Arrifana: a hidden surfer's gem
If you ever heard Arrifana in a sentence, the word “surfing” was probably used as well. The beach at Arrifana is beautiful but it also has some great waves which attracts surfers from everywhere. However, Arrifana has a lot to offer also to the non-surfers as I will show below.
Why visit Arrifana?
Arrifana is located south of Lisbon on the Costa Vicentina. It is a rather small village, and it is situated close to the bigger town of Aljezur. Arrifana is the home of surfers, but it is also located on the Fishermen’s Trail which many people hike every year. Its dramatic cliffs and beautiful scenery around makes it a natural place to visit when passing by.
If you have the possibility to stay either in Arrifana or Aljezur I would recommend it. The spot is rather unknown by tourists so prices on both accommodation and food is rather modest for what you get.
If you plan to walk to the cape where Arrifana ends, there is an old fortress from the Napoleonic wars built to defend the coast: I recommend learning more about it if you are passing by! Also, you will see the restaurant O Paulo which I write more about below.
Where to stay in Arrifana?
While it has not the most wide selection of accommodation, Arrifana makes it up in coziness. There is a great hostel called HI Arrifana Destination Hostel which belongs to the many “Pousada de Juventude” (meaning “youth guesthouse”) of Portugal. If you book it in advance it should be very cheap (under 30€ per night): here is the link to Booking.com
A lot of surfers stay at this hostel, and it offers events in the evening as well as a killer breakfast in the morning to prep you for the surfing!
If you are looking for a private room in a hotel I recommend Casa Nook Arrifana which has accommodation for 2 people at 81€ including breakfast: link to Booking.com
Where to eat in Arrifana?
Although the town is small, Arrifana offers a few good places to eat or to have a drink in the evening.
CAL is a great restaurant with unique dishes made from local flavors. I have a cuttlefish stew and a salad made with Azorean cheese and figs from the Algarve. Checkout their Instagram below:
If you want something more simple I recommend the café SEA You Surf Café, they have great breakfast and brunch and is located on the way to the beach.
Lastly, if you are willing to spend more bucks, they have an amazing restaurant preparing gourmet dishes right next to the cape. It’s called O Paulo, unfortunately they don’t have Instagram but below I added some pictures from the restaurant.
Looking for something more?
Maybe Arrifana was not enough, perhaps you are doing a car trip and are looking for the next place to visit? If that is the case I recommend keep driving south to Carrapateira, close to the town of Bordeira. This place is similar to Arrifana as it is a haven for surfers too. Moreover, the town is small and is a great place if you want to get away from the crowds and busy touristy spots.