Attractions in Odeceixe
- Windmill
It’s Odeceixe’s main landmark. This charming, typically Mediterranean windmill dates from 1898. Built in masonry and wood, it remains in working order, so it’s possible to see the process of corn and wheat milling. You can see much of the village from the terrace around it.
- Igreja Matriz de Odeceixe
Officially called Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Piedade (“Church of Our Lady of Godliness”). Odeceixe’s parish church was originally built in the 14-15th centuries. It was then altered and restored in 1527 and acquired its current appearance in the early 1600s. It has a plain façade, while inside it preserves Manueline (Portuguese Gothic style) altarpieces from the mid-1500s, a silver crown from 1564, and a silver monstrance from the late 17th century.
- Praia de Odeceixe
According to a national survey, this was considered one of Portugal’s most wonderful beaches in 2012. Surrounded by natural beauty, this is the place where the Seixe River meets the Atlantic, so it has calm waters for children and kayaking on one side, and powerful waves for surfing on another. Once a well-kept secret beach frequented by hippies, it’s now a popular destination for Portuguese families and surfers. There are a couple of surf schools renting equipment and offering surfing lessons.
- Praia das Adegas
It’s a small cove next to Praia de Odeceixe, accessed around the cliff at low tide or via a wooden staircase from the top of the cliff. This is the only official nude beach on Algarve’s west coast. So, this is where you can be sure that it’s perfectly OK to sunbathe without your bathing suit. The beach is sheltered by cliffs, so it’s not windy, but the water is often rough. It’s more of a sunbathing than a swimming beach, much enjoyed by all kinds of people, from families to young couples.
How to get to Odeceixe
Buses operate very infrequently from Lagos to Odeceixe, only the Vamus bus n° 79, and only on weekdays. It takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. It’s also possible to take an express bus from Lisbon, but it stops in the center of the village, so you’d then need a car to go to the beaches.
By car, it’s less than 1 hour from Lagos, about 1 hour from Sagres, and 2 hours and 35 minutes from Lisbon.
Hotels in Odeceixe
