Introduction to Lisbon and its Best Beaches
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, it is also the largest city in the country and one of the oldest cities in the world.
This capital city offers traditional heritage along with chic modernism and great nightlife.
The city sits on the Atlantic coast and visitors have access to some of the best beaches in Europe, with beautiful coastlines, rugged cliffs and huge waves that make Lisbon one of Portugal’s best-surfing destinations.
Whatever your preference is, these Portuguese beaches cater for every taste.
Here is a complete guide to the best Lisbon beaches:
Praia de Carcavelos, Cascais
A beach that’s best for sports.
This beach has the longest sand stretch on the Estoril coast and is usually filled with different sports lovers with plenty of sports activities taking place.
During the summer, you will find regular football and volleyball competitions being held on this beach and in the winter, people are fond of surfing and bodyboarding.
Praia de Caecavelos is one of the busiest beaches as it is suitable for all ages, and residents love visiting it during summer.
Other than the regular sporty events, the beach also attracts walkers from time to time.
Praia de São Pedro do Estoril
Praia de São Pedro do Estoril offers Blue-flagged sand.
During the summer months, locals are drawn to the region’s appealing beaches and most of them prefer Praia de São Pedro do Estoril.
This beach is an attractive alternative to Lisbon’s other popular beaches. Families often visit this beach since it’s more sheltered, and the waters are calmer.
The beach is home to one of the world’s outstanding natural wonders. When tides are low the Pedra do Sal (a huge salt stone) lying under the waters is exposed. This geological wonder is made up of limestone and marl and it’s believed to be 120 million years old. So, why not visit this beach and see this natural wonder?
Praia de Caxias
When you take the western route out from the city, this is the first beautiful beach you will arrive at.
It’s also one of the easiest beaches to reach as it is next to the Caxias railway station.
This beautiful beach is divided into three different sand pockets. Due to its proximity to the city and easy reach, Caxias isn’t one of the quietest beaches in Lisbon.
It is a favourite with locals and it tends to get crowded in summer. Caxias is a perfect beach if you don’t want to travel too far from the city.
The beach offers readily-available leisure facilities, including freshwater shower points and toilets.
Tamariz Beach
Tamariz beach is located 30 minutes away from central Lisbon.
When you get to the beach you will be greeted by emerald-green waters and two kilometres of white sand. You will also be impressed by the beach’s proximity to restaurants, bars and the Estoril garden.
These are some of the reasons why locals love visiting this beach. While here, you can set up camp on the sand and spend the whole day admiring the beautiful waters and waves.
Alternatively, you can go to the east side of the beach and dive into the Tamariz Ocean pool. The ocean pool offers swimmers ample and safe time to swim without being disrupted by the strong currents from the ocean.
Praia de Algés
Visit Praia de Algés and enjoy the white sands and great views surrounding the beach.
Praia de Algés is the nearest beach city, being only a 20-minute walk from the centre of Lisbon.
If you don’t fancy walking, you can get there by hiring a taxi, or you can board the Cascais train and alight at the Algés station.
There are plenty of activities you can do while visiting this beach. For starters, you can rent out fishing rods or you can simply lazy around sunbathing on the shore.
In summer, you can enjoy other activities such as the Nos Alive music festival, where you will get to listen to and watch different bands during a three-day event.
Praia do Guincho
Praia do Guincho borders the Sintra coast six kilometres northwest of the popular Cascais.
The beach is characterised by a large amphitheatre of white sand and numerous shifting dunes. The huge shifting dunes are enough reason for you to visit Praia do Guincho.
This beach also draws the best windsurfers, surfers and kiteboarders, who are always ready to harness the strong winds from the Atlantic Ocean.
However, you should be aware of strong currents and undertows. Although the beach has an appealing beauty, it’s not the best beach in Lisbon for families with young children.
Praia da Poça
If you want to get to Praia da Poca easily, follow the promenade east from Cascais and enjoy a leisurely half-hour stroll. The beach is suitable for children of all ages, and thanks to its small dimensions, parents can watch over their children easily.
Low tides expose a stony seabed, and although the beach isn’t perfect for surfing or paddling, youngsters and grownups can explore the rocky pools for hours.
For a brief tour, you can visit Forte Teodósio da Cadaveira, which is a sea fort, built in the 17th century. It was built to defend River Tagus’ entry. This area is full of cafes, ice-cream shops and good restaurants.
Praia da Adraga, Sintra
Sintra is located north of the capital. The region is renowned for its beautiful beaches and some of Lisbon’s best foods.
Ancient castles are hidden by dense forest hills, just before dropping down sandy coves and rocky cliffs.
Praia da Adraga is an undeveloped cove with lesser crowds and it has a very popular eatery, Restaurante da Adraga. This is an excellent eatery with an amazing ocean view and fresh seafood.
In short, Praia da Adraga is a perfect beach for food lovers.
Praia da Figueirinha
Surrounded by emerald-green hills, Figueurinha is home to the calmest waters of all of Lisbon’s best beaches.
It has an arc of white sand and is filled with parasols and sun loungers.
The calm waters make the beach ideal for families.
A lagoon also offers a safe spot for an adult to have a dip while providing shallow water for children to splash around in.
The sea is so clear at this point, to the extent that you can see fish moving beneath you.
Praia da Rainha
Rainha stands for queen in Portuguese.
Praia da Rainha is the smallest beach in the area, but it serves the best scenic views. It is a picture-perfect beach with a blue-flag rating.
The beach is squeezed in between 19th-century townhouses and elevated beach apartments.
You can access the beach via a steep set of steps.
This “Queen’s Beach” welcomes small family groups and individuals who don’t mind being in crowded waters.
Summary
Lisbon is and will always be one of Europe’s most exciting places to visit for a holiday or a weekend city break.
This Portuguese city is full of beauty, rich culture, scenic viewpoints and gastronomy.
Being the capital city of Portugal, the city is famed for rattling rams, pastéis de Nata and the tiled porticoes.
The beaches of Lisbon are some of the best in Europe and offer everything a beach lover could want, including wind sports, sandy beaches, lagoons and hidden coves. mentioned in the article, you won’t miss a beautiful beach to visit around this Portuguese city.
