When we talk about Portugal, we often talk about its ideal quality of life ! This quality of life is associated to several factors. One of them is the beauty of the beach in Portugal. With a huge coastline, Portugal offers many awesome beaches. We couldn’t name all beaches in Portugal, but today, as summer is coming, I decided to share with you some of my favorite ones (this list is subjective). Beach in Portugal, there are so many that caught my attention by their beauty and their originality. Note to those who are cold-sensitive, although beautiful, the beaches in Portugal are from the Atlantic Ocean coast so the water is generally rather cold, ideal to firm up the skin ! Let’s go to discover my favorite beaches in Portugal !

1 – Praia de São Jacinto – Aveiro District

We begin with Aveiro, let me to introduce you top the São Jacinto beach. If you are in the mood for wild scenery, this is the beach to go. It gives the impression of being alone at the end of the world. This beach is characterized by its kilometers of white sand but also by its magnificent dunes. The latter are “protected” since they are part of the protected area of the dunes of São Jacinto. From Aveiro, the easiest way to reach this beach is to take the ferry from Gafanha da Nazaré.

2 – Praia da Nazaré – District of Leiria

The beach of Nazaré is one of the most famous beaches in the world. One of the reasons for its worldwide popularity is that many people go there to break a world record. That of the biggest wave ever surfed ! In 2011, the small town of 12,000 inhabitants became THE destination for wave hunters with surfer Garrett McNamara who surfed a wave of 23.77m and broke the world record. On November 8, 2017, Rodrigo Koxa, a Brazilian, beat this record by 61 cm by surfing a wave of 24.38m. The ocean is not permanently agitated, the waves are concentrated in Praia do norte because of a particular geological phenomenon in this place. A canyon goes down to 5000m deep and 200km long, this huge “hole” generates huge waves. The big waves are mainly visible in winter and especially in December.The beach also has the particularity of being overhung by a cliff of 110m high called “Sitio”, accessible by car, on foot or by funicular.

Nazaré beach is also a historical fishing port since the 17th century. The fish, mostly sardines and cod, are dried on the beach during the day.

3 – Praia São Martinho do Porto – District of Leiria

We continue to go south in Portugal to discover the beach of São Martinho do Porto. This beach is located 100 km north of Lisbon and 13 km south of Nazaré. In the past, the bay was used for boat building, fishing activities and salt production. Today it is a very popular place for family tourism. Besides, the Portuguese people rename this beach “Praia das Crianças” (Children’s Beach) because it is one of the safest beach in Portugal. Because of its shell shape, the ocean is calm, allowing children to splash around peacefully.

4 – Praia da Ursa – Lisbon District (Serra da Sintra)

50 mn north of Lisbon is the natural park of Sintra. It includes beautiful beaches : Praia da Adraga, Azenhas do Mar, Praia das Maças and the small and charming Praia da Ursa. Praia da Ursa, which means “the bear beach” (don’t worry, you won’t run into any bear) is a small beach hidden in the beautiful Serra da Sintra. For me, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Sintra Natural Park. Golden sand and imposing rocks characterize this small beach.Like many beautiful beaches in Portugal, its access is not easy and even a bit dangerous but that’s the price to pay to reach this little hidden treasure ! During the descent, don’t miss to take a look at the incredible views that are offered to you.

5 – Praia Ribeira do Cavalo in Sesimbra – Setubal District

After the Serra da Sintra, we enter in the Serra da Arrabida with the Praia do Ribeiro do Cavalo which is located about 50 mn south of Lisbon, in Sesimbra. Its white sand, its breathtaking cliffs and its turquoise waters make this beach sumptuous. The kind of beach with “wahouuu” effect guaranteed. To get there, you have to take a steep path that takes about 15 mn to reach the beach. Colored marks on the stones indicate the way. Here too, avoid flip-flops, the path is not easy, but it is worth it ! You won’t be disappointed once you arrive in this paradise.

6 – Praia dos Galapinhos – District of Setubal (Serra da Arrábida)

We stay in the Serra da Arrábida that stretches from Sesimbra to Setubal. The magnificent Serra da Arrábida offers beaches that are in my opinion among the most beautiful in Portugal. I would even say that they can challenge those of the Algarve. Beaches with white sand and crystal clear water that could be compared to Thai beaches (although the water temperature is not the same). These beautiful beaches are part of the Serra de Arrábida nature reserve, a protected area since 1976, which explains their wild side. Most of them are coves: Galapos, Galapinhos, Coelhos, and the most famous Portinho da Arrabida. All of them are more beautiful than the others. I chose to tell you about Praia dos Galapinhos but its description is similar to its neighbors mentioned above. To reach it you have to take a small sloping path in the middle of a luxuriant vegetation. The beach is protected by cliffs, so the water is quite calm and the beach is not very windy. It is a paradise on earth for snorkeling lovers. The turquoise water offers perfect conditions to explore the underwater fauna and flora. Beware, from mid-June to mid-September, the road to access it is blocked. So you have to park your car at Praia da Figueirinha and then walk 3km for the most sportive ones or take a bus. Another ideal way to discover these beaches of the Serra da Arrábida is to rent a boat from Setubal or Sesimbra (I recommend Pierre Sousa from the agency A Vela Passeios) or to rent a kayak from the praia da Figueirinha or Portinho da Arrábida.

7 – Praia da Comporta – Setubal District 

We stay in the south of Lisbon, we cross the estuary of the Sado and we arrive in Troia. We go south a little more and we are now in Comporta. Located at about 100 km south of Lisbon and in the north of the region of Alentejo, the Comporta’s beach is at the limit of the natural reserve of the estuary of the Sado, a preserved natural space. This beach offers endless stretches of white sand. Here you will not find big buildings or hotels, the beach is lined with a few wooden houses. Old fishermen’s houses that have been renovated for those who want a Robinson Crusoe experience. You will find also many rice fields. A rice culture active since 1925 !

8 – Praia da Samoqueira – Porto Covo – District of Setubal (Alentejo)

About beaches, we often talk about Lisbon and Algarve regions, but a little less often about the beautiful region in between : Alentejo. The fishing village of Porto Covo is part of this region and is composed of a series of charming beaches. So, if you plan to travel between Lisbon and the Algarve during your stay in Portugal, I advise you not to take the highway but rather the coastal road of the Alentejo. You won’t be disappointed ! Once on this road, make a stop at the Samoqueira beach in Porto Covo. This beach is made up of many rocks and little sand, but this is precisely what makes it its main asset! This layout creates small stretches of sand, sort of private mini coves where you can rest in peace. The contrast between the black rocks, the golden sand and the turquoise water will seduce you for sure.

8 – Praia do Camilo – Lagos – District of Faro (Algarve)

When we talk about Lagos, we often talk about Praia Dona Ana, but there are obviously other beaches, including the charming Praia do Camilo. It is very small, its sand is fine and golden, it is located in the middle of huge orange cliffs and its water is awesome, looks like swimming pool water. The access to the beach is a long wooden staircase. Its reputation and its small size make that in summer time it is quickly crowded, so you have to go early if you want to enjoy quietly.

Also, what is interesting with this beach, it is that you have after 10 mn walking one of the most beautiful place of Algarve : Ponta da Piedade. When you arrive at this place, you will be eager to take out your camera to immortalize the magnificent view you will have in front of your eyes. You can either stay at the top of the cliff and admire the different views that are offered to you, or go down the stairs and once at the bottom take a small fisherman’s boat to walk in the middle of its impressive cliffs. Finally, it is quite rare that I recommend beach restaurants, as I am more of a “tasca” rather than tourist restaurant-lover but near the praia do Camilo and Ponte da Piedade is the restaurant “O Camilo” whose reputation is not to be made anymore. I recommend you to taste a good grilled fish there, it is delicious.

9 – Praia da Marinha – Lagoa – Faro District (Algarve)

Cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Praia de Marinha in Lagoa in the Algarve is beautiful. It is often the photo of this beach that is used by tour operators to promote the Algarve. The beauty of the Praia de Marinha will jump out at you from the parking lot. The parking lot is located on top of the cliffs of this beach, which offers a magnificent panorama. Moreover, even if the mad desire to go down on the beach invades you, I advise you to take some time to walk on the cliffs. The views are magnificent. The beach offers a beautiful fine golden sand that characterizes the beaches of the Algarve. This sand combines perfectly with the beautiful orange cliffs, which, with erosion, have particular cuts. An erosion that causes the retreat of the cliffs of 2mm to 2cm per year.

10 – Benagil Cave – Carvoeiro – District of Faro (Algarve)

Benagil ! This name is often mentioned in blog posts about Portugal and it’s not surprising, this place is “wahouuuu”. The kind of place where you take 15000 pictures ! You will say to me: “Where is this place ?The cave of Benagil is located near the praia da marinha of which we spoke just before. The bay of Benagil offers a small beach located in the middle of high cliffs (until then it is a bit like all the beaches of the Algarve). But, what is surprising is not there. You will have to take a boat, a kayak, or for the more athletic, swim for 10 mn and reach the spectacular Benagil cave. This place is a natural geological wonder. A small lagoon with transparent waters and a hole in the rock in which you can see the sky and the sun’s rays that pierce it. A must-see if you are in the Algarve ! 

Conclusion

That’s it, we finished this little tour of the beaches in Portugal and I hope you enjoyed it ! There is something for everyone with beautiful beaches from the north to the south of Portugal. We talk a lot about the beaches of the Algarve which are, it is true, sublime, but there are also a lot of others with various charms everywhere in Portugal. Don’t forget to enjoy the river beaches which are also very nice, especially in the Gerês. What about you? What are your favorite beaches in Portugal?

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