The Vila Real de Santo António lighthouse sits at the southern end of town where the Guadiana meets the sea. It is an elegant white tower built in 1923, and while you cannot enter the working lighthouse, the surrounding area at the river mouth is one of the most scenic spots in the city. The view looks back up the river toward Ayamonte, out to the Atlantic, and across the dunes of the Guadiana estuary nature reserve.
It is a short walk or bike ride from the town centre along the promenade. The beach immediately south of the lighthouse — Praia de Vila Real — is often quieter than the crowded resort beaches further west along the Algarve coast and is popular with locals. The estuary marshes just inland are excellent for birdwatching, particularly in autumn when migrating waders pass through.