Cabo Espichel
Sesimbra, Portugal
A windswept cape with a lighthouse, a lonely pilgrimage church and dinosaur footprints on the cliffs. Keep well back from the unfenced edges.
Cabo Espichel is the south-western tip of the Setúbal Peninsula. The plateau lies more than 130 m above the sea and drops away steeply. The hexagonal lighthouse dates from 1790. The Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo, whose construction began in 1701 according to Discover Portugal, includes not only the church but also the Ermida da Memória chapel and pilgrims' lodgings. A little over 1 km north-north-east, at Lagosteiros Bay, are two track sites: Pedra da Mua, of Late Jurassic age, with sauropod trackways interpreted as a herd, and the Lagosteiros Natural Monument, of Early Cretaceous age, with tracks of bipedal dinosaurs.
The tracks are hard to make out; binoculars help. Keep well back from the cliff edges. The large car park at the cape is free; from Lisbon it is one to one and a half hours' drive, depending on traffic.
- Nearest town
- Sesimbra, Portugal
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 38.4150, -9.2163
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Portugal: Electronic tolls by number plate. Some motorways only have electronic tolls; register your plate or rent a transponder. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Fauna SesimbraCampsite8 km from Cabo EspichelTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToilets
- ValbomCampsite14 km from Cabo Espichel
- YMCA Camp AlambreCampsite18 km from Cabo EspichelToiletsWi-Fi
- CEADA - Centro Escutista da ArrábidaCampsite20 km from Cabo Espichel
- Parque de Campismo PiedenseCampsite24 km from Cabo Espichel
- Area Serviço Autocaravana CorroiosMotorhome stopover25 km from Cabo Espichel · 15 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
All campsites in Portugal · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Cabo Espichel?
Cabo Espichel is in Sesimbra, Portugal, at GPS 38.4150, -9.2163. It is about 26 km from Costa da Caparica.
Can you camp near Cabo Espichel?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Private Camper Site, about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 23 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Cabo Espichel?
Cabo Espichel is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Serra da Arrábida and the Setúbal peninsula and Monasteries, surf and palaces in the mist – by camper along the Silver Coast to Lisbon and Sesimbra.
What is there to see near Cabo Espichel?
Places worth a stop nearby: Portinho da Arrábida (22 km), Cristo Rei (30 km), Belém Tower (31 km) and Jerónimos Monastery (31 km).
When is the best time to visit Cabo Espichel?
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)