Aljezur sits in the northwest corner of the Algarve, within the protected Costa Vicentina, which is one of Europe’s last truly wild coastlines. The beaches here are largely undeveloped, the cliffs are dramatic, and the Atlantic is very much in charge.

The village itself is split into two. Up on the hill, you have the older settlement with its 10th-century Moorish castle, and down below the newer market town where daily life carries on at its own pace. It’s a place that rewards a wander rather than a checklist.

Aljezur is also quietly proud of its sweet potatoes; the local batata-doce has its own festival every October, which says a lot about the community here.

Surfers have known about it for years, drawn by consistent Atlantic swells, but the town hasn’t lost its low-key character. If the busier resorts further east aren’t your thing, Aljezur is worth the drive.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​