A quiet and laid-back village, Comporta is with no doubt an ideal destination travelers looking for relaxed summer days. Comporta is part of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, so it remains an authentic place, with calm waters and smooth sand that contrast with the pine forest and the rice plantations.
It looks like a summer postcard: At the southern edge of the Troia peninsula, you will find a perfect small village, washed by bright calm sea waters and long beaches of thin sand. In between the Atlantic and the estuary of the Sado River, this strip of land just one hour away from Lisbon has been attracting the curious travelers without losing a sense of place.
Home of rice fields, you can visit the Rice Museum - that used to be the local rice factory. It has now a restaurant inside, that retains the old ceiling. And from the tables you can directly appreciate the fields. With a local equestrian tradition, it's fun to visit the old stables and it wouldn't be hard to arrange an horseback ride along the beach.
Nearby you will find Carrasqueira, a small fishing village with classic fishermen's houses and an old harbor from the beginning of the 20th century built on wooden pilings. Among the local seafood specialties are the "choco frito" and octopus dishes.
From here you can go visit Carvalhal and Melides , discover the Roman ruins nearby and maybe start a journey along the beautiful Alentejo seacoast.
With no big hotels, traffic or city noises, it used to be the home for the fisherman and rice farmers. Its villas maintain the rural atmosphere, that nowadays goes with a chic twist.
Local shops offer exclusive brands and local handmade crafts. From the organic cotton scarfs and tunics to swimwear, it has become a small artistic cluster for designers and artists.
A great getaway destination just one hour from Lisbon, Comporta had already nominated it as The Next Great Beach Destination by Forbes. It is not only a great choice for August as it is a great nature escape during low season.