Beaches in the Lisbon area to enjoy the sun

With the temperatures rising, the need to take a break from the metropolis begins to grow. The sea, the cliffs and the coves call out to us. With so many options near Lisbon, the ultimate question arises: which is the best beach to enjoy the sun? We leave you with a wide range of beaches so you can discover which one is the best to enjoy the good weather!

On the track and in Cascais

 

The beaches on the Cascais line are among the most sought after by the people of Lisbon, both for their proximity and accessibility and for their variety and beauty.

Carcavelos beach

If you are looking for a fulfilling day, Carcavelos beach is the right choice. It is the most popular in the Lisbon region, being very accessible both by car and public transport. There is something for everyone! With its fantastic waves, it is the place of choice for fans of maritime sports, surfers and body boarders. The extensive shore also brings fans of sports on the sand: such as rackets, football and beach volleyball. It also has a seafront promenade with fitness equipment, which also attracts rollerbladers, skaters, joggers and those who like to walk their canine companions by the sea.

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Yes
• Location

Azarujinha Beach

Located at the end of the seawall that connects Cascais to Estoril, the Azarujinha beach is ideal for those days when it is hot but there is no certainty that the weather will be pleasant at the beach. Protected from the wind and bad weather by the cliffs, the beach forms a small natural amphitheatre where a peaceful day of sunshine is guaranteed, regardless of what the wind in Lisbon could infer. This beach is considered the first of what is known as the "Portuguese Riviera".

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: No
• Parking: Not in the immediate vicinity, but close by
• Location

 

Santo Amaro de Oeiras beach

Calmer and more relaxed than Carcavelos, but bigger and less hidden than Azarujinha, the Santo Amaro beach is an urban beach. Surrounded by buildings and apartment complexes, it is an excellent destination for locals, with lots of entertainment - on summer nights, the beach is constantly illuminated. Classified as a bay, it has a very long sandy beach and a maritime promenade ideal for day or night walks by bicycle or on foot.

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Not in the immediate vicinity, but close by.
• Location

 

Guincho beach

The Praia Grande do Guincho beach is well known for being the stage of several national and international surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing championships. It is, therefore, the ideal beach for recreational activities, but perhaps not the best choice for sunbathing, as it can be a little windy and the sea, although clear, tends to be rough. Surrounded by the landscape of cliffs and dunes, it is also surrounded by excellent restaurants where you can eat good fish and seafood the old Portuguese way.

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Not in the immediate vicinity, but close by.
• Location

 

In Sintra

The beaches of Sintra have a very characteristic beauty, having been the choice of royalty in their time. Today, they are the beaches of choice for many Lisboners. Discover some of them.

 

Magoito beach

Its consolidated dunes are classified as a geomonument, with traces of human activity dating back to the Palaeolithic. It is a destination for locals, which every year is being explored more and more by tourists, still managing to remain relatively unknown. The waters are known for being rich in iodine and the waves for being great for surfing, but the comfortable atmosphere of this beach attracts mostly families. If you like more picturesque landscapes, the village of Azenhas do Mar is a 15-minute walk away; take your camera and enjoy the architecture!

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Yes.
• Location

 

Maçãs beach

Even more family friendly than Magoito Beach, Maçãs beach has a golden, soft and smooth sand, perfect for children to play, run, roll around and build their castles. The sea is not the calmest, but this is also not a beach known for surfing. As it is in an area with a microclimate, the mornings can be cloudy, but the sun almost always comes to visit in the afternoon. Enjoy the mornings for a walk along the seafront and the sunny afternoons for family activities and sunbathing!

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Yes
• Location

 

 

Praia da Ursa

Next to Cabo da Roca, it is the westernmost beach of continental Europe. The name "Praia da Ursa" comes from the so-called "Rocha da Ursa", a large rock that can be seen from the sand, in the sea, which the ancients said was shaped like a bear. Access to this beach is not the easiest, but the effort is rewarded with a stunning wild beauty. There is no bar or restaurant to support the beach, so prepare your lunch box, don't forget your bottle of water and enjoy a peaceful sunny day on one of the most beautiful beaches in the country!

Informations

• Guarded: No
• Bars or Restaurants: No
• Parking: No
• Location

 

In Costa da Caparica

 

O areal de 15km da Costa da Caparica divide-se em várias praias cada uma com a sua personalidade e energia, escolhemos duas para si.

São João da Caparica beach

Praia de São João Beach has a sandy beach of about 1.4 km in length. It is very close, on foot, to the city centre. The waves allow, easily, the practice of surfing as well as for diving in the hottest days. Very sought after by families and young people alike, it is an inviting place for everyone, tending to get quite crowded on the weekends in the summer. The car park allows a relaxed and long stay on the beach, without worrying about parking spaces and the stress of traffic.

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Yes
• Location

Fonte da Telha beach

This beach has a long white sandy beach and dunes with dense and colourful vegetation. It belongs to the small village and fishing community of Fonte da Telha, at the southernmost point of the coast. It is well secluded, providing the ideal environment for relaxing and is increasingly frequented by families and young people.

Although it is not a beach well known for surfing, it was on its waves that Tiago Pires, a Portuguese surfer, broke the world record for the longest surf lesson in the world in 2018.

Informations

• Guarded: Yes
• Bars or Restaurants: Yes
• Parking: Yes
• Location

The Lisbon area is a real Pandora's box of ways to enjoy the good weather. These beaches are our favourites, but besides them there are many others to enjoy the warm weather, as well as lovely green spaces, ideal for picnics. If your thing is something more cosmopolitan, try out the viewpoints and rooftops that Lisbon has to offer.