Sesimbra is the place I take visitors when I want to show them what the Portuguese coast looks like without tourist resort infrastructure. The bay is sheltered by the Arrábida hills from the north wind that makes the Lisbon coast often rough; the water in summer is genuinely clear and warm by Atlantic standards; the castle on the hill behind the town is Moorish and accessible; the fish restaurants on the front serve whatever came off the boats that morning.
The Four Points by Sheraton sits directly on the bay — about the best position a hotel in Sesimbra can have. This review covers what staying there is actually like, what it gets right, and what to manage your expectations about.
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Location: The Main Argument
The hotel’s location is its primary asset. It sits on the Avenida dos Náufragos, the beachfront road running along Sesimbra’s bay, with rooms facing the water and the beach directly accessible. In a town where being on the bay versus a five-minute walk from it makes a significant difference to the experience, the Four Points has the right position.
Sesimbra’s bay is small and sheltered — the beach is not large by Algarve standards, but the water quality is exceptional. The Arrábida Natural Park to the west protects the coastline from development and maintains the water clarity that makes Sesimbra’s bay one of the best for swimming and snorkelling on the mainland coast.
From the hotel, the old town (the medieval streets and the fish market) is a five-minute walk. The castle is a fifteen-minute walk uphill. The boat trips and diving operations depart from the small harbour, also walkable.
The Hotel Itself
The Four Points by Sheraton is a mid-range international hotel in the Marriott group — which means reliable if not distinctive: clean rooms, consistent service, good WiFi, competent breakfast buffet, a pool. The property itself is not architecturally distinctive (a modernish building on the bay), but the facilities are maintained to a reasonable standard.
The rooms: the most important decision is sea view vs no sea view. Sea-facing rooms directly look out over the bay; the price differential is worth it. The rooms are comfortably sized, well air-conditioned for summer, and have standard hotel furnishings without particular character.
The pool: the hotel pool is on the ground level, separated from the beach by the access road. Adequate for hotel pool purposes; most guests use the beach for swimming given the direct access.
The restaurant: breakfast is the main meal served and is a competent buffet with good pastries and fresh fruit. For lunch and dinner, the local Sesimbra restaurants are significantly better value and quality than in-hotel dining — the fish restaurants on the waterfront serve the catch of the day, and several have been operating for decades. Eating out for dinner in Sesimbra is strongly recommended over eating in.
Service: the Four Points service standard is consistent with the brand — professional, straightforward, English-speaking. Nothing exceptional but nothing poor.
What to Do from Sesimbra
The Arrábida Natural Park: the main reason to have a car during a Sesimbra stay. The coast west of Sesimbra, within the park boundaries, has some of the most beautiful beaches on mainland Portugal — Galapinhos, Portinho da Arrábida, and Setúbal’s Tróia peninsula are all within 30-45 minutes. The water clarity in the park’s protected coves is extraordinary — visibility 10-15 metres in summer.
Diving and snorkelling: Sesimbra has several diving operators running trips to the Arrábida Marine Reserve, one of the cleanest and most biodiverse marine environments on the mainland Portuguese coast. The diving here is excellent for Mediterranean/Atlantic marine life; the snorkelling in the protected coves within the park is also good without specialist equipment.
The castle (Castelo de Sesimbra): the Moorish fortress on the hilltop above the town. The castle itself is modest but the views over the bay and coast are excellent. The walk up takes about 20 minutes; the panorama justifies the effort.
The fish market and restaurants: Sesimbra’s fish market operates daily in the morning; the catch (typically choco — cuttlefish — sea bass, bream, octopus, and seasonal species) supplies the restaurants on the bay. The restaurant strip along the waterfront varies in quality; the ones with queues of Portuguese locals are invariably better than those primarily targeting tourists.
Day trip to Setúbal and beyond: Setúbal, 30 minutes by car, has the Arrábida peninsula’s largest town, good waterfront restaurants, and ferry connections to the Tróia peninsula. Worth a half day from Sesimbra.
Who the Four Points Suits
The hotel is a good choice for: families wanting a beachfront location in Sesimbra without villa logistics; business travellers needing a reliable, well-located base; couples on a short break from Lisbon (Sesimbra is 45 minutes from central Lisbon by car, making it a very convenient weekend escape).
It’s less ideal for: travellers specifically looking for Portuguese character in their accommodation (for that, a local quinta or guesthouse in the hills above the town would be better); budget travellers (there are cheaper options in the town centre); visitors who want to cook for themselves (no kitchenette options).
Practical Information
Getting there: car from Lisbon takes 45-55 minutes via the A2 motorway (cross the 25 de Abril Bridge) or the Vasco da Gama Bridge route. Sesimbra is not accessible by train; local buses exist but are slow. A car is strongly recommended for a Sesimbra stay to access the Arrábida park.
Parking: the hotel has parking; in summer, the town centre parking is limited and the hotel’s facility is useful.
Price: mid-range to upper-mid-range. Summer rooms with sea view run €150-220/night. Off-season (October-May) significantly lower. Book in advance for July-August; the bay-facing rooms sell first.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Four Points by Sheraton Sesimbra
Is the Four Points by Sheraton Sesimbra well located?
Yes — it sits directly on Sesimbra’s bay, with beachfront access and sea-facing rooms. In a town where location is the primary variable, the Four Points has the right position. The beach and old town are directly accessible on foot; the harbour and diving operators are also walkable. For access to the Arrábida Natural Park beaches west of Sesimbra, a hire car is needed (the park beaches are 15-30 minutes by car).
What is Sesimbra like as a destination?
Sesimbra is a fishing village on a sheltered bay on the Setúbal Peninsula, approximately 45 minutes from Lisbon. It’s notable for the clarity of its water (protected by the Arrábida Natural Park), its working fishing harbour, the Moorish castle on the hill above, and the fish restaurants along the waterfront. It’s considerably less touristy than the Algarve coast but has the best water quality on the mainland coast. It works well as a base for exploring the Arrábida park.
How far is Sesimbra from Lisbon?
Sesimbra is approximately 45-55 minutes from central Lisbon by car via the A2 motorway and A33 (crossing the 25 de Abril Bridge) or via the Vasco da Gama Bridge. There’s no direct train service; local buses are slow. Most visitors drive. The combination of proximity to Lisbon and the quality of the bay makes Sesimbra a popular weekend escape for Lisbon residents.
Are the Arrábida beaches near Sesimbra worth visiting?
Yes — the Arrábida Natural Park coast west of Sesimbra is among the most beautiful coastal scenery on mainland Portugal. The beaches at Galapinhos, Portinho da Arrábida, and several smaller coves have clear turquoise water with 10-15m visibility in summer, white limestone cliffs, and relatively low development. Access requires a car, and some of the park beaches have entry limits in peak summer (advance booking required). The scenery genuinely rivals parts of the Mediterranean coast.
What is the best way to get from Lisbon to Sesimbra?
By car is the only practical option for most visitors — the drive takes 45-55 minutes from central Lisbon via the A2 motorway. Public transport (bus from Lisbon’s Cacilhas terminal) exists but takes 1.5-2 hours. For a hotel stay at the Four Points or any Sesimbra accommodation, a hire car also gives access to the Arrábida park beaches, which are the main reason to be in the area.
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