The Sagres to Vila do Bispo walk is a part of the Fishermen’s Trail, a multi-day hiking route along the coast in Southern Portugal. The stage can be walked as a day hike. This easy 20-kilometer walk mostly along the cliffs offers spectacular scenery; dramatic cliffs, unspoiled beaches, and breathtaking lookout points. The route goes through Cabo de São Vicente (St.Vincent Cape), a south westernmost point of mainland Europe.
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Sagres to Vila do Bispo route overview
- Distance – 20 km/12.4 mi
- Time – 5-6 hours (moving time)
- Total ascent – 244 m
- Total descent – 199 m
- Difficulty – easy
- Route markings – the coastal part is marked with green and blue stripes painted on light poles, rocks, and walls; the inland part is marked with white and red stripes.
- Walking surface – 10 km/6.2 mi – footpath; 5.5 km/3.4 mi – gravel road; 4.5 km/2.7 mi – asphalt.
- Walking by the sea – 14 km/8.6 mi
- Walking route – Sagres – Cabo de São Vicente – Vila do Bispo.
GPX file of the Sagres to Vila do Bispo trail
Where does the trail start?
The easiest is to start at the tourism information office in Sagres at Jardim de Sagres Square (Mareta Beach). There is a wooden board with a map of the trail. From there you can walk out of town following the route indicators (blue and green stripes) painted on the poles, walls, and ground.
Where does it finish?
Once you’re in Vila do Bispo you can head to your accommodation (if you’re staying there). If you walk the trail as a day hike and have to get back you can finish at a bus stop on Rua Ribeiro do Poco (100 m from ALDI supermarket). Buses leave every hour or so. Note! There is a 2-hour gap between 2 pm and 4 pm.
How to get to Sagres?
You can take a direct bus from Lisbon to Sagres. The journey takes 4 hours. Buses leave from Sete Rios bus stations in Lisbon. You can find up-to-date itinerary and buy tickets on the website.
There are direct buses from Portimao to Sagres through Lagos.
If you’re already in Western Algarve you can get to Sagres by bus #47 from Lagos, Luz, Salema, Burgau, and Vila do Bispo. You can check for the timetable here.
The highlights of the Sagres to Vila do Bispo route
- Great views from the cliffs on the route between Sagres and Cabo Sao Vicente.
- Praia do Beliche, a sandy beach 3.5 km from Sagres with a long staircase leading down to the beach.
- Beliche Fort.
- The lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente.
- The spectacular coastal views at the cape.
- Dramatic drops, rugged cliffs, and a couple of hidden beaches on the trail from Cabo de S.Vicente.
- Fields of wildflower on the last 6 km/3.7 mi to Sagres (if walking in spring).
The challenges of the trail
The stage from Sagres to Vila do Bispo is one of the easiest stages of the Fishermen’s Trail. The only challenge I would highlight is walking on the rocky/sandy ground for 2 km/1.2 mi from the lighthouse.
In which direction to walk?
If you do this trail as a day hike I think walking from Vila do Bispo to Sagres is a better option. Because you get to walk the least interesting part (6 km inland through the fields) at the start of the day.
Elevation profile of the route
Stops along the trail
7 km/4.3 mi – the lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente with several food stalls.
Sagres to Vila do Bispo route description
Part 1. Sagres to Cabo de São Vicente
The trail goes on a sidewalk along the road out of Sagres for about 0.8 km.
0.8 km/0.5 mi – the route continues on the path along the cliffs.
3.5 km/2.1 mi – Beliche Beach.
3.5-5 km/2.1-3.1 mi – on the sidewalk along the road.
5-6 km/3.1-3.7 mi – on a footpath along the cliffs.
5.6 km/3.4 mi – Beliche Fort
6-7 km/3.7-4.3 mi – on the sidewalk along the road.
7 km/4.3 mi – the lighthouse at Cabo de São Vicente. There are several food stalls outside the lighthouse. Inside the lighthouse you can find a restaurant and a paid toilet.
Part 2. Cabo de São Vicente to Vila do Bispo
7-14 km/4.3-8.6 mi – along the cliffs with spectacular views.
7-8.5 km/4.3-5.2 mi – on the rocky terrain along the cliffs.
8.5-9.5 km/5.2-5.9 mi – on a sandy/rocky trail along the cliffs.
9.5-13 km/5.9-8 mi – on a footpath.
13-18.5 km/8-11.5 mi – on a gravel road with very few cars.
14-20 km/8.6-12.4 mi – inland.
18.5-20 km/11.5-12.4 mi on a tire road with very few cars.
20 km/12.4 mi – Vila do Bispo, a small town with several restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets.
Where to stay in Vila do Bispo
Vila do Bispo is a small town with a couple of supermarkets, several restaurants, and a couple of rental apartments/houses. There are significantly fewer places to stay here compared to Sagres. Many places in Vila do Bispo have a minimum of 2-nights+ stay.
- Low-end | Good Feeling Hostel & Guest House | Algarve Surf Hostel & Guest House | Both places are in Raposeira, a small town 2 km/1.2 mi from Vila do Bispo. You can take an Uber or walk there.
- Mid-range | Buzio |
- High-end | B81 – Casa do Outeiro Westcoast Home |
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.