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The best independent guide to Lisbon
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The best independent guide to Lisbon
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The Praia da Ribeira beach, Cascais
The Praia da Ribeira beach was historically the fishermen’s beach in the centre of Cascais.
This pretty beach overlooks the fishing harbour and was traditionally where the fishing boats were moored and unloaded. Today the boats are moored in the harbour, and the beach is popular with tourists, due to its central location.
Praia da Ribeira sits in the centre of Cascais and is backed by the Hotel Baía
The Ribeira is a convenient beach if you want somewhere close to relax for a couple of hours, and don’t want the hassle of travelling by train to one of the larger beaches of the region. The only downside of the Ribeira beach is that it is on the main tourist routes around Cascais, and you will be constantly gazed at by visitors wandering past…
Related articles: Cascais guide - Cascais beach guide - Lisbon beach guide
The view over the beautiful Cascais coastline
Praia da Ribeira tourist information
The Praia da Ribeira is a small beach, with a shoreline of only 120m. On one side is the coastal wall that leads to the fishing harbour, and on the other is the old fishing pier. The beach is one of the most sheltered of the Lisbon coastline, and there are no waves, currents or sea breezes. The water quality is clean and monitored, but it is very close to the fishing harbour.
Expect the Ribeira beach to be busy in the summer months!
Being such a small beach, there is no lifeguard supervision, and there are no parasols or sun lounger rentals. There are many bars, restaurants, and shops close by.
Due to the small size of Praia da Ribeira, it can get crowded at the weekends. The Praia da Ribeira is fine for a couple hours of relaxing, but there are much better beaches both to the east and north. There is a volleyball pitch at the rear of the beach, which is free to use.
The water is fine for splashing around in but not for serious swimming
Praia da Ribeira Cascais further information
The Praia da Ribeira was historically the beach where the fishermen would haul the boats onto the sands, either to ride out storms or for repairs. The Ribeira beach is frequently referred by locals as the Fishermen’s Beach, the Praia dos Pescadores. Today the boats are no longer brought up the beach, and the fishing fleet is significantly diminished, with the population of Cascais mainly working in the tourist trade.
To the east of the Ribeira Beach is the Casa Seixas, a magnificent 20th-century villa that was constructed on the site of the old Fort of Santa Cata (Fort of Saint Catherine). A section of the old fort can be seen on the sea-facing side. The Casa Seixas was sold to the Portuguese navy and is presently used as the Mess Hall for naval officers.
The Casa Seixas
The Aos Descobrimentos Portugueses statue
The Aos Descobrimentos Portugueses is a 3m high bronze statue that is on the edge of the Praia da Ribeira. The statue of a young woman scanning the horizon, commentates 500 years since the Portuguese voyages of discovery along the western coast of Africa.
The Aos Descobrimentos Portugueses looking for distant lands
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