FestiSAL 2025: Samouco Salt Flats Festival

The Samouco Salt Flats come back to life with another edition of FestiSAL, an unmissable event that combines nature, culture, music, and tradition in a unique setting on the banks of the Tagus River, promoted by the Foundation for the Protection and Environmental Management of the Samouco Salt Flats.

Located in one of the most beautiful ecosystems in the south of the country, this festival invites visitors of all ages to rediscover the natural and cultural heritage of the salt pans, in an atmosphere of celebration, discovery, and direct contact with local biodiversity.

What is FestiSAL?
FestiSAL is a large-scale annual event that celebrates salt, nature, and local culture, held at the unique Samouco Salt Flats Complex in Alcochete. More than just a festival, FestiSAL is a tribute to environmental preservation, the biodiversity of the Tagus estuary, and the appreciation of heritage linked to traditional salt production.

Showcookings, traditions, and hands-on activities
Yes, there will be many activities at this festival! You can learn (and taste!) incredible recipes where sea salt, fleur de sel, and even salicornia shine. But the real flavor is in the experience:

• Live recreations of salt harvesting, as it was done in the old days, with workers dressed in traditional uniforms.
• Workshops with guest chefs, showing that salt is much more than just a seasoning.
• Live music.
• Guided tours of the salt pans.
• Exhibitions, stories of the salt pans and their inhabitants, and a small market with local products.

Mobility
At this festival, sustainable transportation is recommended. The following will be available for rent:
•    Bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and electric tuk-tuks

Save the date in your calendar!
The festival will take place at the Complexo das Salinas do Samouco, in Alcochete, on September 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

But please note!
This festival is free, but registration is required for some activities! If you don't want to miss out on any activities, sign up at:
Phone: +351 212 348 070
Email: [email protected]

Program
• Salt harvesting with historical reenactment: available from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (*) Free activities with mandatory registration
• Guided tours: Pernilongo Trail with times between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Discovering the Edible Halophytic Plants of the Samouco Salt Flats, Uses and Benefits from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Bird Watching: from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (*) Free activities with mandatory registration
•    Presentations
•    Workshops (*) Free activities with mandatory registration
•    Showcooking – with chef António Sequeira, starting at 3:00 p.m.
•    Live music
•    Local produce market – from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
•    Exhibition
•    Gift basket raffle

In the salt flats, it is advisable to travel on foot or by bicycle. Transportation by horse-drawn carriage or electric tuk-tuk is available (tickets can be purchased on site).

See the full schedule here.

Where to stay?
For those who want to make the most of it, there's nothing like staying overnight in Alcochete and prolonging the experience. The Praia do Sal Resort, with a spa, swimming pool, and views of the Tagus River, or the Upon Vila, in the historic center, are ideal choices for resting after a salty festival. 

Come and experience a different kind of day, surrounded by nature, tradition, and good energy. FestiSAL 2025 promises unique moments in a stunning setting, with free admission and activities for the whole family.