Best beaches in Portugal

Bathing tourism is one of the main activities in the country, so it is natural that you want to know the top beaches in Portugal that you can’t miss. In fact, talking about the best beaches in Portugal is not just about one thing! The country has a broad coastline that runs from north to south and that, in its extension, offers all kinds of beaches: wild and difficult to access, urban, popular, and accessible. From the wildest and most bucolic, to the most popular, always with a touch of sun, clear sand, and sea, you will find magnificent places to enjoy summer pleasures.

Many of the popular beaches in Portugal have access that allow the enjoyment of them, even by people with mobility problems, and a large majority are watched and have a blue flag, attesting to its ecological and clean side.
blue flag
attesting to their more ecological and cleaner side. In fact, with so many beautiful beaches in Portugal, the hardest thing might be to choose the best ones. Nevertheless, today we take you on a journey along the Atlantic, along Portugal’s most popular beaches and to hidden and wild bathing treasures. Come and see our top beaches in Portugal.

Coelhos Beach

In the middle of the Arrábida Mountains you will find a beach that is difficult to access, but well worth the visit. We are talking about the wild Coelhos Beach.

This beach is at the foot of Arrábida, in a small cove, between the popular Galapinhos Beach and the Creiro Beach. Due to its characteristics, it is the ideal place for lovers of Nature and of the wildest and most pristine places, and, as an alternative to urban or more popular beaches, it allows contact with Nature in its purest state.

Osso da Baleia Beach

In the central region of the country, near Pombal, you will get to know a beach that also does not stand out for its recognition. Still, for its peace, quiet and beauty, it deserves a place in our top beaches in Portugal. On this beach you can enjoy the expanse of fine, limpid, clear sand, washed by a clean, icy ocean. On its shore, low vegetation and dunes create a natural environment. Despite its natural features, this beach is in close proximity to useful infrastructure such as cafes and restaurants.

Ursa Beach

We return to the wild universe to talk about another Portuguese coastal treasure: Ursa Beach. This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, located near Cabo da Roca, in the Colares region (Sintra).

This is the westernmost beach in Europe and arouses the emotions of any nature lover for its wild beauty, dotted with sand, sea and unusual rocky constructions. The rugged cliffs leading to it make it a more secluded and deserted beach.

Rocha Beach

Not all of Portugal’s best beaches are unknown and wild, and the popular Praia da Rocha proves it! This beach in the Algarve is one of the most touristy in the country and a favorite vacation destination for Portuguese and foreigners alike. Situated in the Portimão region, the clear sandy expanse and tepid waters invite you to enjoy the wonders of the Algarve’s heartland, amidst magnificent scenery.

Galapos Beach

We return to the Serra da Arrábida to talk about another of the beaches that is just a short trip from Lisbon and where you can enjoy bathing pleasures in a magnificent setting. This beach, better known and easier to access than the already mentioned Praia dos Coelhos, is located in the Setubal area and rises among the green of the mountain vegetation. Sand and clear waters complement the perfect scenery for nature lovers. Many people use this beach as a destination for snorkeling and diving.

Samoqueira Beach

On the Alentejo coast, we are again forced to get out of the conventional routes to present one of the best beaches in Portugal. Here we are talking about one of Porto Covo‘s beaches: Samoqueira Beach.

This beach does not have the same infrastructure of the best known beaches, compensating, however, for the landscape with cliffs and vegetation, for the peace and quiet, and for the small bay with calm waters, where you can enjoy the best sunset in the region. You can also come into contact with valuable geological structures, including a small natural cave, which even allows access to another small beach at low tide.

Guincho Beach

One of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches in the Lisbon region is Guincho Beach. Situated in Cascais, it offers a magnificent landscape and unparalleled scenery, ideal for lovers of natural beauty.

This beach is much sought after by those who enjoy sea and wind sports, including windsurfing, surfing, bodyboarding, and kitesurfing, as the sea conditions are often conducive to these activities. The surrounding cliffs and dunes give this beach a natural and telluric touch, despite its close proximity to the city.

Senhor da Pedra Beach

In the North of the country you will also find beautiful beaches, although you should expect cooler water. Senhor da Pedra or Miramar Beach is a beach that offers a very different scenario, since the extension of clear sand is cut by the Senhor da Pedra Chapel, a heritage treasure of hexagonal plant that was erected directly on the rocks by the sea.

With good support infrastructures, this beach has many bathers, but also pilgrims, and there is even a big pilgrimage in honor of Senhor da Pedra in the beginning of June.