The beaches of Portugal are like no other. The dramatic cliffs meet the soft sand that meets the deep blue waters. The stark contrast of the different landscapes make the beaches in Portugal some of the coolest and most diverse in the world.
If you are planning a trip to Portugal, you do not want to miss these Portugal beaches. Here are 10 of the best beaches in Portugal!
1. Praia De Tavira
Praia De Tavira is on the Algarve coast, one of the most famous areas of Portugal’s beaches. It is an island off the southern coast of Portugal close to the border of Spain.
The miles of beach are beautiful. Praia De Tavira is unlike some of the other Portugal beaches because there are no dramatic cliffs on this beach. Instead, it is all soft dunes.
If you get hot, you can visit one of the few bars on the beach, which you will find packed during the summer months.
You can get here by ferry.
2. Praia Da Marinha and Benagil
Another beach located in the Algarve, Praia Da Marinha and Benagail is a beach with gorgeous views of cliffs and rock formations. One of the best parts about this beach is that it is largely untouched by large-scale development, so you still get the remote feel of being at the beach without being too far away from anything.
While visiting here, you can visit a sea cave as part of the bay of Benagil – something that you definitely do not want to miss in the area!
3. Nazare
Located slightly north of Lisbon, you will find Nazare, a busy seaside resort with much more hustling and bustling than the other two beaches previously mentioned.
Originally, Nazare was a fishing village. It has since transformed into a beautiful and popular beach destination during the summer months.
When visiting, keep in mind that the waves here can be dangerous. Nazare is known to be home to the biggest waves in the world ever surfed, coming in at 26 meters.
4. Praia de Carcavelos
Although Praia de Carcavelos is beautiful just like the rest of the beaches on this list, the main attraction to this beach is that it is in the heart of Lisbon.
If you are planning a trip to the city, this is one of the easiest beaches in Portugal to get to! It is a perfect day trip to get out of the city for a bit on a warm summer day.
Keep in mind, though, that because this beach is so close to the city, it is more crowded.
You will also not see as many cliff formations here as it is mostly soft sand and miles of dunes.
5. Foz de Minho
If you want to say that you went to the most northern beach in Portugal, you need to go to Foz de Minho.
You can find it near Caminha, a small town in northern Portugal.
This beach will give you different vibes from any others on the list because it is set right off of the estuary of where the Rhio Minho flows. To get to the beach, you have to walk on boardwalks through the pine trees.
When you get to the beach, you will see Spain right across the way, where the river flows into the ocean! It is quite the site to see, with beautiful beaches surrounding you.
6. Praia Dona Ana in Lagos
If you want to go to one of the most picturesque beaches in Portugal, you do not want to miss Praia Dona Ana in Lagos.
Lagos is home to some of the prettiest beaches, most of which are separated by cliff formations.
You can take a kayak out on the water for a quick excursion to go in and out of caves if you tire of sitting on the beach or want a change of scenery.
7. Praia Da Figueira
Located right outside of the small village of Figueira, this beach lies below an old fort in the area.
However, if you do choose to visit this beach, just know that you will be walking for about 20 to 30 minutes to get there. With that in mind, you will most likely have it to yourself with just a few others since it is one of the more remote ones that are not accessible by car!
And the walk rewards those who do it with beautiful views of the countryside.
8. Comporta
About an hour away from Lisbon, Comporta is one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets in the area! It is close to the port town of Alacer do Sal.
If you go during the summer months, you may be able to find a seasonal cafe that is open for you to grab a drink and a bite to eat.
9. Galapos
Although it sounds like the Galapogos, it is not!
The Galapos is a beach that has been protected since 1976. It is full of dotted cove beaches along the coast right next to the wooded slopes of Serra da Arrabida.
Since it is pretty off the beaten path, you can enjoy this beautiful beach full of wildlife all on your own.
10. Porto Covo’s Beaches
If you love low-key vibes, beautiful sandy beaches, a few cliffs here and there, and cute villages, then Porto Covo’s beaches are for you.
You can find yourself exploring a few different beaches for days here!
Portugal Beaches You Don’t Want to Miss
When planning a trip to Portugal, you need to visit these Portugal beaches. If you don’t visit all of them, at least plan to visit one of them during your trip!
You will love the dramatic coastline lined with cliffs on a lot of them or the miles of sandy dunes on the others.
If you’re ready to book your Portugal trip but not sure how to book, you can reach out to our travel experts to walk you through booking and planning the trip of your lifetime!