Babacashee
Sines: a working port town
Sines is not a pretty postcard stop. It is a working port and industrial town, and the sea has shaped it for a very long time. Vasco da Gama was born here around 1469, and he spent at least part of his childhood here. Since the 1970s the deep water port has made Sines one of Portugal's most important industrial and logistics centres. It is a place for working ships more than for tourists.
Praia Vasco da Gama
We started our walk at Praia Vasco da Gama, the small city beach inside the sheltered bay. We liked this beach. Don't expect a big wild beach, though. Sines has the small city beach and some seafront walking, but not much green space or freedom for a dog.
Castelo de Sines and the old town
From the beach we walked uphill to the medieval castle. It was built in the 15th century to defend the town and the port. Today the castle's main tower has an exhibition about Vasco da Gama, whose father was governor of the castle. After the castle we walked through a little of the old town with Aba.
Porto de Pesca and our verdict
We finished our walk with a view over the Porto de Pesca, the fishing port. It brings you back to what Sines has always been about: the sea and making a living from it. With a dog, Sines is not one of our strong recommendations. Still, if you want a real Portuguese port town with maritime history and a medieval castle, it is worth a short stop.
Good to know
- Plan Sines as a short stop on an Alentejo trip, then head south for the wilder coast.
- Aba sometimes gets anxious in towns. In towns he wears a harness that lets him move freely but gives us better control.
- Start at the beach. We liked Praia Vasco da Gama, the small beach in the bay.
Gear we travel with
We haven’t logged which gear came along on this trip. This is what we take on the road with Aba.
Sines with a dog: questions
Is Sines a good place to visit with a dog?
We think Sines is fine for a short stop with a dog, but it is not one of our strong recommendations. Sines has a small city beach and some seafront walking, but not much green space.
Can my dog run and roam freely in Sines?
Not really. We found few chances for Aba to run and roam freely in Sines.
What is Praia Vasco da Gama in Sines like with a dog?
Praia Vasco da Gama is the small city beach inside the sheltered bay in Sines. We liked it, and we started our walk with Aba there.