the cliff above Boca do Rio.
Gastronomy of Vila do Bispo
Vila do Bispo is known for its percebes, goose barnacles picked from the rocks of the coast.
Walking in Vila do Bispo
Both long-distance routes of the Rota Vicentina cross the municipality and end at Cabo de São Vicente.
- Historical Way (Caminho Histórico): the stages from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo and from Vila do Bispo to Cabo de São Vicente, the last of a 263 km route from Santiago do Cacém, certified as a "Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe" in 2016 and 2020.
- Fishermen's Trail (Trilho dos Pescadores): the stage from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo, part of a coastal route of about 226 km from Porto Covo to Lagos that follows the west coast to Cabo de São Vicente and continues along the south coast.
- Cordoama circular route: short circular walk from the beach of Cordoama.
Golf in Vila do Bispo
- Parque da Floresta: course across hills among villas, in Budens, near Salema.
Parishes of Vila do Bispo
- Sagres (1 894 inhabitants · 34 km²): village near Cabo de São Vicente.
- Budens (1 857 inhabitants · 46 km²): parish with Salema and Boca do Rio.
- Barão de São Miguel (586 inhabitants · 15 km²): inland parish.
Places to visit in the Algarve
Barlavento, the windward Algarve
Golden Triangle
Sotavento, the leeward Algarve