On the border of Spain is a beautiful Southern European country called Portugal. The country is very famous for its beautiful and abundant beaches. Portugal stretches over 1700 km of coastal land giving you plenty of choices to choose from.
The country offers such a rich variety of things to see and to do but no itinerary for Portugal is complete without visiting at least a couple of its beautiful beaches. A trip to these beaches is nothing short of a treat. Apart from the beautiful waters, you will have a chance to admire coves, cliffs and surfing spots backed by dunes.
Although the best beaches to visit in Portugal are located in the Algarve region, there are many more options as well. So without waiting any further, let’s talk about some of the coolest beaches you can visit in the summers for your next vacation!
1. Praia dos Galapinhos
Located amidst the Parque Natural da Arrábida, an hour away from Lisbon is this dreamy beach. It is considered to be one of the best beaches of Portugal because unlike others, it is relatively secluded and hence quiet. If you’re one to prefer your peace, this is the perfect option for you.
Praia dos Galapinhos has very calm waters making it an ideal beach for swimming. They also employ many lifeguards to ensure safety and protection of the visitors. It has white sand and beautiful clear waters. It is also surrounded with a lush landscape of the hills of the Serra da Arrábida. This combination of nature sets this beach apart!
Apart from the exquisite beach, there are plenty of restaurants and bars near the beach as well where you can grab a bite. If you plan on spending more time in this area, you can find really nice hotels here as well.
2. Praia de Tavira
Tavira is a town located in Portugal and at the south of this town is the Tavira Island. This island has beautiful beaches to choose from but the Praia de Tavira has my vote because it is just your classic beach. To elaborate, it has blue waters, the shore has classic golden sand and it is surrounded by natural beauty!
The way to get to this beach from the mainland is via ferry. You won’t be able to find any hotels to stay here but you will find places to eat. It gets a bit crowded here during the months of July and August but otherwise, the crowds aren’t that crazy.
If you are looking to spend time on a nice sandy beach, go here.
3. Praia de Odeceixe
Although not as prominent as other choices, Praia de Odeceixe is a strong contender in the list of the best beaches of Portugal because not only is it an amazing tourist spot, it also a surfer’s haven. If you are someone wanting to learn surfing or stand-up paddleboarding, there are many options around the area of Aljezur. If you want to relax, just chill on the small lagoons that appear during low tides.
Surrounded by the Ribeira de Seixe River, this beach literally is shaped like a giant horseshoe. This gorgeous beach has blue-green waters, houses, cliffs and giant rocks. In fact, one rock on the west side looks like a shark’s fin making it a very renowned landmark here.
4. Praia da Falésia
This is a very scenic beach to visit. It is located in the Algarve, between Vilamoura and Albufeira and is a big beach stretching 8 km. Not only is this beach located at a very tourist-friendly spot, it looks very unique. The beach rarely gets crowded because it is very easy to find quaint spots on the expansive lands.
Other than the bluish-green hue of the water and golden sands (found in almost all the beaches of this list) it is backed by cliffs that have an orange hue. This striking contrast between the colors of nature surrounding Praia da Falésia makes it one of the best beaches to see in Portugal. Oh and it goes without saying that these cliffs would look fabulous on your Instagram page.
Under the right conditions, people also surf on this beach.
5. Foz do Minho
Located farther north, Foz do Minho can give you views of Spain. It is located in Caminha so it is often called as Caminha beach too. This is a less adventurous option allowing people the chance to just relax and take in the beautiful views.
With a river in the north and a beautiful sandy shore, it is the perfect place to unwind. It also has hotels and villas available nearby if you plan on staying here for a while. Other than the beach, there are local guides available to take you to see the beautiful region.
If you want an escape from the daily hustle and bustle of the city, Caminha might be the best beach in Portugal for you.
6. Praia das Furnas
If you are planning a getaway with your family, this beach is a very good spot to choose. Every family has a mix of different people wanting different experiences. This beach is close to river Mira from Vila Nova de Milfontes, which is an adorable town. It offers a side facing the calm and serene waters of Mira whereas the other one faces the strong waves of the Atlantic.
Whether you want to surf or just enjoy the clean waters, Praia das Furnas is an excellent choice from the beaches of Portugal. It would be better for you to take your own picnic baskets here because it has only one restaurant. The reason for this is to preserve the natural landscape with little intrusion.
7. Comporta
Comporta is found in northern Alentejo which is a province that covers a huge part of Portugal. The province has many amazing beaches but Comporta is a good pick. Comporta is surrounded by rice paddies, the ocean, sand dunes and pine forests.
This beach offers a very rich experience of scenic beauty. You will find long stretches of beach, windswept dunes, scenic pine forests, salt marshes and rice paddies which become a vibrant green in June.
You can also visit Melides where you can ride horses and taste exquisite wines. It is a short trip from the beach.
8. Praia dos Galapos
Close to the Praia dos Galapinhos (the first beach on this list) this is a more crowded beach as compared to the first one. This does not mean that this beach isn’t a good choice amongst the top beaches of Portugal. Besides, some people enjoy lively crowds.
If you like Galapinhos but you don’t want to be on a quaint beach, think of Praia dos Galapos as the same beach but with noise and life.
More crowds mean more facilities in terms of bathrooms and restaurants. Moreover the landscape adds the cherry on the top. You can also find hotels to stay here for a couple days.
9. Praia do Camilo
This small delightful beach is a wonderful spot to see when in Portugal. Located on the outskirts of Lagos, which is a beautiful insta-worthy town covered in walls built in the 16th century.
You would have to go down a set of stairs (about 200) to get to the little beach. Golden sands, shallow turquoise waters and cliffs surround this beach. Be sure to reach here a bit timely as it does get a bit crowded.
Granted this beach is a bit small compared to the others on this list, but it is very picturesque. Think of it as one of those places you would want to take pictures at.
10. Costa de Caparica
This long beach is located near Lisbon, on the on the Setúbal Peninsula. This beach is very famous for getting beautiful golden tans. Many visitors are found lounged across the stretches of sand.
It is an excellent spot for families, friends and even for surfers looking to ride Atlantic waves. The sand and water are clean and there are little shacks around the beach to get food.
Conclusion
So when are you planning your trip to the best beaches Portugal has to offer? Hopefully you have picked your destination from the list. We even have a list of the best kayak paddles here if you’re going on a kayak trip in Portugal!
Portugal is a beautiful country with hundreds of beaches to choose from. In a perfect world, people would want to see them all.
As that isn’t realistic, choosing the best ones often becomes overwhelming so hopefully that part has become a bit easy for you!
