Portugal might have some gorgeous cities, however the seashores in Portugal are one thing else. Portugal’s seashores are famously dramatic, with delicate 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 or not you might have three days on the Algarve or a five-day break in Sintra, you’ll wish to go to not less than one of the vital stunning 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 Finest Portugal Seashores
Are you able to get impressed by among the finest seashores in Portugal? You don’t have to remain within 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 enjoyable on solar loungers with gorgeous sea cliff views.
1. Praia da Marinha
Praia da Marinha is among the most well-known sights for anybody staying close to Benagil, other than Praia de Benagil itself. When you’ve already visited the Insta-famous sea caves, this dramatically positioned seashore is among the prettiest spots for a seashore 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’s an adventurous seashore to succeed in.
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 could swim beneath. We had so as to add it to this checklist for its photogenic attraction and quirky entry routes.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: To achieve Praia da Marinha, you park up alongside Estr. Da Marinha within the designated automotive park after which hike down the steps to succeed in the seashore. Alternatively, you possibly can 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 seashore has vibrant white sands, stretching for miles as a part of the São Jacinto Dunes Pure Reserve, basically simply paradise on Earth. The seashore 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’s in style amongst anybody who appreciates an excellent view, but additionally 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. Simply hire a board close by and head to this spot for the final word browsing seashore day.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: To achieve this seashore, you possibly can drive or catch a ferry – relying on whether or not you’re staying north or south of the seashore. There’s considerable 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 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 among the most characterful seashores in Portugal – particularly if you need a extra ‘seashore city’ environment with cafes and unbiased retailers only a quick stroll away.
You possibly can stroll alongside the delicate 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. Benefit from 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.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Praia da Costa Nova is roughly an hour’s drive south of Porto, so a simple day journey so as to add to a metropolis break. In any case, everybody appreciates a seashore day after back-to-back sightseeing days.
4. Praia da Adraga
Praia da Adraga is a surprising inlet simply exterior of Lisbon. Simply checking the images, you’d be shocked to suppose such a picturesque, remote-seeming seashore might be only a 50-minute drive exterior a significant metropolis heart. It’s nicely well worth the detour if you’re staying in or close by Lisbon.
The seashore 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 possibly can stand up near the jagged rock formations and even enter some caves alongside the cliffs. Photographers particularly flock to snap footage by means of the caves and to border 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 seashore made it onto our checklist 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 count on to swim – the waters are usually too uneven.
5. Camilo Seaside
One factor is for positive; you’ll get your steps in with a go to to Camilo Seaside. This spot is simply accessible through water or by 200 chunky-cut picket steps. You’ll make the scenic climb all the way down to the waterfront with gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean and burnt orange panorama.
When you attain the seashore, you possibly can entry two separate seashores divided by an thrilling tunnel by means of the cliff face. You probably have youngsters, this is among the most enjoyable seashores to go to in Portugal, as there’s an actual sense of magic with the tunnel to a brand new seashore. Visiting is well certainly one of the perfect issues to do in Lagos, and it has a novelty attraction that draws crowds of fun-seeking vacationers.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Camilo Seaside is simply exterior Lagos’ heart, accessible on foot inside a 30-minute stroll. Regardless of its proximity to such a central vacationer spot, services are nearly non-existent, so Camilo Seaside has a wild attraction. Convey snacks, seashore towels, and umbrellas if you need assured shade.
6. Praia da Nazaré
Nazare Seaside is 1.5km lengthy, with expansive sands and loads of room to sunbathe away from different vacationers – regardless of the season. It’s the solely seashore 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 possibly 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’s simply an hour and a half away from Lisbon by automotive, so a possible day journey for anybody wanting a extra spacious seashore choice. Its main attracts are its spaciousness and easy accessibility to Nazare’s eating and celebration scene.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Strolling to Nazare Seaside from the city heart is a breeze, and the whole lot is compact and across the heart. You possibly can take a look at the retailers, eating places, and cafes whereas having fun with stunning 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 – preferrred for peaceable wading and households with youthful youngsters. The delicate sands and coastal shrubs are a blissful place to spend a laidback afternoon.
The seashore’s serene location on the finish of a peninsula implies that you don’t get many vacationers, solely these individuals venturing to the top to see the seashore. It’s a wild seashore, and getting there may be an adventurous highway journey. The serene, wistful environment is inconceivable to not love, and when you keep wherever close to Lisbon, it’s nicely price visiting.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: To achieve this seashore, you drive previous Comporta and to the top of the N253-1. You can too catch a ferry from Setubal when you fancy a extra adventurous approach of attending to this seashore 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 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 house to have a secluded bay expertise, regardless of being backed by the vacationer city of Praia da Rocha.
That house and the boardwalk hike are the principle issues that caught our consideration, however its sleepy vacationer city location can be a plus when you like wandering between cafes and small retailers. All in all, for traditional seashore views and an energetic seashore journey, this golden seashore is ideal.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: To get to this seashore from its same-named city is a simple stroll from wherever in its heart. Or, if you’re staying close by, a simple drive alongside main coastal roads.
9. Praia da Falesia
Praia da Falesia is a good seashore with nice appears. The seashore, well-known for its orange sea cliffs, is positioned 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 may you need? The sandstone cliffs are its major sights, with elements of the orange rock eroded and damaged down into wonderful powder with the intention to see purple and orange coloring as much as the water’s edge.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: You possibly can rapidly drive to Praia da Falesia, and there’s a big automotive park for the excessive capability of tourists that this seashore attracts. It has a enjoyable, organized attraction with loads of solar loungers and services 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 vibrant it seems nearly inexperienced in sections, and dramatic sea stacks shelter the seashore 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 if you’re staying in Lagos, and you may spend a day on the seashore earlier than heading as much as take pleasure in a sundown dinner on the seafood bar that overlooks it.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: To get to Praia Dona Ana, you’ll deal with some severe stairs. Convey bottled water, because the chunky-cut picket stairs are fairly difficult, particularly within the noon warmth. Nonetheless, you’ll deal with them in lower than 10 minutes, which is nicely well worth the effort.
11. Praia da Bordeira
For surfers and wild seashore lovers, Praia da Bordeira is among the best seashores in Portugal. Praia da Bordeira is ready within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Pure Park, an exquisite coastal protect with raptors and sea otters amongst its cliffside fauna. You possibly can drive all the way 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 seashore and has a rural, remoted really feel that provides to its attraction.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: To achieve Praia da Bordeira, drive from Lagos or any little village above the Algarve area. It’s 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 may not provide rolling dunes and white sands, it does have a wonderfully handy location as one of the vital accessible seashores in Porto. It’s a dream escape from inner-city life. The golden sand and seashore bar are a scrumptious mixture too, and it’s the preferrred 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’re 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.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: You possibly 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 Seaside
Comporta Seaside 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 Seaside just about irresistible. And as if it may get much more romantic, common dolphin guests come to frolic within the shallow waters.
When you aren’t a robust swimmer, you’ll wish to admire the dolphins from the shore, although. The seashore is known as the most effective of Portugal’s seashores for kitesurfers and water sports activities lovers. However its uneven waters and no lifeguard standing make it extra of a paddle and sit-and-sunbathe seashore if not.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: The seashore is finest accessed by automotive from Lisbon and takes round an hour to succeed in from the town heart. When you keep regionally in Comporta, you possibly can stroll to Comporta Seaside. It’s a day journey worthy and has a windswept and wistful attraction – a romantic addition to your Portugal itinerary.
14. Carcavelos Seaside
Carcavelos Seaside, aka Praia de Carcavelos, is your typical happy-go-lucky vacation seashore. This spot has golden sands, browsing waves, and a promenade filled with cute retailers and vacationer infrastructure. It’s the kind of place you hope might be inside strolling distance of your resort. You can’t go improper for a simple, hassle-free seashore expertise.
Strolling 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 seashore day city, it has fairly a little bit of oomph with its sights.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Carcavelos is the tiny parish the place you’ll discover the seashore and is slightly vacationer hotspot that merges nearly seamlessly into different close by villages. It has a definite fishing tradition and an ever-growing vacationer environment.
15. Praia de Moledo
If you would like an undeniably stunning white sand seashore, Praia de Moledo is your one. The view alongside Praia de Moledo is attractive, 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 a superb place to go to after. The mountain has historical petroglyphs and a church that runs every day guided excursions. However even simply admiring it from Praia de Moledo is spectacular, and it gives an nearly volcanic setting that injects the seashore with tons extra character.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Praia de Moledo is well reached by automotive from Moledo, a small city simply an hour’s drive north of Porto. This seashore is located proper on the Spanish border, and if you’re planning a cross-border highway journey, it’s an absolute should.
16. Praia de Benagil
Benagil Seaside is the postcard darling of the perfect seashores in Portugal. You enter by boat or kayak by means of a low opening within the cliff face, revealing an unlimited sea cave with limestone partitions stretching up and a single gap within the cave roof the place you possibly can see a circle of blue sky and a beam of pure mild.
Benagil Seaside is among the nation’s most well-known ‘hidden’ coves and is world-renowned as one of the vital stunning seashores you possibly can ever go to. It’s simple to see why. And also you gained’t battle to arrange a go to due to its reputation. Guide 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 seashore is gorgeous, even whether it is tremendous in style. Our recommendation? Go to within the off-season or, within the worst case state of affairs, shoulder season so the crowds don’t damage it.
17. Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara
Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is among the finest seashores in Portugal. That’s if you’re keen to enterprise out from the usual southern Portugal holidays and out to the Portuguese islands off the shoreline and within 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 seashore has putting black sand and is among the most dramatic seashores in Portugal. It’s in style for surfers, however watch out because it sometimes has Portuguese Man of Conflict jellyfish – famously painful and toxic. You possibly can stroll alongside the sands and attempt to spot them or take pleasure in sunbathing with the novelty of a black sand seashore.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara is straightforward to succeed in when you keep regionally and inside strolling distance of Santa Barbara village. In any other case, you possibly can rapidly drive round Sao Miguel island.
18. Praia de Alpertuche
Praia de Alpertuche is a sandy seashore solely accessible by a scenic mountaineering path and located within the gorgeous Arrábida Pure Park close to the tiny city of Portinho da Arrábida. If you would like pristine waters and nil crowds, it’s the finest seashore within 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. Convey your seashore gear and refreshments, as services are non-existent. However the rural attract is nicely price the additional effort. This seashore is a winner for an adventurous time out, and go to Arrábida Pure Park.
Tips on how to get to the seashore: Praia de Alpertuche is finest accessed by automotive and foot for the ultimate mountaineering path part. It is just round an hour away from Lisbon, which is a stable plus.
Finest Seashores in Portugal: FAQs
These attractive seashores are all unimaginable of their particular person methods. Within the hotter summer time months, you’ll see these stunning seashores of their finest mild. Earlier than 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 known for seashores and undeniably has among 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.
The place is the prettiest seashore in Portugal?
Praia de Benagil is a surprising seashore hidden beneath a cavern on the Algarve. It’s broadly generally known as one of many prettiest seashores in Portugal.
Can I swim on Portugal seashores?
Sure, you possibly can swim at most of the Portugal seashores. Simply look ahead to lifeguard towers and seashore flag programs, and keep away from swimming on the browsing seashores the place waves are usually too tough for swimmers.
The place are the sandy seashores in Portugal?
There are sandy seashores throughout Portugal, particularly within the Algarve area. You gained’t battle to discover a golden sand seashore to relax on.
To Conclude
These finest seashores in Portugal are excellent for the seashore day of a lifetime. Portugal’s seashores are among the most stunning on the planet, and also you’ll massively respect the putting views and distinctive settings – particularly with its cave seashores. It’s price noting how the time of 12 months impacts your seashore expertise in Portugal. In the summertime months, most seashores get full of guests and locals alike and have electrical vitality. Shoulder seasons like September and October are a lot better, providing excessive temperatures however fewer crowds when you don’t desire a celebration vibe.
Be certain that to strive some conventional Portuguese meals in between seashore hopping. And bear in mind to discover some barely extra inland villages and cities like Obidos or Sao Miguel somewhat than simply sticking to important coastal hotspots and resorts. A giant a part of contributing to sustainable tourism is actively dispersing the vacationer influence and investing in economies exterior the ‘vacationer areas’, a lot of that are solely profited by offshore firms. Go to the smaller cities and villages, and search extra genuine experiences – you’ll depart a extra sustainable influence and get extra conventional, much less busy sights. It’s a win-win and particular meals for thought.
