Comporta, Portugal

• More about your oliver guide: Courtney Leary
• Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Solo, Beach
• Activity level: easy
• Ideal length of trip: Two days is enough to see it but I could stay two weeks and live it....

to & from

Rent a car from Lisbon and drive an 1.5 hours south. No matter where you are coming from, you will want a car to visit various beaches, restaurants etc.

Where to Stay

We stayed at Quinta da Comporta which we loved. Beautiful rustic chic room with a lovely deck and gorgeous view of the rice fields. I would request a rice field view. Service was great and location ideal-1.5 miles from the beach and walking distance to the cute town of Carvalhal.
The other upscale option is Sublime which seemed a little more luxe and expansive on our short visit but more hidden and about a 10 minute drive to the beach, not walking distance to a town.
Home rentals are also an option for longer stays. I would request walking distance to Comporta or Carvalhal or to the beach.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Mar D’Arrozal at Quinta da Comporta –Great for breakfast (amazing buffet and made to order options) and dinner. Very much farm to table, the gorgeous garden is right outside the door, with a slight emphasis on seafood but vegetarian and meat options as well. Several options for my gluten-free husband including gf bread at dinner. If you can’t make it for a meal, come for a drink and watch the sun set over the rice fields.
• Sem Porta at Sublime- Another amazing farm to table restaurant with an emphasis on seafood. All beautifully prepared. Wonderful service and gorgeous decor. Check out the giftshop when you are there.
• Sublime Beach Club- I could spend the week here. Great chill but chic vibe. Gorgeous restaurant decor. Make reservations separately for restaurant and sunbeds. Some food and drink can be served on the beach if you can’t pull yourself away.
• JNcQuoi— True to its name –“a quality that cannot be described or named easily.” Brand new, very hip with a slightly fancier, hipper vibe than Sublime Beach Club. Food is delicious but more complicated and slight more expensive. Service both on the beach and at the restaurant top notch.
• Restaurant Sal– Known to be the place for long lunches, Sal is actually great for dinner too. This is an old-school ON THE BEACH seafood restaurant that delivers from beginning to end. If you can make a sunset here– go!
• Also recommended to us but we did not have time to go: Calvalarica (known to be the best food in the area), Bee Comporta for breakfast and Da Comporta.

What to Do

Many people have compared Comporta to the Hamptons of earlier days (60s and 70s)… a few cute small but chic towns and big beautiful seemingly empty beaches. This is a place you go AHHHHHH.

• Go to the beach-- many to choose from, beach clubs too.
• Golf- Comporta Dunas just opened this year-- a brand new beautiful course designed by the acclaimed David McLay-Kidd. A second course is in the works.
• Surf- many surf schools and places to rent boards in Carvalhal and Comporta
• Shop- very chic beachy stores in both Carvalhal and Comporta. If you can figure out how to bring it home (advance planning) loads of gorgeous pottery. Favorite shops in Carhalval Caju Comporta, Loja da Ca, Fashion Clinic and Stork Club.
• Ride bikes- the entire area is relatively flat and an easy place to ride bikes, both Sublime and Quinta da Comporta have them available to guests
• Take a "day trip" to the town of Melides.
• Horseback ride-- we did not do it but it is definitely a thing here.

inside scoop

We visited in late September when the beaches were seemingly empty and the weather still gorgeous. It was a little quiet for me but I hear that things are much busier in the summer months and I would love to go back and check out that scene. My guess is it is perfection.

What to Pack

Bathing suits, cover ups, workout clothes, a light coat or sweater for mornings and evenings. Dress is beach chic for dinner. Day is completely casual.