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The best independent guide to Lisbon
LisbonLisboaPortugal.com
The best independent guide to Lisbon
Lisbon beaches: beach guide and best beach in 2025
When the summer sun heats up Lisbon’s cobbled streets, the city’s smartest travellers head for the coast. The nearby beaches provide the perfect escape, and knowing where to go is essential for making the most of a hot day.
To the west of Lisbon, the popular Cascais coastline offers a series of sheltered, sandy beaches with calm sea waters. This entire stretch is served by a direct train line, making it the most convenient and accessible option for most visitors. The beaches here are ideal for families or for a simple, relaxing day on the sand.
Across the Tagus estuary to the south lies the Costa da Caparica. This is a single, vast expanse of sand that stretches for nearly 30 kilometres, facing the full power of the Atlantic. Known for its excellent surf and a more energetic beach-bar scene, this coastline has a wilder and more youthful character.
This guide provides practical details for all of Lisbon's main beaches, explaining how to get there and what to expect, to ensure you can make the most of your time on the coast.
Related articles: Lisbon introduction – Secret Lisbon – 1 week in Lisbon
The Praia de Carcavelos is one of the most popular beaches in the Lisbon region
The best beaches near Lisbon
The best beaches that can be easily reached using public transport:
• Praia de Carcavelos - The largest sandy beach on the Lisbon coastline, known for its vibrant atmosphere and reliable surf.
• Praia da Conceição - A beautiful and sheltered beach at the heart of the historic resort town of Cascais.
• Costa da Caparica - A vast coastline of sandy beaches, popular for its surf culture and lively beach bars.
• Praia de Santo Amaro de Oeiras - The widest sandy beach in the closest proximity to central Lisbon, making it a very popular choice.
• Praia do Tamariz - An elegant resort beach in Estoril, famed for its casino backdrop and tidal swimming pool.
• Praia São Pedro - A popular locals’ beach with a relaxed atmosphere, set between the larger resorts of Carcavelos and Estoril.
The Praia da Conceição is a family-friendly beach in the resort town of Cascais, only a short train ride away from central Lisbon
The most beautiful beaches of Lisbon, which need a car to reach them:
• The Serra da Arrábida (48km from Lisbon) - A region of idyllic beaches where the green hills of the national park meet calm, turquoise waters.
• Lagoa de Albufeira (41km from Lisbon) - A unique setting with calm, sheltered lagoon waters on one side and powerful sea waves on the other.
• Praia do Guincho (32km from Lisbon) - A wild and windswept beach with massive waves, famous for its challenging surfing and kitesurfing conditions.
• Praia da Ursa (44km from Lisbon) - One of Portugal’s most scenic beaches, known for its dramatic cliffs and colossal sea stacks.
• Praia das Maçãs (43km from Lisbon) - A charming resort town with a wide sandy beach, popular with Portuguese families and visitors from Sintra.
• The Tróia Peninsula (55km + ferry ride) - A pristine sandbar peninsula with calm, clear waters, offering a sense of unspoiled natural beauty.
The pristine Lagoa de Albufeira is only a 30-minute drive from Lisbon and is completely unknown by foreign tourists
The top 10 beaches of Lisbon
The detailed interactive map below highlights the region's finest beaches. It is designed to help you locate the ideal beach for your style of travel, whether you are relying on public transport or exploring by car.
• Yellow Markers: These indicate the top 10 beaches for accessibility, all reachable by train or bus from central Lisbon.
• Green Markers: These highlight the region’s 10 most scenic beaches, which are best visited with a car.
The Top 10 beaches (yellow): 1) Praia de Carcavelos 2) Praia da Conceição 3) Costa da Caparica 4) Praia do Tamariz 5) Praia de São Pedro do Estoril 6) Praia da Torre 7) Santo Amaro de Oeiras 8) Praia Velha 9) Praia de Paço de Arcos 10) Praia da Rainha
The Top 10 beautiful beaches (green): 1) Praia do Creiro (Serra da Arrábida) 2) Lagoa de Albufeira 3) Praia do Guincho 4) Praia da Ursa 5) Península de Troia 6) Praia das Maçãs 7) Praia da Adraga 8) Praia do Meco 9) Praia da Figueirinha 10) Fonte da Telha
The Best Beaches for a First Day Trip
For visitors new to Lisbon, the sheer number of beaches can be overwhelming. For a straightforward and enjoyable first day trip, the best options are Praia de Carcavelos, Praia de Santo Amaro de Oeiras, and Praia da Conceição.
These three beaches are recommended for their convenience and quality. They are all situated on the direct Lisbon-Cascais railway, making them the easiest to reach from the city centre. As well as offering excellent facilities and clean, calm waters, they are sheltered from the strong Atlantic winds common on other coastlines, ensuring a reliable choice for visitors of all ages.
To combine a day on the sand with exploring a characterful resort town, the ideal destination is Cascais, home to the Praia da Conceição.
Related articles: Carcavelos beach - Oeiras beach - Conceição beach
Praia de Santo Amaro de Oeiras (or Oeiras beach) is the best sandy beach closest to Lisbon
Carcavelos beach is much larger than Oeiras, but it is slightly further from Lisbon
Conceição beach lies within the lively resort town of Cascais, and is an enjoyable day trip
The Four Coastlines of the Lisbon Region
There are four distinct coastlines within easy reach of Lisbon: the Oeiras-Estoril-Cascais coastline, the Costa da Caparica, the Serra de Sintra coastline, and the Serra da Arrábida. Each offers a completely different character and beach experience.
The Oeiras-Estoril-Cascais Coastline
Extending west from Lisbon, this is the most popular and accessible coastline for visitors. It is defined by a series of sandy beaches, calm waters, and traditional resort towns. Its main advantage is the direct train service from central Lisbon, which stops at numerous beaches along the route. This convenience, however, means the beaches can become very crowded in the summer.
The largest beach in the region is Praia de Carcavelos, while other excellent options on the train line include Praia de Santo Amaro de Oeiras and Praia de São Pedro. At the end of the line is the historic town of Cascais, an ideal destination for a beach-focused holiday, with its sheltered Praia da Conceição. Nearby, the elegant resort of Estoril is known for its grand casino that overlooks the Praia do Tamariz.
Related articles: Cascais guide - Cascais beach guide - Estoril guide
The Praia da Torre beach overlooks the Forte de São Julião da Barra
The Costa da Caparica
Located south of Lisbon across the Tagus River, the Costa da Caparica offers a wilder and more expansive coastal experience. This region is dominated by a single, continuous sandy shoreline that stretches for over 20km, facing the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its excellent surfing conditions and a vibrant beach-bar scene that is popular with a younger crowd.
The character of the coastline varies from north to south. The northern end is anchored by the modern resort town of Costa da Caparica. Further south, the landscape becomes more natural and undeveloped, protected by the Arriba Fóssil nature preserve. Here you can find the calm lagoon of Lagoa de Albufeira, the traditional fishing village of Fonte da Telha, and the quiet, unspoiled sands of Praia do Meco.
Travel Tip: Regular buses connect Lisbon to the main town of Costa da Caparica. However, a car is necessary to explore the central and southern parts of the coastline, including Fonte da Telha and Lagoa de Albufeira.
Related articles: Costa da Caparica - Fonte da Telha - Lagoa de Albufeira - Praia do Meco
The Costa da Caparica region has a rich fishing heritage
The Serra de Sintra Coastline
North of Cascais lies the dramatic and rugged coastline of the Serra de Sintra. Protected by the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, this is an unspoiled region of jagged cliffs, vast sandy beaches, and raw natural beauty. Exposed to the full force of the Atlantic, its powerful waves and windswept landscape are ideal for surfing, hiking, and scenic drives.
The most renowned beach is Praia do Guincho, a world-class surfing and kitesurfing destination. For sheer scenic drama, few beaches can compare to Praia da Ursa or Praia da Adraga, which are backed by colossal rock formations. Further north, the area becomes more settled with the traditional beach towns of Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar.
Travel Tip: Public transport in this region is very limited. A car is essential to properly explore the beaches of the Serra de Sintra. A highlight of any tour is a visit to Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe.
Related articles: Praia do Guincho - Praia das Maçãs - Cabo da Roca
The Praia da Ursa, one of the most remote and picturesque beaches of the Lisbon region, but to reach it involves dirt roads and a 1km downhill hike
Serra da Arrábida Coastline
Situated on the sheltered southern side of the Setúbal Peninsula, the Serra da Arrábida coastline offers some of the most picturesque scenery in Portugal. Here, the lush green hills of the Arrábida National Park slope down to meet soft golden sands and calm, turquoise waters, creating a landscape that feels almost Mediterranean. The most idyllic beaches include Praia do Creiro, Praia da Figueirinha, and Praia de Galápos.
Important Visitor Tip: While the Arrábida beaches are stunning, they are extremely difficult to visit during the summer. Car parking is incredibly limited and often full before mid-morning. To avoid disappointment, either plan to arrive very early or consider the much larger and more accessible beaches of the Costa da Caparica, such as Lagoa de Albufeira or Fonte da Telha.
The main town for the region is the fishing port of Sesimbra, a popular holiday destination for the Portuguese. While the city of Setúbal is a historic port worthy of a visit, it is not a beach destination.
Related articles: Serra da Arrábida - Sesimbra guide – Setubal Guide
The turquoise waters of Praia do Creiro, however car parking is extremely competitive during the summer
The Chilly Seas
Many first-time visitors to the Lisbon coast are surprised by the temperature of the sea. Even at the peak of summer, when air temperatures can exceed 34°C, the ocean rarely climbs above 20°C. This is not a sign of a poor summer; it is a permanent feature of the region, caused by powerful natural phenomena.
The primary reason for the cold is the Canary Current, a vast, cool-water current that flows south from the North Atlantic, constantly bringing frigid water down the Portuguese coast. This effect is amplified during the summer months by a process called upwelling. Strong seasonal winds push the warmer surface water away from the shore, which pulls intensely cold, nutrient-rich water up from the deep-sea floor to replace it. This newly surfaced water can be 5-10°C colder than the water it displaces.
While this may be bracing for swimmers, the cold water has significant benefits. The upwelling process makes the waters phenomenally rich in nutrients, creating one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems.
Surfing on the Costa da Caparica
The Lisbon region is one of Europe’s premier surfing destinations, and the heart of its surf culture lies on the Costa da Caparica. This vast, 30km coastline is defined by its consistent Atlantic waves and sandy beaches, offering reliable conditions for surfers of all abilities, from complete beginners to experts.
The primary appeal of the Costa da Caparica is its series of exposed beach breaks over a forgiving sandy bottom, which creates a safe environment for learning. Conditions vary significantly by season. The summer months (June to September) typically bring smaller, more manageable waves, ideal for lessons and those new to the sport. Autumn and winter see the arrival of larger and more powerful swells, attracting experienced surfers seeking more challenging conditions.
The main hub for surfing is the town of Costa da Caparica, at the northern end of the coast. Here, numerous surf schools and rental shops line the beachfront, offering lessons and equipment. For a potentially less crowded but equally accessible option, the beaches at Fonte da Telha, located further south, also provide excellent conditions and facilities.
For anyone looking to try surfing for the first time, the Costa da Caparica is the ideal place to start. Lessons and board rentals are widely available and affordable. While the main town is easily reached by bus from Lisbon, a car allows for greater freedom to explore the quieter breaks found along the southern half of the coast.
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A complete list of all of our Lisbon articles
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If you've found our content valuable, we'd welcome your support.
The digital publishing landscape has evolved significantly. As a small independent publisher, we face growing challenges. Search engines increasingly favour paid content over organic results, while AI-generated content often reproduces original work without attribution.
To support our work, please consider bookmarking this page (press Ctrl + D) for quick access. If you find an article helpful, we'd be grateful if you'd share it with friends on social media.
For specific questions, please see our Reddit community at r/LisbonPortugalTravel.
Should you notice any outdated or incorrect information, please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable content in an increasingly challenging digital environment.