The Best Hotels in Costa da Caparica for Every Traveller
Once a fishing village, Costa da Caparica, on Portugal’s west coast, gets its name from the legend of a woman whose cape was miraculously filled with coins (capa meaning ‘cape’ and rica ‘rich’). The spot took off with the discovery of beach life in the 20th century and now it’s one of the coast’s busiest sections, just 20 minutes’ drive from Lisbon. Here’s our pick of places to stay, all poised to take in the view.
Aldeia dos Capuchos Golf & Spa
Spa Hotel, Golf Hotel, Hotel
Located at the entrance to the historic Capuchos village, with views over the Atlantic Ocean, this hotel is just 20 minutes from Lisbon airport. There are 229 rooms, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, all with kitchenettes. The hotel has an enormous range of facilities including three swimming pools, a wellness centre and a nine-hole golf course – this is Portugal, after all.
Hotel Maia
Hotel
This hotel is located right in the centre of Costa da Caparica, just a few minutes’ walk from Setúbal’s 20-plus beaches. Each of the 28 rooms is done up in restful sandy shades – some have private terraces – and there’s a restaurant for breakfast each morning. Those in search of culture should hop on a ferry to nearby Belém and visit the Berardo Collection Museum, excellent for modern and contemporary art, before indulging in one of the much-loved pasteis de Belém (custard tarts) at the cafe where they were first produced.
Villa Caparica Hostel
Hostel, Hotel
Just 15 minutes from Lisbon and right by some of the most acclaimed surf spots in Portugal, this hostel offers a range of accommodation from suites with sea views to dormitories with bunk beds. Being just 50 metres from the beach means activities are angled towards the waves, with stand-up paddleboarding, kitesurfing, surfing and boat tours available, plus yoga. Sociable spots to trade tales of the day’s breaks and barrels include a barbecue area, pool and bar.
Inatel Caparica
Hotel
Framed by a leafy park, the 35 rooms at Inatel Caparica offer tranquillity and the chance to immerse yourself in nature. There is a chapel, a children’s playground and an outdoor swimming pool. The restaurant serves dishes which draw on the region’s fishing heritage: try one of the popular caldeiradas (fish stews) before exploring the many beaches in the area.
Sea for Yourself
Hostel
For those who really want to up their surfing game, this hostel in a renovated three-storey villa, ticks all the boxes with its partnership with Gotas d’Água surf school. There’s a range of digs from four-bed, female-only dorms to 10-bed mixed rooms, doubles or studios. When you’re not riding the waves, there are bikes to borrow to explore the area.
Villa Epicurea
Eco Hotel, Hotel
Eco-lodge Villa Epicurea is a hotel with a mission to nurture the soul. It sits on the pine-shaded slopes of the Serra da Arrábida mountains, with snapshot views of the coast. In keeping with its planet-hugging ethos, there’s a natural swimming pool, a yoga dome set within the evergreen gardens and a menu of organic, local food, served with love – plus a vegetarian breakfast included for all each morning. There are three rooms in the main house (Serenity, Wisdom and Courage) and two architecturally arresting eco suites, which stand a few steps from the hotel with their own entrance. Real-world respite at its finest.
Quinta do Tagus
Hotel
This ochre-coloured hotel is surrounded by large gardens overlooking the sea, inset with a swimming pool. The hotel’s own horses graze on pine-speckled slopes that reach down to the sea and there are free bikes to rent for exploring the area. Food is typically Portuguese, with fish being the main staple here. Bedrooms come with wooden floors and balconies with far-reaching views.
Aroeira Lisbon Hotel
Resort, Golf Hotel, Hotel
There are 66 double rooms and two suites in this modern hotel, tucked into the pine forests near the iconic Cristo Rei statue – inspired by Río de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer – with an 80-metre-high viewing platform that gives magnificent views over Lisbon and its golden suspension bridge. At the hotel, there are two restaurants, one of which, the Aroeira Beach, serves salads and snacks as well as more substantial dishes including monkfish cataplana, cooked in the copper pot the dish is named for.