If you’re planning a summer holiday, why choose between city or beach? Come to sunny Lisbon and have both!
You find beaches for all tastes around Lisbon. Here’s your ultimate Lisbon beach guide to the main and easily accessible areas.
1 Ericeira
50 km northwest of Lisbon easily reached by car or public transports.
This quaint fishing village became a Europe’s top surf spot and is one of the four World Surfing Reserves. Its best surf breaks include Ribeira d’Ilhas, Coxos and Pedra Branca. Its Atlantic coastline has a handful of unspoiled beaches great to relax and spend some family time, like Foz do Lizandro and São Lourenço. During the summer, it comes alive with locals and tourists and there’s no shortage of beach accommodation, surf schools and lodges, nightlife spots and seafood restaurants.
2 Sintra
30 km northwest of Lisbon easily reached by car or public transports.
This UNESCO site town is widely known for its dream-like palaces. However, north of town and included in a protected area, near picturesque villages with local restaurants serving delicious food you find beaches loved for their wilderness and natural beauty. Adraga, Grande and Maçãs are amongst the best beaches near Sintra.
3 Estoril & Cascais
30 km west of Lisbon easily reached by car or public transports.
In the Portuguese Riviera more than ten Blue Flag beaches have something for everyone — family fun, water sports and great spots for surfing and sports alike. Tamariz and Carcavelos are some of the best-known, and there’s the wild Guincho, a world’s top windsurf location. There are hip surf hostels and schools galore, Europe’s biggest casino, top-class beach hotels and golf resorts. These are the beaches most easily accessible from Lisbon and can get busy during the summer.
4 Costa da Caparica
15 km south of Lisbon easily reached by car or public transports.
Portugal’s longest strip of sand spreads over 30 km with beaches facing the Atlantic fresh waters. Apart from endless space for sunbathing, you find a variety of watersports including surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and scuba-diving, as well as schools and hostels. Affordable seafood, lively beach bars and summer parties complete the scenery for a fantastic sunny time with sand between your toes. During the summer, a small train takes you along 10 km of beaches. As for the other 20 km, car is the best option. The further south you go, the wilder it gets and the fewer people you find. It’s also home to one of the earliest nudist beaches around the capital — Meco.
5 Sesimbra
40 km south of Lisbon easily reached by car or public transports
This picturesque fishing town is home to long strips of sand facing calm waters. It’s a popular amongst locals, mainly families attracted by the quiet waters of the sheltered bays. Although it became a popular summer resort known for it beach hotels and fresh seafood restaurants, it retains its fishing atmosphere — you can still see the fishermen selling the day’s catch. Located at the mouth of the Sado River, the sea is rich in fish, being one of the best sport-fishing spots around Lisbon. Amongst its most sought after beaches are Califórnia and Ouro.
6 Arrábida
45 km south of Lisbon easily reached by car.
The scenery is something you’ll never forget about Arrábida’s beaches — the perfect combination of golden sand, green cliffs, and blue sea.
A natural park covering 108 km2 is home to peaceful sandy coves. Its calm blue waters and the diversity of marine life make it one of the best spots for snorkelling and scuba-diving in Portugal. Its sea caves are also an opportunity for those who enjoy caving and diving. Portinho da Arrábida and Figueirinha are its most famous beaches. If you’re a seafood fan, there are excellent and affordable restaurants.
7 Tróia
55km south of Lisbon easily reached by car/ferryboat
This peninsula inspires anyone with its magnificent landscape, formed by the Arrábida green mountains, the Sado estuary and miles of unspoiled dunes. Its long beaches and the calm transparent waters are ideal for families, like the Tróia-mar beach. For a break from the sand, there are tours to watch dolphins playing in the sea, watersports and beachfront resorts with tennis courts and golf courses. A casino and superb seafood restaurants complete the picture, making it a top-notch beach destination. Just count with prices above the average.
8 Comporta
70km south of Lisbon easily reached by car/ferryboat
In the small village of Comporta things are as simple as long swathes of sand and calm waters sheltered by dunes and pinewoods. In a protected area that impresses by its natural beauty and wildlife, you find a beach that goes by the same name with everything for a tranquil summer holiday and an invigorating contact with nature. There are golf courses and excellent conditions for bird watching, or you can just take a seaside stroll or hop on a horse for a different view of the sands. You can choose from affordable places to eco-friendly villas and house retreats with a touch of luxury. One thing is sure — compared with Tróia it’s much natural and quieter.
Lisbon beach guide infographic
Originally published at www.welovelisbon.net on March 18, 2015.
