Whether you’re in search of a surfer’s paradise, secret beaches or a coastal city where you can tap into the cultural scene and top up your tan, or looking for family friendly beaches, Portugal has it all. With more than 900 km of coast, most of which are sandy beach and an excellent climate. Here are 5 beautiful beaches in Portugal to visit.
By the map above you can see the location of the beaches in Portugal. Flying to Portugal you will usually choose either Lisbon or Porto. Both cities have great beaches nearby. To learn more about getting around in Europe check out our page Best Ways to Get Around Europe.
Espinho
Espinho Beach, Portugal
There are some great beaches close to Porto, Portugal’s second city in the north of the country. Espinho is a family friendly beach town south of Porto. Trains from Porto are regular and inexpensive and depart from the city centre, taking about 35 minutes to arrive in Espinho. Restaurants and cafés line the long promenade adjacent to the sandy beach where traditional fishing boats are still pulled onto the sand. A playground for the younger kids, swimming pools and water sports, there is something for everyone. But that’s not all! Espinho also hosts the largest farmer’s market in the north of Portugal, if you’d like to get a glimpse of local life. The market is open air and takes place on Mondays only.
São Pedro de Moel
S. Pedro de Moel, Portugal
A quiet seaside town in the centre of the country. This stretch of Atlantic coastline is generally wild (a surfer’s paradise), but this attractive sandy beach is sheltered from the wind by low cliffs. There is a lovely atmosphere of tranquillity about São Pedro de Moel. Discover picturesque streets next to the beach and the beautiful lighthouse of Penedo da Saudade. Relax in the seawater swimming pool near the beach.
Carcavelos
Carcavelos Beach, Portugal
Lisbon is surrounded by stunning coastline that offers a variety of beautiful sandy beaches. For a beach day trip from Lisbon you can head to Praia de Carcavelos about 25 minutes away on the Lisbon-Cascais railway. A large sandy beach with clean waters, family friendly with excellent tourist facilities.
Odeceixe
Odeceixe Beach, Portugal
At the mouth of the Seixe River, Praia de Odeceixe lies on the border between the Algarve and Alentejo regions in the south of the country. A wide sandy beach popular with surfers. The small lagoons at low tide make it perfect for calm bathing. The beach adjoining Odeceixe is Adegas, one of three officially designated naturist beaches in the Algarve.
Praia dos Pescadores
Praia dos Pescadores Beach, Portugal
The beaches of the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, are a major destination. Fisherman's beach (Praia dos Pescadores) in front of Albufeira old town is probably one of the best known. Still used by the fishermen, there are plenty of fish restaurants at the back of the beach where you can enjoy the catch of the day.
More on Portugal
Head over to www.portugalexposure.com to learn more about everything related to Portugal and travel.
If you are looking for a places to stay, check out their recommendations for Porto and Lisbon.