15 Best Beaches in Portugal
Hey guys, welcome back to this site. Today, we are going to share the 15 best beaches in Portugal. Portugal is one of our favorite countries that we have ever traveled to, and we are so excited to share these beaches with you. Make sure to stay tuned until the end because you are not going to want to miss number one.
For those of you who don’t know us, I’m Ismail, and my friend Marco and I run a travel and adventure blog site called Europe Diary. We are passionate about activities that get you outside and off the beaten path. We’ve got a ton of blogs on adventures, travel, and van life, so make sure to follow along.
Number 15 is Praia da Morena.
This is actually a white sand beach near Seixal, and it is very popular for surfing. We went surfing here. It’s got great waves for beginners and intermediates. There are places where you can rent surfboards right on the beach. They offer lessons and things like that. It’s surrounded by red cliffs, which is really cool too. It’s a really beautiful place with a huge parking lot and lots of room to spread out. It’s perfect for beginners as well. There were lots of families there, just a great place to hang out for the afternoon. There’s no shade though, so keep that in mind—lots of sunscreen.
Number 14 on the list is Praia dos Estudantes.
This beach is known for the bridge that goes across from a little island to the main coastline, and it is so cool. If you want to go directly underneath the bridge, you have to go at low tide. You have to go through a rock tunnel, then to the right, and you’ll find the bridge. If you’re going along the coastline, I highly recommend going at sunset or sunrise, though it’s beautiful throughout the day as well. At sunrise and sunset, everything lights up, and the colors are incredible.
There are only ten parking spots, so it’s best to get there early. These spots fill up quickly. This beach is really cool. I wouldn’t say it’s where you’d want to chill for a whole day, but it’s definitely worth visiting.
Next up is Praia dos Três Irmãos,
which is also a very unique beach. This beach has three rock formations known as the Three Brothers. It’s a great beach for exploring, maybe flying your drone, and relaxing. It’s also a really cool place to catch the sunset.
Number 12 on the list is Praia Dona Ana.
This beach is a long, narrow stretch of beach with unique rock formations. I mean, the whole coastline kind of does, but this one, in particular, has some really cool ones. It’s a great place to hang out. It doesn’t get too busy, and there’s room to spread out and relax in the sun. If you have a drone, this is a cool place to fly it. It looks stunning from above, with the blue water and the rocks sticking out.
Next on the list is Praia da Carvoeiro.
This beach stands out as super charming. You can actually feel the ambiance of the town from the beach, which is really cool. A lot of people stay in town, hang out, and bring a towel, drinks, or a book down to the beach. It’s pretty secluded by cliffs on each side, making it a peaceful place to hang out for the day.
Number ten is a place called Nazaré.
If you’ve never heard of it, Nazaré is a super famous surfing town on Portugal’s west coast, known for having the biggest waves in the world. They’ve got waves as high as 100 feet that people come to surf on. Hold on, hold on—pause that thought! We’re going to put some images of Nazaré right now because it will blow your mind. Ready? Click, click…whoa, mind blown!
Anyway, back to the list. If you don’t want to come here for the huge waves, that’s fine. The waves weren’t huge when we came, and it was still one of the most beautiful places. We loved the town, and we loved the beach. It’s very secluded, very charming, and felt super authentic. That’s what we loved most about it—less touristy. It’s the perfect place to visit during a low-key time. We were there in October. The waves are crazy in January, but during summer, they were much calmer. Nazaré is out of the way, but it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re in Portugal.
Number nine on the list is Praia do Camilo.
This is a very famous beach in Portugal, with steps leading down to the ocean. I think there are about 200 stairs, and it’s super beautiful. We went early—yeah, make sure to go early because these steps are a very popular photo spot for Instagram and social media. We were the only ones there, so we had some time to chill and hang out. It was really worth it. That’s pretty much good advice across the board for Portugal: if you want places to yourself, if you want photos, go early. Things don’t really get rolling until 10 or 11 o’clock.
If you don’t mind crowds, that’s fine, but if you want quiet time or photos, go early, and you’ll be pretty good in most places before 10. A huge tip we tell people is: wake up early, see the things you want to see, then take a nap in the afternoon when it’s too hot in places like the Algarve. Then, go back out for sunset, have dinner, enjoy, and do it all again the next day. It’s a great way to go.
Number eight is Ponta da Piedade.
This is a really cool lookout spot. It’s not technically a beach, but it’s right along the Algarve coast and is very popular. We showed up, and there were four tour buses, and we were like, “Oh no!” But we went out, enjoyed it, walked along the cliffs, and explored the cool trails. The cliffs just drop off—it’s pretty insane. This is definitely a spot to fly a drone. I’m not sure if it’s allowed, though, so look into that. There’s also a stairway down to the water, which is really cool. Spend some time here because it’s super popular. Again, get there early or go at sunrise/sunset like most of the Algarve, but this is a must-see spot for sure.
Next up is Praia da Odeceixe.
This is a huge beach that we had a lot of time to hang out at and enjoy. Definitely recommend going here because it’s beautiful, and there was no one there when we visited in September/October. It’s kind of out of the way, in the northwest corner of the Algarve, and takes a little effort to get to. Some bumpy roads, but it’s worthwhile. We spent hours here; it was so beautiful, and we had it all to ourselves. I believe there’s surfing and swimming here too.
Number six is Praia da Marinha.
This is a really busy beach. When we arrived, we were like, “Oh my God, there are people everywhere!” So we went at low tide, explored down the beach, and found some cool spots with fewer people. It’s not the kind of place you’d lounge in the sun because of the rock formations. It’s more of an exploring place, finding arches and cool rock formations. Bring water shoes, because we wished we had them. There is a sandy part where you can lounge, but if you want to explore, bring those shoes and don’t go at high tide, as you might get trapped.
Number five is Praia da Costa Nova.
It’s stunning, with a huge boardwalk that you can walk along, down to the beach. If you’re a runner like me and Marco, we went for a nice run along here—it was great. The town is also known for the colorful houses that line the boardwalk. The sand is white and pristine, and there’s hardly anyone there. We even saw some paragliders, so that could be a potential activity over the beach. It’s less busy than the beaches in the Algarve, but just as beautiful.
Number four is some secret beaches near Portimão.
I don’t know how to explain how to get here, so we’ll put a pin in the description below. We found these hidden coves and beaches using Google Maps. You can hike to them, so keep in mind that it requires a bit of a walk. If you want a beach all to yourself, this is the way to go. There’s one specific beach that’s a nesting beach, so be aware when you arrive. If that’s something you’re into, great, but if not, just something to keep in mind.
Number three is Praia da Ursa.
Praia da Ursa is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It’s located just west of Lisbon and Sintra. You’ll need a vehicle to get there, and it’s a bit of a hike, so wear proper shoes. Once you’re done exploring the castles, head out to the coast and relax at this beach. We went to a more hidden part of the beach and had it all to ourselves. It was amazing to watch the sunset with a bottle of wine.
Number two is Benagil Cave.
This place is often at the top of many lists, but it’s our number two. If you’ve Googled Portugal, you’ve probably seen pictures of this beautiful cave. It’s only accessible by sea. You can get there by kayak, boat, or paddleboard. We went by paddleboard, and it was an amazing experience. The sunlight coming through the roof and walls of the cave was magical. If you don’t want to paddle out there, you can always take a boat tour, which is a more leisurely way to enjoy the cave.
Our number one beach in Portugal is Praia da Falesia.
This beach is a little more local and less touristy, making it a fantastic spot to relax. What makes this beach stand out is the towering red and orange cliffs that run along its shoreline. You can walk for miles on soft white sand with these colorful cliffs as your backdrop. It’s a quieter beach than some of the more popular spots in the Algarve, but no less stunning. It’s great for swimming and sunbathing, and the sunsets are spectacular. This was our favorite beach in Portugal, and it holds a special place in our hearts.
Thank you guys so much for checking out our list of the 15 best beaches in Portugal. If you liked this article and want to know more, make sure to visit our site and subscribe for more travel tips and tricks!
