Portugal might have some beautiful cities, however the seashores in Portugal are one thing else. Portugal’s seashores are famously dramatic, with comfortable sand and vibrant orange sea cliffs. Its Atlantic Ocean shoreline is filled with hidden coves and even secret cave seashores like Praia de Benagil – which is simply accessible by boat or kayak. Whether you could have three days on the Algarve or a five-day break in Sintra, you’ll need to go to at the very least probably the most lovely Portugal seashores. Most resorts in Portugal have an outside swimming pool, however nothing beats the sensation of sand underfoot and salty waves. It’s official; Portugal seashores are a necessity.
18 Best Portugal Beaches
Are you prepared to get impressed by among the greatest seashores in Portugal? You don’t have to keep in the Algarve area both; this information will cowl the perfect of the nation’s seashores. We’ll present you seashores which can be unbelievable for water sports activities, discovering secret caves, and enjoyable on solar loungers with beautiful sea cliff views.
1. Praia da Marinha
Praia da Marinha is likely one of the most well-known sights for anybody staying close to Benagil, other than Praia de Benagil itself. If you’ve already visited the Insta-famous sea caves, this dramatically positioned seaside is likely one of the prettiest spots for a seaside day. Praia da Marinha is positioned on the backside of sea cliffs, accessible through a flight of extraordinarily steep picket stairs or by boat or kayak – the selection is yours. It is an adventurous seaside to attain.
And that is all a part of the attract. It additionally has some eye-catching pure rock formations, together with offshore stacks and a spectacular nature arch that you would be able to swim beneath. We had to add it to this record for its photogenic attraction and quirky entry routes.
How to get to the seaside: To attain Praia da Marinha, you park up alongside Estr. Da Marinha in the designated automobile park after which hike down the steps to attain the seaside. Alternatively, you may take a ship tour or hire a kayak from close by and make the journey by water.
2. Praia de São Jacinto
Many Portugal seashores have vibrant golden sands, however Praia de São Jacinto breaks that mildew. This seaside has vibrant white sands, stretching for miles as a part of the São Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve, basically simply paradise on Earth. The seaside has a windswept aesthetic with a backdrop of alternating pine forests and marshes; it’s breathtaking, and we couldn’t resist including it to this information.
It is in style amongst anybody who appreciates an excellent view, but in addition with native surfers. The waves are excellent for water sports activities, and whereas it’s too quiet to host common surf colleges, it is a perfect spot for skilled surfers visiting Portugal. Just hire a board close by and head to this spot for the last word browsing seaside day.
How to get to the seaside: To attain this seaside, you may drive or catch a ferry – relying on whether or not you might be staying north or south of the seaside. There is ample road parking so that you just received’t be caught for a parking spot. There are additionally loads of amenities, together with showers. Don’t overlook to convey a digicam, because the little colourful fishing boats left round are among the most photogenic spots in Portugal.
3. Praia da Costa Nova
Praia da Costa Nova is a shocking spot in Portugal, with an attractive backdrop of colourful painted homes. It is likely one of the most characterful seashores in Portugal – particularly if you would like a extra ‘beach town’ ambiance with cafes and unbiased outlets only a brief stroll away.
You can stroll alongside the comfortable sands and admire the rows of purple, yellow, blue, and greenhouses. It has a a lot prettier setting than different seashores in city areas and a cutesy vibe with a photogenic aesthetic. Take benefit of the city setting to attempt contemporary fish and regional seafood dishes; there’s even a marina with native fishermen taking common journeys to catch hauls for the city’s eating places and cafes.
How to get to the seaside: Praia da Costa Nova is roughly an hour’s drive south of Porto, so a straightforward day journey to add to a metropolis break. After all, everybody appreciates a seaside day after back-to-back sightseeing days.
4. Praia da Adraga
Praia da Adraga is a shocking inlet simply outdoors of Lisbon. Just checking the photographs, you’d be shocked to assume such a picturesque, remote-seeming seaside could possibly be only a 50-minute drive outdoors a serious metropolis middle. It is nicely well worth the detour in case you are staying in or close by Lisbon.
The seaside has vibrant blue waters and intensely golden sands damaged up by irregular and dramatic stacks that stick up like black shards of glass. And at low tide, you may stand up shut to the jagged rock formations and even enter some caves alongside the cliffs. Photographers particularly flock to snap photos by means of the caves and to body the jagged stacks. For golden sand, volcanic rocks, and loads of rock swimming pools, you actually can’t go mistaken with Praia da Adraga.
This seaside made it onto our record for its handy location and placing pure magnificence. It has a tough and adventurous ambiance that makes it one of many extra thrilling seashores in Portugal. Don’t anticipate to swim – the waters are usually too uneven.
5. Camilo Beach
One factor is for certain; you’ll get your steps in with a go to to Camilo Beach. This spot is simply accessible through water or by 200 chunky-cut picket steps. You’ll make the scenic climb down to the waterfront with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and burnt orange panorama.
Once you attain the seaside, you may entry two separate seashores divided by an thrilling tunnel by means of the cliff face. If you could have kids, this is likely one of the most enjoyable seashores to go to in Portugal, as there’s an actual sense of magic with the tunnel to a brand new seaside. Visiting is well one in every of the perfect issues to do in Lagos, and it has a novelty attraction that pulls crowds of fun-seeking vacationers.
How to get to the seaside: Camilo Beach is simply outdoors Lagos’ middle, accessible on foot inside a 30-minute stroll. Despite its proximity to such a central vacationer spot, amenities are virtually non-existent, so Camilo Beach has a wild attraction. Bring snacks, seaside towels, and umbrellas if you would like assured shade.
6. Praia da Nazaré
Nazare Beach is 1.5km lengthy, with expansive sands and loads of room to sunbathe away from different vacationers – irrespective of the season. It is the one seaside close to Nazare appropriate for swimming, because it’s barely sheltered from the stronger waves, not like the close by Praia do Norte.
You can paddle, sunbathe on the sand, and benefit from the close by bar and restaurant scene. Nazare is a candy little city with vibrant white buildings and conventional terracotta-colored roofing. It is simply an hour and a half away from Lisbon by automobile, so a possible day journey for anybody wanting a extra spacious seaside choice. Its main attracts are its spaciousness and quick access to Nazare’s eating and get together scene.
How to get to the seaside: Walking to Nazare Beach from the city middle is a breeze, and every part is compact and across the middle. You can take a look at the outlets, eating places, and cafes whereas having fun with lovely ocean views.
7. Praia de Tróia Mar
This placing peninsula is the most suitable choice for anybody wanting a wow issue. Praia de Tróia Mar has white sand stretching onto the horizon with electrical blue waters that taper off in shallow waters – superb for peaceable wading and households with youthful kids. The comfortable sands and coastal shrubs are a blissful place to spend a laidback afternoon.
The seaside’s serene location on the finish of a peninsula signifies that you don’t get many vacationers, solely these individuals venturing to the top to see the seaside. It is a wild seaside, and getting there may be an adventurous highway journey. The serene, wistful ambiance is not possible not to love, and should you keep anyplace close to Lisbon, it’s nicely price visiting.
How to get to the seaside: To attain this seaside, you drive previous Comporta and to the top of the N253-1. You may catch a ferry from Setubal should you fancy a extra adventurous approach of getting to this seaside vacation spot.
8. Praia da Rocha
A boardwalk backs Praia da Rocha, and should you make it to the top of the hike, there’s an iconic purple and white lighthouse. The huge golden sands are spacious sufficient to keep away from being close to different vacationers, and it has all of the area to have a secluded bay expertise, regardless of being backed by the vacationer city of Praia da Rocha.
That area and the boardwalk hike are the primary issues that caught our consideration, however its sleepy vacationer city location can be a plus should you like wandering between cafes and small outlets. All in all, for traditional seaside views and an energetic seaside journey, this golden seaside is ideal.
How to get to the seaside: To get to this seaside from its same-named city is a straightforward stroll from anyplace in its middle. Or, in case you are staying close by, a straightforward drive alongside main coastal roads.
9. Praia da Falesia
Praia da Falesia is a superb seaside with nice seems to be. The seaside, well-known for its orange sea cliffs, is positioned in Albufeira and is the proper getaway for a day on solar loungers or indulging in watersports. There’s additionally a restaurant and bar, as a result of what extra may you need? The sandstone cliffs are its fundamental sights, with elements of the orange rock eroded and damaged down into tremendous powder so to see purple and orange coloring up to the water’s edge.
How to get to the seaside: You can shortly drive to Praia da Falesia, and there’s a large automobile park for the excessive capability of holiday makers that this seaside attracts. It has a enjoyable, organized attraction with loads of solar loungers and amenities out there.
10. Praia Dona Ana
Praia Dona Ana is a well-liked little cove proper subsequent to Lagos, inside strolling distance of its middle. The water is so vibrant it seems virtually inexperienced in sections, and dramatic sea stacks shelter the seaside from harsher winds and currents. It has a tucked-away really feel and is an attractive place to go to to romanticize your life for a day. Praia Dona Ana is a enjoyable attraction in case you are staying in Lagos, and you’ll spend a day on the seaside earlier than heading up to take pleasure in a sundown dinner on the seafood bar that overlooks it.
How to get to the seaside: To get to Praia Dona Ana, you’ll sort out some severe stairs. Bring bottled water, because the chunky-cut picket stairs are fairly difficult, particularly in the noon warmth. However, you’ll sort out them in lower than 10 minutes, which is nicely well worth the effort.
11. Praia da Bordeira
For surfers and wild seaside lovers, Praia da Bordeira is likely one of the highest seashores in Portugal. Praia da Bordeira is ready in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, an attractive coastal protect with raptors and sea otters amongst its cliffside fauna. You can drive down to Praia da Bordeira for spacious sands and stylish surf while you aren’t recognizing raptors and sea otters. Rolling dunes and rocky cliffs again the seaside and has a rural, remoted really feel that provides to its attraction.
How to get to the seaside: To attain Praia da Bordeira, drive from Lagos or any little village above the Algarve area. It is well-located for a day journey, so hire a automobile and get exploring.
12. Praia dos Ingleses
Praia dos Ingleses is one in every of Portugal’s hottest seashores. And whereas it won’t provide rolling dunes and white sands, it does have a superbly handy location as probably the most accessible seashores in Porto. It is a dream escape from inner-city life. The golden sand and seaside bar are a scrumptious mixture too, and it’s the superb place to spend a day after just a few days of Porto sightseeing.
Praia dos Ingleses is at all times a hub of exercise, whether or not you might be stopping by for sundown or having a fast morning stroll. It has a group really feel and attracts equal elements of residents because it does vacationers, even in peak seasons, which is a pleasant contact.
How to get to the seaside: You can attain Praia dos Ingleses in an hour by foot, 40 minutes by public transport, or quarter-hour by automobile from Porto metropolis middle
13. Comporta Beach
Comporta Beach is a part of a peninsula that juts out beneath Lisbon and has a few of Portugal’s prettiest seashores. The white sand and limitless stretching sands make Comporta Beach just about irresistible. And as if it may get much more romantic, common dolphin guests come to frolic in the shallow waters.
If you aren’t a powerful swimmer, you’ll need to admire the dolphins from the shore, although. The seaside is legendary as probably the greatest of Portugal’s seashores for kitesurfers and water sports activities lovers. But its uneven waters and no lifeguard standing make it extra of a paddle and sit-and-sunbathe seaside if not.
How to get to the seaside: The seaside is greatest accessed by automobile from Lisbon and takes round an hour to attain from the town middle. If you keep regionally in Comporta, you may stroll to Comporta Beach. It is a day journey worthy and has a windswept and wistful attraction – a romantic addition to your Portugal itinerary.
14. Carcavelos Beach
Carcavelos Beach, aka Praia de Carcavelos, is your typical happy-go-lucky vacation seaside. This spot has golden sands, browsing waves, and a promenade filled with cute outlets and vacationer infrastructure. It is the form of place you hope will likely be inside strolling distance of your resort. You can not go mistaken for a straightforward, hassle-free seaside expertise.
Walking alongside from Praia de Carcavelos, you’ll discover Forte de Sao Juliao da Barra, a Sixteenth-century seaside fort and one in every of Portugal’s topmost historic fortresses. So whereas Carcavelos has a popularity for being a sleepy seaside day city, it has fairly a little bit of oomph with its sights.
How to get to the seaside: Carcavelos is the tiny parish the place you’ll discover the seaside and is somewhat vacationer hotspot that merges virtually seamlessly into different close by villages. It has a definite fishing tradition and an ever-growing vacationer ambiance.
15. Praia de Moledo
If you need an undeniably lovely white sand seaside, Praia de Moledo is your one. The view alongside Praia de Moledo is beautiful, with white sand stretching out and the inexperienced peak of Monte de Santa Tecla mountain protruding like a cone from throughout the estuary.
As a facet be aware, Monte de Santa Tecla is an excellent place to go to after. The mountain has historical petroglyphs and a church that runs day by day guided excursions. But even simply admiring it from Praia de Moledo is spectacular, and it offers an virtually volcanic setting that injects the seaside with tons extra character.
How to get to the seaside: Praia de Moledo is well reached by automobile from Moledo, a small city simply an hour’s drive north of Porto. This seaside is located proper on the Spanish border, and in case you are planning a cross-border highway journey, it’s an absolute should.
16. Praia de Benagil
Benagil Beach is the postcard darling of the perfect seashores in Portugal. You enter by boat or kayak by means of a low opening in the cliff face, revealing an unlimited sea cave with limestone partitions stretching up and a single gap in the cave roof the place you may see a circle of blue sky and a beam of pure gentle.
Benagil Beach is likely one of the nation’s most well-known ‘hidden’ coves and is world-renowned as probably the most lovely seashores you may ever go to. It is simple to see why. And you received’t battle to arrange a go to thanks to its recognition. Book a ship tour or hire a kayak and courageous the expertise your self.
Having an inventory of the prettiest seashores in Portugal with out mentioning Benagil is not possible. This seaside is beautiful, even whether it is tremendous in style. Our recommendation? Visit in the off-season or, in the worst case state of affairs, shoulder season so the crowds don’t spoil it.
17. Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara
Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is likely one of the greatest seashores in Portugal. That is in case you are keen to enterprise out from the usual southern Portugal holidays and out to the Portuguese islands off the shoreline and in the huge Atlantic Ocean. These tiny Azores islands are scattered close to one another and are accessible by boat or aircraft. Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is positioned in Sao Miguel, one of many largest. This seaside has placing black sand and is likely one of the most dramatic seashores in Portugal. It is in style for surfers, however watch out because it sometimes has Portuguese Man of War jellyfish – famously painful and toxic. You can stroll alongside the sands and check out to spot them or take pleasure in sunbathing with the novelty of a black sand seaside.
How to get to the seaside: Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is simple to attain should you keep regionally and inside strolling distance of Santa Barbara village. Otherwise, you may shortly drive round Sao Miguel island.
18. Praia de Alpertuche
Praia de Alpertuche is a sandy seaside solely accessible by a scenic mountain climbing path and located in the beautiful Arrábida Natural Park close to the tiny city of Portinho da Arrábida. If you need pristine waters and 0 crowds, it’s the greatest seaside in the area – this spot is severely off-the-beaten-track. Its tiny format is the proper slice of quiet pure magnificence, and the golden sand is typical of Portugal’s Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Bring your seaside gear and refreshments, as amenities are non-existent. But the agricultural attract is nicely price the additional effort. This seaside is a winner for an adventurous day trip, and go to Arrábida Natural Park.
How to get to the seaside: Praia de Alpertuche is greatest accessed by automobile and foot for the ultimate mountain climbing path part. It is simply round an hour away from Lisbon, which is a stable plus.
Best Beaches in Portugal: FAQs
These beautiful seashores are all unbelievable in their particular person methods. In the hotter summer season months, you’ll see these lovely seashores in their greatest gentle. Before you go to these prime seashores in Portugal, although, take a look at these prime FAQs.
Which a part of Portugal has the perfect seashores?
The Algarve area is legendary for seashores and undeniably has among the most placing seashores in Portugal – regardless of the crowds in summer season months. The Algarve is the place you’ll discover cave seashores and reddest sea cliffs.
Where is the prettiest seaside in Portugal?
Praia de Benagil is a shocking seaside hidden beneath a cavern on the Algarve. It is broadly referred to as one of many prettiest seashores in Portugal.
Can I swim on Portugal seashores?
Yes, you may swim at lots of the Portugal seashores. Just look ahead to lifeguard towers and seaside flag programs, and keep away from swimming on the browsing seashores the place waves are usually too tough for swimmers.
Where are the sandy seashores in Portugal?
There are sandy seashores throughout Portugal, particularly in the Algarve area. You received’t battle to discover a golden sand seaside to chill on.
To Conclude
These greatest seashores in Portugal are excellent for the seaside day of a lifetime. Portugal’s seashores are among the most lovely in the world, and also you’ll massively admire the placing views and distinctive settings – particularly with its cave seashores. It is price noting how the time of yr impacts your seaside expertise in Portugal. In the summer season months, most seashores get full of guests and locals alike and have electrical vitality. Shoulder seasons like September and October are significantly better, providing excessive temperatures however fewer crowds should you don’t desire a get together vibe.
Make certain to attempt some conventional Portuguese meals in between seaside hopping. And bear in mind to discover some barely extra inland villages and cities like Obidos or Sao Miguel fairly than simply sticking to vital coastal hotspots and resorts. A giant a part of contributing to sustainable tourism is actively dispersing the vacationer affect and investing in economies outdoors the ‘tourist areas’, lots of that are solely profited by offshore firms. Visit the smaller cities and villages, and search extra genuine experiences – you’ll depart a extra sustainable affect and get extra conventional, much less busy sights. It’s a win-win and particular meals for thought.