Portugal might have some gorgeous cities, however the seashores in Portugal are one thing else. Portugal’s seashores are famously dramatic, with mushy sand and brilliant orange sea cliffs. Its Atlantic Ocean shoreline is stuffed with hidden coves and even secret cave seashores like Praia de Benagil – which is barely accessible by boat or kayak. Whether you may have three days on the Algarve or a five-day break in Sintra, you’ll need to go to a minimum of some of the stunning Portugal seashores. Most motels 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 finest 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 unimaginable for water sports activities, discovering secret caves, and stress-free on solar loungers with gorgeous 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, aside from Praia de Benagil itself. If you’ve already visited the Insta-famous sea caves, this dramatically situated seaside is likely one of the prettiest spots for a seaside day. Praia da Marinha is situated on the backside of sea cliffs, accessible by way of a flight of extraordinarily steep wood 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 may swim underneath. 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 automotive 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 brilliant golden sands, however Praia de São Jacinto breaks that mould. This seaside has brilliant 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 widespread 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 faculties, 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’re staying north or south of the seaside. There is plentiful avenue parking so that you simply gained’t be caught for a parking spot. There are additionally loads of amenities, together with showers. Don’t neglect to deliver a digital camera, 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 surprising spot in Portugal, with an exquisite 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’ environment with cafes and impartial outlets only a brief stroll away.
You can stroll alongside the mushy 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 strive recent 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 surprising inlet simply exterior 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 exterior a significant metropolis heart. It is effectively well worth the detour in case you are staying in or close by Lisbon.
The seaside has brilliant 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 rise up shut to the jagged rock formations and even enter some caves alongside the cliffs. Photographers particularly flock to snap photos by way 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 improper 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 environment that makes it one of many extra thrilling seashores in Portugal. Don’t count on to swim – the waters are sometimes 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 barely accessible by way of water or by 200 chunky-cut wood steps. You’ll make the scenic climb down to the waterfront with gorgeous 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 way of the cliff face. If you may have youngsters, 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 among 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 exterior Lagos’ heart, 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, in contrast to 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 brilliant white buildings and conventional terracotta-colored roofing. It is simply an hour and a half away from Lisbon by automotive, so a possible day journey for anybody wanting a extra spacious seaside choice. Its main attracts are its spaciousness and easy accessibility to Nazare’s eating and celebration scene.
How to get to the seaside: Walking to Nazare Beach from the city heart is a breeze, and all the pieces is compact and across the heart. You can take a look at the outlets, eating places, and cafes whereas having fun with stunning ocean views.
7. Praia de Tróia Mar
This placing peninsula is the best 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 youngsters. The mushy 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 folks venturing to the tip to see the seaside. It is a wild seaside, and getting there may be an adventurous street journey. The serene, wistful environment is not possible not to love, and in case you keep anyplace close to Lisbon, it’s effectively price visiting.
How to get to the seaside: To attain this seaside, you drive previous Comporta and to the tip of the N253-1. You may also catch a ferry from Setubal in case you fancy a extra adventurous manner of getting to this seaside vacation spot.
8. Praia da Rocha
A boardwalk backs Praia da Rocha, and in case you make it to the tip 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 principle issues that caught our consideration, however its sleepy vacationer city location can be a plus in case 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 heart. 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 appears to be like. The seaside, well-known for its orange sea cliffs, is situated in Albufeira and is the right getaway for a day on solar loungers or indulging in watersports. There’s additionally a restaurant and bar, as a result of what extra might you need? The sandstone cliffs are its predominant sights, with components of the orange rock eroded and damaged down into superb powder to be able to see purple and orange coloring up to the water’s edge.
How to get to the seaside: You can rapidly drive to Praia da Falesia, and there’s a enormous automotive park for the excessive capability of tourists 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 heart. The water is so brilliant 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 exquisite 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 deal with some severe stairs. Bring bottled water, because the chunky-cut wood stairs are fairly difficult, particularly in the noon warmth. However, you’ll deal with them in lower than 10 minutes, which is effectively well worth the effort.
11. Praia da Bordeira
For surfers and wild seaside lovers, Praia da Bordeira is likely one of the easiest seashores in Portugal. Praia da Bordeira is ready in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, an exquisite 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 once 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 automotive and get exploring.
12. Praia dos Ingleses
Praia dos Ingleses is one among Portugal’s hottest seashores. And whereas it won’t provide rolling dunes and white sands, it does have a superbly handy location as some of the 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 all the time a hub of exercise, whether or not you’re stopping by for sundown or having a fast morning stroll. It has a neighborhood really feel and attracts equal components 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 automotive from Porto metropolis heart
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 infinite stretching sands make Comporta Beach just about irresistible. And as if it might 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 among the finest 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 finest accessed by automotive from Lisbon and takes round an hour to attain from the town heart. 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 stuffed with cute outlets and vacationer infrastructure. It is the kind of place you hope will probably be inside strolling distance of your resort. You can’t go improper 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 among Portugal’s topmost historic fortresses. So whereas Carcavelos has a status 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 a bit of vacationer hotspot that merges virtually seamlessly into different close by villages. It has a definite fishing tradition and an ever-growing vacationer environment.
15. Praia de Moledo
If you need an undeniably stunning 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 aspect word, Monte de Santa Tecla is an excellent place to go to after. The mountain has historic petroglyphs and a church that runs every day guided excursions. But even simply admiring it from Praia de Moledo is spectacular, and it gives 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 automotive 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 street 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 way 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 mild.
Benagil Beach is likely one of the nation’s most well-known ‘hidden’ coves and is world-renowned as some of the stunning seashores you may ever go to. It is straightforward to see why. And you gained’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 a listing of the prettiest seashores in Portugal with out mentioning Benagil is not possible. This seaside is gorgeous, even whether it is tremendous widespread. Our recommendation? Visit in the off-season or, in the worst case situation, shoulder season so the crowds don’t smash it.
17. Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara
Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is likely one of the finest seashores in Portugal. That is in case you are prepared 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 situated 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 widespread for surfers, however watch out because it often 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 straightforward to attain in case you keep regionally and inside strolling distance of Santa Barbara village. Otherwise, you may rapidly 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 gorgeous Arrábida Natural Park close to the tiny city of Portinho da Arrábida. If you need pristine waters and 0 crowds, it’s the finest seaside in the area – this spot is severely off-the-beaten-track. Its tiny structure is the right 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 effectively price the additional effort. This seaside is a winner for an adventurous time out, and go to Arrábida Natural Park.
How to get to the seaside: Praia de Alpertuche is finest accessed by automotive and foot for the ultimate mountain climbing path part. It is barely round an hour away from Lisbon, which is a stable plus.
Best Beaches in Portugal: FAQs
These beautiful seashores are all unimaginable in their particular person methods. In the hotter summer time months, you’ll see these stunning seashores in their finest mild. Before you go to these high seashores in Portugal, although, take a look at these high 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 time 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 surprising seaside hidden underneath a cavern on the Algarve. It is extensively referred to as one of many prettiest seashores in Portugal.
Can I swim on Portugal seashores?
Yes, you may swim at most of the Portugal seashores. Just look ahead to lifeguard towers and seaside flag methods, and keep away from swimming on the browsing seashores the place waves are sometimes too tough for swimmers.
Where are the sandy seashores in Portugal?
There are sandy seashores throughout Portugal, particularly in the Algarve area. You gained’t battle to discover a golden sand seaside to sit back on.
To Conclude
These finest seashores in Portugal are excellent for the seaside day of a lifetime. Portugal’s seashores are among the most stunning in the world, and also you’ll massively respect 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 time months, most seashores get filled with guests and locals alike and have electrical vitality. Shoulder seasons like September and October are significantly better, providing excessive temperatures however fewer crowds in case you don’t desire a celebration vibe.
Make certain to strive some conventional Portuguese meals in between seaside hopping. And keep in mind to discover some barely extra inland villages and cities like Obidos or Sao Miguel slightly than simply sticking to vital coastal hotspots and resorts. An enormous a part of contributing to sustainable tourism is actively dispersing the vacationer impression and investing in economies exterior 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 impression and get extra conventional, much less busy sights. It’s a win-win and particular meals for thought.