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 vivid 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’ve got three days on the Algarve or a five-day break in Sintra, you’ll need to go to not less than some of the lovely Portugal seashores. Most motels in Portugal have an out of doors 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 a number of the finest seashores in Portugal? You don’t have to keep in the Algarve area both; this information will cowl one of the best of the nation’s seashores. We’ll present you seashores which are unbelievable 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 points of interest 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 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 you can swim beneath. We had to add it to this listing for its photogenic enchantment 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’ll be able to 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 vivid golden sands, however Praia de São Jacinto breaks that mildew. This seaside has vivid white sands, stretching for miles as a part of the São Jacinto Dunes Natural Reserve, primarily 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 well-liked amongst anybody who appreciates a superb view, but in addition with native surfers. The waves are good 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 final word browsing seaside day.
How to get to the seaside: To attain this seaside, you’ll be able to drive or catch a ferry – relying on whether or not you might be staying north or south of the seaside. There is plentiful avenue parking so that you just gained’t be caught for a parking spot. There are additionally loads of services, together with showers. Don’t overlook to convey a digital camera, because the little colourful fishing boats left round are a number of the most photogenic spots in Portugal.
3. Praia da Costa Nova
Praia da Costa Nova is a surprising spot in Portugal, with a ravishing backdrop of colourful painted homes. It is likely one of the most characterful seashores in Portugal – particularly if you’d like a extra ‘beach town’ environment with cafes and unbiased outlets only a brief stroll away.
You can stroll alongside the mushy sands and admire the rows of crimson, 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 simple 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 images, you’d be shocked to assume such a picturesque, remote-seeming seaside may very well be only a 50-minute drive exterior a significant metropolis heart. It is properly definitely worth the detour in case you are staying in or close by Lisbon.
The seaside has vivid 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’ll be able to 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 flawed with Praia da Adraga.
This seaside made it onto our listing for its handy location and putting pure magnificence. It has a tough and adventurous environment 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 barely accessible through 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’ll be able to entry two separate seashores divided by an thrilling tunnel by way of the cliff face. If you’ve got 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 certainly one of one of the best issues to do in Lagos, and it has a novelty enchantment that draws 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, services are virtually non-existent, so Camilo Beach has a wild enchantment. Bring snacks, seaside towels, and umbrellas if you’d 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 vivid 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 possibility. Its main attracts are its spaciousness and quick access 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 every part is compact and across the heart. You can try the outlets, eating places, and cafes whereas having fun with lovely ocean views.
7. Praia de Tróia Mar
This putting 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 – very best for peaceable wading and households with youthful kids. 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 implies that you don’t get many vacationers, solely these folks venturing to the top to see the seaside. It is a wild seaside, and getting there may be an adventurous street journey. The serene, wistful environment is inconceivable not to love, and when you keep anyplace close to Lisbon, it’s properly value visiting.
How to get to the seaside: To attain this seaside, you drive previous Comporta and to the top of the N253-1. You can even catch a ferry from Setubal when you fancy a extra adventurous manner of getting to this seaside vacation spot.
8. Praia da Rocha
A boardwalk backs Praia da Rocha, and when you make it to the top of the hike, there’s an iconic crimson 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 also be a plus when 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 simple stroll from anyplace in its heart. Or, in case you are staying close by, a simple drive alongside main coastal roads.
9. Praia da Falesia
Praia da Falesia is a good 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 might you need? The sandstone cliffs are its most important points of interest, with elements of the orange rock eroded and damaged down into high-quality powder in an effort to see crimson 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 holiday makers that this seaside attracts. It has a enjoyable, organized enchantment with loads of solar loungers and services obtainable.
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 vivid 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 a ravishing 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 may spend a day on the seaside earlier than heading up to get pleasure from 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 properly definitely worth the effort.
11. Praia da Bordeira
For surfers and wild seaside lovers, Praia da Bordeira is likely one of the absolute best seashores in Portugal. Praia da Bordeira is about in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, a ravishing 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 if 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 enchantment.
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 certainly one of Portugal’s hottest seashores. And whereas it won’t provide rolling dunes and white sands, it does have a wonderfully 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 very best place to spend a day after a couple of 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 neighborhood 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 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 robust swimmer, you’ll need to admire the dolphins from the shore, although. The seaside is legendary as among the best 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 domestically in Comporta, you’ll be able to stroll to Comporta Beach. It is a day journey worthy and has a windswept and wistful enchantment – 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 form of place you hope might be inside strolling distance of your resort. You can not go flawed for a simple, 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 certainly one of Portugal’s topmost historic fortresses. So whereas Carcavelos has a repute for being a sleepy seaside day city, it has fairly a little bit of oomph with its points of interest.
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 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 aspect word, Monte de Santa Tecla is an excellent place to go to after. The mountain has historic petroglyphs and a church that runs each day guided excursions. But even simply admiring it from Praia de Moledo is spectacular, and it supplies 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 one of the best seashores in Portugal. You enter by boat or kayak by way of a low opening in the cliff face, revealing an enormous sea cave with limestone partitions stretching up and a single gap in the cave roof the place you’ll be able to 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 some of the lovely seashores you’ll be able to ever go to. It is simple to see why. And you gained’t wrestle to manage 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 inconceivable. This seaside is gorgeous, even whether it is tremendous well-liked. Our recommendation? Visit in the off-season or, in the worst case state of affairs, shoulder season so the crowds don’t break 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 airplane. Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is positioned in Sao Miguel, one of many largest. This seaside has putting black sand and is likely one of the most dramatic seashores in Portugal. It is well-liked 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 take a look at to spot them or get pleasure from 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 when you keep domestically and inside strolling distance of Santa Barbara village. Otherwise, you’ll be able to rapidly drive round Sao Miguel island.
18. Praia de Alpertuche
Praia de Alpertuche is a sandy seaside solely accessible by a scenic mountaineering 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 significantly off-the-beaten-track. Its tiny structure 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 services are non-existent. But the agricultural attract is properly value 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 finest accessed by automotive and foot for the ultimate mountaineering path part. It is barely round an hour away from Lisbon, which is a strong plus.
Best Beaches in Portugal: FAQs
These beautiful seashores are all unbelievable in their particular person methods. In the hotter summer time months, you’ll see these lovely seashores in their finest gentle. Before you go to these prime seashores in Portugal, although, try these prime FAQs.
Which a part of Portugal has one of the best seashores?
The Algarve area is legendary for seashores and undeniably has a number of the most putting 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 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’ll be able to swim at most 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 gained’t wrestle to discover a golden sand seaside to chill on.
To Conclude
These finest seashores in Portugal are good for the seaside day of a lifetime. Portugal’s seashores are a number of the most lovely in the world, and also you’ll massively admire the putting views and distinctive settings – particularly with its cave seashores. It is value noting how the time of 12 months impacts your seaside expertise in Portugal. In the summer time months, most seashores get full of guests and locals alike and have electrical power. Shoulder seasons like September and October are a lot better, providing excessive temperatures however fewer crowds when you don’t desire a celebration 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 moderately than simply sticking to important coastal hotspots and resorts. A giant a part of contributing to sustainable tourism is actively dispersing the vacationer affect and investing in economies exterior the ‘tourist areas’, a lot of that are solely profited by offshore corporations. 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 points of interest. It’s a win-win and particular meals for thought.
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