Travel Spotlight

An Insider’s Guide to Comporta, a laid-back beach resort near Lisbon Portugal

Princess Diana d’Orléans shares her tips for an easy long weekend outside Lisbon. Listen in as she speaks with Indagare Global Conversations with Melissa Biggs Bradley next month.  Sign up here.Comporta,

about an hour’s drive from Lisbon in the Alentejo region on Portugal’s west coast, has long drawn in-the-know Europeans each summer but remains relatively under the radar (though the debut of a new Aman resort, whose construction is currently underway and tightly under wraps, will likely shine a new spotlight on the region). Often called the Hamptons of Portugal and likened to the Uruguayan resort town José Ignacio, Comporta is largely a protected nature reserve, home to surprisingly untouched beaches and rustic-chic villages, perfect for barefoot A-listers. Here, Indagare taps local insider Princess Diana d’Orléans, Duchess de Cadaval, to learn what makes Comporta so unique and how best to spend your time there.

Why is Comporta such a special place?

Comporta is a beach paradise for those who enjoy nature, with beautiful virgin beaches. You can walk on the sand for hours and not come across anyone else. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy nature and relax with family or friends, Comporta is your destination. In the rest of Europe, all the beaches are so crowded and so overbuilt. Comporta is all about elegance and simplicity, and this is largely thanks to the trend that French interior designer Jacques Grange started when he first came to Comporta many years ago. His house is a reference for all those who dream about having a summer home in Comporta.

Do you have a favorite place to stay in Comporta?

My favorite hotel is Quinta da Comporta, because I love its beautiful atmosphere and gorgeous décor. I also like Sublime Comporta, set in a forest and 15 minutes by car from the beach.

How would you spend your ideal day in Comporta?

I would go horseback riding on the beach with my daughter in the morning, then enjoy lunch with friends at SAL. In the afternoon, I’d swim at the beach and go shopping.

Is there anything that a first-time visitor shouldn’t miss?

If you don’t stay at Quinta da Comporta, you have to go for lunch or dinner, because the atmosphere is so Comporta. Most of the décor is made with straw and is very beach-chic.

Related: Portugal Insider Diana de Cadaval shares her tips on what to see and do in Lisbon and Évora

Trip Tips: Comporta

Where to Eat

Comporta Café

Right on Comporta beach in Troia with a menu featuring freshly caught fish.

Dona Bia

A local favorite for traditional Portuguese fare and plenty of seafood.

Museu do Arroz SAL

Chic spot in a renovated rice warehouse with a terrace, views of the Atlantic and the dunes beyond the rice fields and a menu of mostly rice and seafood-based dishes.

Where to Shop

“My favorite boutique is Stork Club, which belongs to Jacques Grange and Pierre Passebon. Lavanda has beautiful clothes, and Coral Comporta is a great gift shop filled with unique objects.”

Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo, the 11th Duchess of Cadaval, whose family was influential in the fight for Portugal’s independence in the 17th century, is the author of five books on the lives of royal Portuguese women and European queens. The Cadaval Palace in Évora usually hosts the annual Festival Évora Clássica, a celebration of classical music.

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