The popularity of holidays in Portugal is constantly growing, and there are many reasons for this. Among them are a comfortable climate, unique architecture, rich history, delicious cuisine of this country. However, for many tourists, the most important reason for coming here is a beach holiday at the sea. And here Portugal will not disappoint you.
Brief information about the country
Portugal is the westernmost country of the Eurasian continent. From the west and south, it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, having a unique geographical location and about 1800 km of coastline. It has 592 official beaches in Portugal, 300 of which have a Blue Flag for their high standards and safety for swimming. Moreover, these beaches are very diverse: sandy and pebble, mainland and island (in the Azores and Madeira Islands), wild beaches, and beaches for families.
Vacationers begin to come here in March-April, and the swimming season lasts until the end of October. Tourists visiting Portugal wonder which beach to choose for their vacation. In this article, we will look at the best beaches in this wonderful country and find out their features.
Useful information about the beaches of Portugal
There are two categories of beaches in Portugal: municipal and wild. Municipal beaches are free to enter, they are clean and tidy. Renting a sun lounger or umbrella costs, depending on the beach, from 8 euros. Wild beaches are not always convenient, but usually deserted.
To find out information about the state of the ocean and the possibility of swimming, you need to see what color the flag is posted on the beach. If red - swimming is prohibited, yellow - you must be extremely careful and careful on the water. A green flag indicates that you can safely swim in the ocean.
Family beaches
Estoril beaches
The resort town-port of Estoril is located on the shores of the Cascais Bay, 15 kilometers from the capital of Portugal - the city of Lisbon. Estoril is often referred to as the sunniest city in the world. It has a warm climate and wonderful sandy beaches that stretch along its entire coastline. There is all the necessary infrastructure: parking for cars, showers, changing rooms, beach equipment rental, cafes and restaurants. In the numerous parks and water parks of this resort, it will be interesting to spend time for both children and adults.
Falésia beach
The port city of Albufeira is ideal for families and families with young children. Falésia Beach, located near the city, is one of the best beaches in Europe. There is a gentle entrance to the water, fine sand and shallow depth, so the water quickly warms up. This beach is not very crowded and is perfect for a relaxing family holiday.
Vila Franca beach
A unique natural monument, as well as a wonderful beach for family holidays, is the Vila Franca beach. It is a crater of an ancient volcano and is located on a small island near the island of São Miguel in the Azores. From the island of San Miguel, you can sail here by regular boats. There is a shallow rocky bottom, so the water warms up well, and there are no waves. There is a toilet and a lifeguard on the beach.
Madeira Islands beaches
The sandy beaches of Madeira Island also offer holidaymakers everything they need for a great holiday. There are well-equipped playgrounds, changing rooms, cafes and restaurants. The best beaches in Madeira are Formosa, Machico and Pranho.
Portinho da Arrábida beach
A great place for a family holiday is located in the Arrábida Natural Park near Lisbon. Here is the picturesque Portinho da Arrábida beach with clear water, and the ocean is warmer than in the west of the country. From Portinho da Arrábida you can take a sea cruise or walk in the surrounding area.
Youth beaches
Praia da Rocha beach
For those who like to spend their vacation active and fun, it is better to visit the Praia da Rocha beaches or the beaches of Cascais. The popular Praia da Rocha beach is both quaint cliffs, and a wide strip of sand more than a kilometer long, and a whole tourist town with a full range of entertainment for every taste: attractions and water sports lessons, nightclubs, discos, bars and restaurants. Despite the numerous tourists, the pristine and beauty of nature has been preserved here.
Cascais beaches
Cascais is one of the famous youth resorts in Portugal. In addition to a large number of nightclubs and discos, quarters with historical and architectural monuments, old mansions and picturesque winding streets have been preserved here. The beaches of Cascais have excellent infrastructure. The best ones are Praia da Rainha, Ribeira and Cresmina.
Wild beaches
Odeseishe Beach
This beach is located next to a picturesque village, between the bed of the Seiche River, which flows into the ocean and the ocean itself. There are very picturesque places here and there are not a lot of tourists. It is pleasant to plunge into the warm water of the Seiche River after the cool salty waves of the ocean. An interesting feature is that the Odeseishe beach is completely submerged at high tide.
Marinha beach
Marinha Beach is located about 20 kilometers west of the famous resort of Albufeira. There is no public transport to this beach, you can only get there by car. Marinha Beach is a narrow strip of sand, but when the water recedes at low tide, this wonderful cove allows you to explore the caves and rocks around. You can go down to the beach by the steep steps leading from the cliff. The purest water allows snorkelers to see aquatic life. In summer there is a bar on the beach, there are showers and toilets.
Windsurfing beaches
Ginshu beach
The most popular beach for windsurfing and other types of water sports is the beach near the tourist town of Cascais. Local surfers claim this beach has the best waves in the world. The wind, which blows here 300 days a year, allows experienced athletes to ride the waves and beginners to train. The entire infrastructure on this beach is focused on active sports. There are several surf schools on Ginshu Beach, where you can rent equipment. The surfing championship is regularly held there. Guinsu Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches near Lisbon. Because of the gusty wind and strong waves, there are few swimmers on the beach.
Carcavelos beach
In Carcavelos, surfing has been around since the 1960s. From this place, the spread of this sport in Portugal began. Carcavelos Beach has a wide sandy coastline. Here vacationers can go in for sports, surfing, scuba diving and sunbathing. For those wishing to learn to surf, there is a surf school, where professional instructors teach.
Nazare beach
Nazare Beach is located near the small town of the same name, two hours' drive from the capital. The water here is clean and warm, and the beach infrastructure allows you to relax comfortably. There is also a small beach for surf lovers. Surf experts appreciate the height of the waves and the direction of the wind on this beach, believing that for good skiing, you need to go here.
Praia Grande beach
This beach is located near the small town of Sintra, which is 23 kilometers from Lisbon. The name of the beach speaks for itself ("Grande" - big, huge). Surf lovers often come here. The northern part of the beach has one of the largest ocean water pools in Europe. Its length is approximately 100 meters. Praia Grande beach has all the necessary infrastructure, and even dinosaur footprints on the steep coast in the southern part of the beach.
