About Portugal

The gentle sea with the purest water and the magnificent fine sandy beaches of Portugal attract more and more tourists yearly. The crystal turquoise color of the seawater sets the level of your vacation somewhere between stunning and perfect. So if you are looking for the perfect sea, this is your place!

General information

Long straight beaches dominate the coast of Portugal. Large spaces mean you can always find a comfortable place to relax. That is why travelers appreciate these places so much. One of the disadvantages of this type of beach is the scarce natural shade, so if you choose to relax on the wild part of the coast, be prepared to be alone with the scorching sun without the opportunity to take cover in a cool shade.

Most beaches of Portugal are located within settlements, usually more accessible and well equipped, but less picturesque. The latter does not apply to Portugal because, despite a large number of city beaches, many still offer stunning views.

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Popular destinations

view the best beach places

Algarve

123 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Azores

58 beaches
Cliffs • Good for water jumping

Area Metropolitana de Lisboa

41 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Secluded relax

Alentejo

39 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Secluded relax

Centro

35 beaches
Cliffs • Wild beach • Good for Surfing

North

29 beaches
Good for diving • Kite or windsurfing • Good for Sup surfing

Madeira

27 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Wild beach

Parque Natural da Arrábida

6 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow
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Portugal Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

Senior friendly

Arrabida Beach

Picheleiros 3.5 km

8.9
Beach resort • Picturesque • Easy access • Bright sand • Small free area • Crowded in season
5.5 Amenities index
Senior friendly

Praia dos Pescadores

Albufeira 0.5 km

8.8
Partly hotel beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Small open area • Crowded in season
6.5 Amenities index
Senior friendly

Vale do Lobo

Fonte Santa 3.3 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Brown fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Fine sand bottom
7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Nova Beach

Armacao de Pera 2.5 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Picturesque • Easy access • Brown fine sand • Crowded in season
2.7 Amenities index

Malhada do Baraco beach

Porches 4 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Picturesque • Access by boat • Crowded in season • No parking
1.1 Amenities index
Kids friendly

Manta Rota Beach

Manta Rota 0.4 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Fine sand bottom
6.5 Amenities index

Popular types of Portugal beaches

Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 352 beaches in the country.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in Portugal.

The beaches of Portugal can be a good choice for senior travelers, as there are 107 beaches equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay for this group of travelers.

In most cases, older travelers are looking for a quiet relaxing holiday and have high demands on infrastructure. This type of beach is the opposite of the party ones preferred by the younger generation.

Good news for those who like to merge with nature completely. Portugal offers 10 naturist (FKK) beaches , some of which are located in very secluded places. Such pearls can only be found by an advanced traveler, so for your confident navigation, we have prepared a list of them. Remember sunscreen, since most of beaches are completely natural, there is no infrastructure for several kilometers around.

Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of Portugal, they are as follows:

  • The country's beaches are mainly wide, moderate length and have a high level of cleanliness. The most common surface is fine sand of bright color.
  • Usually, entry into the water is moderately gentle, such beaches are 223.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in Portugal is less than 500 meters. 314 beaches are relatively easy to access, 4 beaches are difficult to access, which in most cases means that you have to walk a quite long distance, and 19 beaches are only accessible from the water. The latter include both island beaches and beaches with no land routes due to the natural borders.

The vast majority of Portugal beaches have the necessary amenities, such as sun loungers, umbrellas, beach cafes, showers and toilets.

Hundreds of beaches in Portugal attract every year not only relaxation lovers but also those travelers who prefer outdoor activities and, first of all surfers, kite surfers, sup boarders.

So, let's see what activities you can do on the beaches:

  • SUP is a relatively young sport that attracts more and more followers every year. Whether you are an experienced SUP rider or want to discover this activity, Portugal is the perfect place for you. More than 41 beaches are popular among SUP boarders. Who knows, you will become an enthusiastic fan of SUP after visiting these beaches.
  • Surfing. There is probably no person in the world who has never seen these talented boys and girls riding the wave. Whether you are a professional surfer or just an athlete with a brave heart, the beaches of Portugal will suit both of you, as this country is quite popular among surfers. There are about 86 beaches good suitable for surfing, choose carefully, don't miss the beach of your dream!
  • Kite or windsurfing. We know firsthand how difficult it is sometimes to find the right place for your favorite activity, especially if it is kite or windsurfing. So if you are a fan of these activities, then Portugal may be the right choice for you, as there are over 61 beaches popular among kiters and windsurfers. There will be a fair wind, we are sure!

Do you love an active lifestyle but would prefer something other than water activities? Then on the beaches of Portugal you can actively spend time playing volleyball. Although this country does not have the privileged status of the volleyball capital of World, it may well compete for this title because there are about 58 beaches where you can play volleyball.

For campers, important information is the availability of campsites in the country. There are such places near the 22 beaches of Portugal. 10 of them are a kind of wild camp, formed spontaneously by lovers of this type of recreation and did not have an infrastructure. 12 of them are official campsites, with all the necessary (showers, toilets, shops, cafes).

Latest reviews on Portugal's beaches

Please note that lifeguards supervise 178 beaches in the country, but you should rely on more than just them, remember the elementary rules, as lifeguards are not on duty around the clock, even on equipped beaches!

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

Do you know how many beaches there are in Portugal? In total there are 352 beaches and the most popular is Arrabida Beach.

Most viewed beaches of Portugal

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in Portugal?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in Portugal, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 352 beaches in total, of which about 104 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in Portugal:

View all beaches in Portugal and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in Portugal?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in Portugal, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in Portugal and create your selection by features.

What are all easy accessible beaches in Portugal?

Most of the beaches located in Portugal are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in Portugal by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in Portugal:

View all beaches in Portugal and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in Portugal?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

Other popular categories

View all beaches in Portugal and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in Portugal?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in Portugal by occupancy.

Popular categories:

If the presence of a crowd on the beach is critical for you, pay attention to where you should not go in the season.

View all beaches in Portugal and select by features

How to view all beaches by amenities details in Portugal?

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in Portugal?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in Portugal and select by activity

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