Did you will know Portugal has got the highest density of blue-flagged beaches globally? Now you know. So it may be the time to start planning your vacation.
The Blue Flag is an international symbol for beaches and marinas with neat and safe waters. The eco-label status began in France in 1985 and today has representation in over 48 countries across the globe.
However, when individuals think of Portugal’s coastline, they often think of the Algarve, with its golden sands and crystal-clear waters. Yet, there are many more beautiful beaches along Portugal’s coast, from the north towards the south, and from gorgeous sandy strands to secluded rocky coves.
Here, we’ve rounded up eight beaches across Portugal’s coastline which have won the center of numerous vacationers around the world.
Best Beaches in Portugal MAP
Beaches in Portugal Quick Overview
| Best Beaches for Swimming | Praia da Marinha & Praia Dona Ana |
| Best Beach for Families | Praia de Adraga, Sintra -Cascais |
| ♂ Best Beach for Surfing | Ericeira Beach |
| Best Beach for Holiday | Praia Dona Ana, Lagos |
Praia da Marinha, Carvoeiro
Algarve is the most famous beach destination in Portugal. It’s no real surprise that the best beaches in Portugal come in this unique stretch.
You might have heard the Algarve region has more than 200 beaches and coves, so that you can easily get lost in a lot of lovely beaches while following a coast.
However, Praia da Marinha is among the most stunning sandy beaches in the Algarve as well as Portugal. It isn’t necessarily the best beach in Portugal, but it’s breathtakingly lovely.
The first thing that makes this beach beautiful is its water. Each beach has its color scheme, with clear waters and white sands as the norm. The color of seawater at Praia da Marinha is really a lovely shade of blue-green that appears inviting even in the morning sun. It’s always nice to look out on the clear ocean.
While many beaches have fine sand, that one includes a hard layer of pebbles on top that adds texture towards the water and makes for a far more interesting way to play in the sand than just digging through soft grains.
Moreover, the waves are enormous here, especially across the southern end, where they crash into rocks with colossal force. The resulting spray creates a fascinating effect in which you will find photo opportunities at nearly every turn.
The Praia da Marinha beach runs nearly 2 miles south to north and is backed by cliffs. A long boardwalk leads down to the waves, which are pretty big only at that end of the cove. The sand is relatively fine near the water’s edge but gets rougher farther during the dunes, where a few rocky outcroppings look great for bodyboarding and body surfing.
The water can get cold here – it’s perfect for swimming but not good for wading in deeper areas or paddling out until spring – so it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast before you decide to arrive. If there’s any chance of rain, consider going elsewhere.
Aside from the gorgeous beaches and a quaint medieval village, Carvoeiro hosts some of the best surfing in Europe. It’s a great place to visit windsurfing, kitesurfing, SUPing, etc.
Ultimately, if you’re traveling by car, book your parking ahead of time and note where to satisfy the driver upon your return. To obtain from Carvoeiro to Praia da Marinha, have a bus as lots of options provide convenient services.
Praia de Adraga, Sintra -Cascais Lisbon
You can enjoy the ultimate Portuguese beach experience at Praia de Adraga’s arc of pale-golden sand, fringed by a low cliff striped with cool caves and rock pools.
The Atlantic breakers listed here are larger than most, making the beach a success for bodyboarders, while swimmers should stay close to shore where it’s safer. The water is crystal clear, and also the setting exceptionally peaceful – you won’t find lots of people apart from locals.
Additionally, it’s best to visit Praia da Adraga from mid-May to mid-October. The ocean is usually very calm, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. It’s also a great location for surfing; its main break is really a left-hand reef offering fast and robust waves.
To make it happen, you’ll need to navigate the narrow roads in the hills before arriving at the beach. Another option is to reach the beach by hiking along area of the Rota Vicentina trail or taking a boat ride (preferably when it’s low tide).
Praia de Adraga has several restaurants serving fresh fish and traditional Portuguese dishes. These are located right on the sand with fantastic views over the sea and the Cliffs of Magoito (known as Europe’s most breathtaking cliffs).
You can also find several bars and cafes overlooking this spectacular coastal scenery.
Praia de Nazaré, Leiria Region
In the far west of Portugal lies a lovely beach town known as Nazaré. It's one of those towns having a quaint yet unpretentious charm into it, where locals and tourists alike benefit from the beauty surrounding them.
The beach lies about 30 minutes from town, although it is well worth the journey. It is surrounded by a never-ending type of cliffs covered in a mixture of olive and pine trees. The seawater is crystal clear and invites you to definitely swim out into its depths and take a dip.
You can also spend hours walking across the cliffs or sitting quietly on one of the many benches which overlook this gorgeous scene. Many people come here for their evening strolls across the beach, while others even go for dinner at two local restaurants on either side of the dunes.
There are lots of items to see for this town, including several churches, local history museums, and old mansions on hills overlooking the ocean, all within easy walking distance.
Praia Dona Ana, Lagos
If you like pristine sandy beaches with buzzy bars and restaurants nearby, head to Praia Dona Ana. Via steps, access this lagoon beach via a tunnel resulting in a secluded bay with golden sands and clear turquoise waters.
After decreasing the steep steps from above, visitors find themselves on the small platform having a great look at the beach and the sea cliffs. The waters listed here are calm and clear, making this certainly one of Lagos’s the best places to swim.
It’s probably the most photographed beaches in Portugal and well-liked by family vacation enthusiasts because of its sheltered position and shallow waters. It hosts many sunbeds, which you can rent if you want a just right the sand and relish the warm summer inside your comfort.
The red rock stacks that tower over the beach happen to be sculpted by millions of many years of erosion and provide Praia Dona Ana its unique beauty. With its azure waters, hidden caves, and tropical palms, it’s no surprise this Algarve beauty is considered among the best beaches in Portugal.
Praia Dona Ana can get busy, thanks to its proximity to Lagos, making it easy to reach by trains and buses. However, it’s worth fighting through the crowds to explore this paradise. You can even have a boat trip out to see Praia Dona Ana from a completely different perspective!
Praia da Falesia, Albufeira
Albufeira is one of Portugal’s most widely used coastal towns, with beautiful coastlines, plenty of entertainment, great shopping options, and fantastic eateries out. It’s also known for its beaches, which are amazingly sandy and clean.
So, if you’re planning on visiting Portugal, you’ll have a hard time getting a better place to relax than Praia da Falesia in Albufeira. It’s a wide, sandy beach by having an endless way to obtain pristine and crystal-clear turquoise water, ideal for surfing and swimming.
On the same note, you can do plenty of activities at Praia da Falesia. You can rent scooters look around the surrounding area, enjoy aquatic sports such as kayaking or windsurfing, relax on the beach with a good book, walk along its pristine, or swim in the pristine waters. It will all rely on your taste and preference.
Miramar, Porto
Located near Porto, Praia do Miramar offers a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle from the city. Bring your walking shoes look around the rugged cliffs and hidden coves along this picturesque shoreline.
And good thing, this beach is wide enough, clean, and beautifully sheltered, with picturesque rocky outcrops and cliffs on each side. It’s calm, which makes it an excellent relaxing place to spend each day by the sea after swimming.
Alongside the beach, several restaurants serve traditional Portuguese fish dishes and other tasty local fare that you could enjoy al fresco in the summertime months. Furthermore, the beach isn’t crowded or overly commercialized, so everyone has enough space.
Praia do Guincho, Cascais
The beach of Guincho is the firstborn from the Cascais municipality, found in the parish of Cascais and Estoril. It’s a wild beach without any civil structure, which makes it have a natural splendor that's almost virgin.
It is a beautiful stretch of sand, virtually deserted in the middle of summer. Praia do Guincho has always been one of the best beaches in Portugal. The beach is gorgeous, but its scenery is even better. The big dunes are safe and provide a habitat for many species of birds.
The water here is cold, not warm such as the Mediterranean and beyond. In fact, because of its Atlantic location, it is popular with surfers than sunbathers. The winds are strong here, there will always be windsurfers and kitesurfers out on water.
Additionally, there is also a 5-star restaurant at the end of the beach. If you prefer to not participate in any sports in your vacation and instead relax, there are still plenty of things you can do here. You can enjoy a glass or two or snack across the beach or obtain a massage while you experience the cool sea breeze.
Praia de Benagil
You’ll be forgiven for thinking you’re taking a look at a CGI-generated landscape as you walk into the cave at Praia de Benagil, but rest assured, things are real.
The huge circular awning of rock above the tiny beach, accessible only by boat or swimming, appears to be artificial, but it’s all-natural.
From the outside of this magical sea cave, it looks like an enormous hole within the cliffside scooped by helping cover their an ice-cream scoop, abandoning a smooth concave wall of creamy sandstone.
The beach inside is not sandy but covered with small rocks and pebbles. A short walk in the beach will give you in the lower cave to its side, where you can climb up to a rocky ledge.
Conclusion
The most centrally located beaches on the Portuguese coastline aren’t necessarily those with the best views, but they're where you’ll find all the action. For instance, you may be relaxing in a breakwater enjoying a few of the country’s world-class cocktails, or you will be watching surfers rip it up on super longboards.
You could just as easily enjoy a cocktail on one of the numerous hotel rooftop terraces that put you right outrageous from the action. Yet, each one of these beaches get one thing in common: they’re lining the Portuguese coast and seeking to offer something to everyone.
