Costa da Caparica is a popular beach resort located on the Atlantic coast of Portugal. The territory of Costa da Caparica is 10 square kilometers, the population is about 11.5 thousand people.
Back in the second half of the 20th century, only a small handful of local residents knew about this place. However, thanks to the active construction of new hotels, clean beaches and infrastructure improvements, the former fishing village has turned into a lively tourist center with a mild climate and a variety of leisure and entertainment options.
The climate is warm and pleasant. In summer, the air warms up to +25…+28°C, in winter, the temperature drops to a comfortable +13…+16°C. In the spring and second half of autumn, it often rains in Portugal, but this does not greatly affect the excellent weather conditions. The beach season lasts from May to mid-October, although the ocean here is never very warm – the maximum water temperature is-19°C.
Tourist infrastructure
Costa da Caparica beach in Portugal is suitable for both relaxing and active holidays. Here you can find entertainment for every taste. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy surfing, bodyboarding and windsurfing all year round. The Aroeira golf courses offer a smooth and winding landscape.
Do you want to go out to sea with a fishing rod at the ready? Join a group of local fishermen as soon as possible – the catch will be guaranteed! By the way, if you do not intend to cook fish yourself, you can feed it to gulls or sell it to tourists. For those who are used to daily jogging, the embankment road is designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
But that’s not all! The resort is adjacent to the Arriba Area, which is considered a protected area. Here you can admire unique natural objects. Picturesque lakes, flowery glades, mounds of rocks and huge blocks of stone, which are about 15 million years old. The resort’s residential areas are surrounded by a myriad of pines, white acacia and eucalyptus trees. In combination with neatly manicured green lawns, they give this place a special charm and give tourists a positive charge. As evidenced by the photos of Costa de Caparica, the resort is remembered by travelers with positive impressions.
Tired of sports games, admiring the nature of Portugal and lying on the beach, you can plunge into the vibrant nightlife. Almost all beaches can boast a large number of bars, night clubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues, where every night there are parties with incendiary dances. You can also go on a cruise by ferry or rent a yacht, boat or speedboat.
As for the traditional resort shopping souvenirs, there are not so many of them on Costa da Caparica. But there are an incredible amount of fish, vegetables and exotic fruits here – all the delicacies are sold directly on the beach. Moreover, thanks to the good geographical location of the resort, you can easily reach anywhere in Portugal, located within the Greater Lisbon agglomeration, and walk through boutiques or large shops.
Beach features
The Costa da Caparica coastline stretches for 30 km and ends at Cape Espichel. Its main advantage is the magnificent white sand and gentle descent to the water. The water here is incredibly clean, there are regularly large waves.
Old-timers of this resort claim that the ideal time for swimming is from September to October. In summer, the water is slightly cooler – the influence of underwater currents affects. However, this fact does not stop vacationers, and the heat allows you to plunge into the ocean. Regular visitors to the resort are residents of Portugal, as well as foreign tourists whose planes land at the capital’s airport.
All beaches of Costa da Caparica are equipped with convenient entrances. They fully meet the various needs of tourists, so you don’t have to think about where to park your car, rinse off after a swim, or buy water. The rating of the best beaches is headed by:
- Costa da Caparica Central Beach – most visited;
- Sereia is an amazing area surrounded by sand dunes;
- Morena – popular among young people;
- Nova Praia is a great place for a family holiday;
- Praia da Saúde-features a wide coastline and a camping site nearby;
- Praia da Riviera is a wide sandy beach with calm waters.
There are also several nudist beaches, although only Praia do Meco has an official status. In addition to the original tourists and corresponding signs, they are no different from other places for recreation. And in Costa da Caparica is the most famous gay beach in Portugal, which is very popular among people with non-traditional sexual orientation.
How and how to get there?
The nearest airport is Lisbon Airport, 15.5 km away. The beaches of Costa de Caparica in Portugal are 5 ways away. Let’s look at each of them.
By bus
- Bus number 155-departs from the Marquis de Pombal Square. Travel costs 3.25€;
- Bus #161 – runs from Praça do Areeiro to Alcântara, leaving every half hour. The ticket price is 4.10€. The journey time is 37 minutes.
By train
By train across the river. Tagus, you will be able to get to Pragal railway station. Trains depart from Oriente Station from 7 am to 7 pm 7 times a day. The journey time is 23 minutes. The ticket price is€ 8.25 in second class and€ 10.55 in first class. see the current schedule and prices on the Portuguese railway website — www.cp.pt.
Then you need to transfer to the bus number 196, which will take you directly to Kapariki. By avoiding traffic jams on the bridge that connects Lisbon to the opposite bank of the river, the train is a great alternative on holidays and weekends. The ticket price is 2.8€.
By taxi
Not the cheapest way to get around in Portugal, but the most convenient. A taxi ride will cost€17-22. You will be met at the airport with a sign or picked up at a convenient address.
On a note! Another popular resort near Lisbon is Carcavelos.
By ferry
If you want to take a mini-cruise around the Tagus, you can use the ferry:
- From Cais do Sodré Marina to Cacilhas. A regular ticket will cost€ 1.20, while a Zipped card will cost€1.18. If you buy a ticket at the ticket office at the marina, and then return it back, you can save 50 cents. Then take the No. 124 bus to Costa da Caparica Bus Station. A ticket for it costs 3.25€;
- From Belem Marina to Trafaria. The cost of a regular ticket is 1.12€, for a Zipped card-1.15€. Then you need to transfer to the bus number 129. A one-way ticket costs€2.25.
By car
The distance between the Portuguese capital and Costa da Caparica is 18.6 km. By renting a car, you can overcome this gap in 20 minutes. The approximate cost of 1 liter of gasoline is 1,4€.
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