The glorious city of Lisbon, whose beaches attract tourists from around the world, is located on the Atlantic coast. Although the capital has the Tagus River, it is not suitable for swimming. And there are no beaches in the city itself – they are located 15-25 kilometers from Lisbon in small towns of the Lisbon Riviera. This is the name of the resort area connecting Cape Roca with the mouth of the Tagus. The best beaches near Lisbon are located in small settlements: Cascais, Carcavelos, Estoril, Costa da Caparica and Sintra.
Weather and climate
The weather in the coastal zone is formed by the air of the Atlantic. It is warm in winter and not too hot in summer. The July temperature does not exceed +28°C during the day, and at night the thermometer shows +15-16°C. In autumn the temperature stays within +10°C.
The beach season starts in May and ends in October. The water near the ocean warms up to a maximum of 21 degrees Celsius and is not very comfortable for swimming. This is due to the cold Canary Current, which flows west of the Iberian Peninsula.
Many vacationers find the water not warm enough for swimming, so the peak of tourists is only in August-September. Winds often blow from the ocean. When a strong wind rises, the beaches immediately become empty, as they are covered by powerful waves. However, this does not frighten, but, on the contrary, attracts surfers. After the wind dies down, the beaches “come alive” again.
How to get to the beaches of Lisbon
From the capital, you can quickly and easily get to any beach. Thus, the journey to the coast of Cascais will take less than half an hour, and the distance to Costa da Caparica can be covered in ten minutes. You need to get on the electric train at the Alcântara Terra station (in the western part of Lisbon).
Portugal has excellent public transport, so you can get to any place quickly and without any problems. We recommend that you immediately get a travel pass, which, when used actively, significantly reduces the cost of travel.
For those who prefer to travel by their own transport, it is important to know that in summer the flow of cars towards the coast increases, traffic jams are possible. Not only guests of the country go to the beaches near Lisbon, but also locals like to spend weekends on the coast.
Cascais Beaches
Cascais is a beautiful and lively town near Lisbon, which was chosen by European aristocrats. All conditions for the development of sailing have been created here. The city is famous for its well-equipped yacht port. International windsurfing competitions are held in Cascais.
How to get there? The Cascais line runs trains to the city itself. The journey takes about 45 minutes.
Conseissau (Conceição)
One of the most popular and crowded beaches near Lisbon. The large number of vacationers is explained by the close location to the railway station.
Golden sand, free use of toilets and showers, the possibility to rent beach accessories, the clear work of lifeguards, excellent Portuguese cuisine in cafes and restaurants – all this makes the beach an excellent place for swimming.
Praia da Rainha
The convenient bay in which the small beach Rainha is located protects it from strong winds and powerful waves. Therefore, people start swimming here earlier than on other beaches.
It’s only a two-minute walk from the station, but the bustle of the city doesn’t reach here – it’s blocked by the pedestrian Rua Frederico Arouca. There’s everything you need for a comfortable time and swimming: clean sand, umbrellas, all the comforts of civilization, free parking, an excellent cafe located at the top of a steep cliff with a staircase leading down.
Praia da Ribeira
Praia da Ribeira occupies the central part of the Cascais coast. The sandy beach and gradually increasing depth make the place very attractive to people. Umbrellas are available for rent, you can use the shower and toilet, free parking, etc.
Ribeira is famous for the concerts and festivals that take place here quite often. With the onset of the winter season, a Ferris wheel is installed here, and sandcastle competitions are held.
Winch
This is the most picturesque of all the beaches in Lisbon, and the photos of tourists posted on the Internet confirm this better than any words. Unlike other beaches located in bays and gulfs, Guincho is washed by the waters of the open ocean. There are often strong winds here, which raise powerful waves. This attracts surfers and windsurfers. For lovers, surfing lessons are offered. Strong winds begin in June and blow until August. The beach is equipped with free parking, showers, umbrella rentals, etc.
Guincho is located at some distance from the beach area of Cascais. You need to go first by electric train of the Cascais line to the end, and then by bus 405 to Guincho. It is very convenient to get there by rented bicycle – there is a special path for cyclists from the city to the beach.
Ursa
One of the most beautiful beaches not only near Lisbon, but in all of Portugal. It is called “bear” because of its inaccessibility. Ursa is small in size, has many rocks and quite cold water, in which, as a rule, swimming lasts no more than five minutes. When going to this beach, be sure to take comfortable shoes, since the path will lie through rocks and will take about 15 minutes.
The best way to get here is from Cascais by bus 417. The ride takes about 20 minutes and you get off near Urs. When you get off the bus, you will see a cliff. There are two paths leading down. The left path is safer. The right one is very steep – you can break your head.
Beaches of Estoril
Estoril is a picturesque resort with a developed infrastructure and luxury hotels. The town is famous not only for its excellent beaches for swimming and surfing. It has a vibrant and fun nightlife, well-maintained golf courses, and even an airfield.
São Pedro do Estoril
This beach is popular with fishermen and surfers – there are always big waves here. The highway is separated from the recreation area by a cliff that stretches along the coast. The stone terraces are dotted with cafes and small restaurants. There is a surfing school at the beach, a lifeguard service, umbrella rental, shower, toilet, etc. It is a 5-7 minute walk from the train.
Azarujinha
Azarujinha can be found in a bay surrounded by rocks, therefore, powerful gusts of wind do not reach here – it is perfect for swimming. The noise of cars from the nearby highway to Lisbon does not reach either. The beach itself is small in size, and during high tides it is flooded with water.
A narrow central area, bordered by stone slabs, is reserved for swimming. Despite its modest size, it has all the amenities of civilization necessary for a cultural holiday. You can walk to the neighboring Poza beach along a footpath.
Posa (Poça)
Compared to the neighboring beach, it occupies a slightly larger area and is more than 200 m long. The place here is great for swimming, clean sand, picturesque views of the mountains. The beach is equipped with a toilet, shower, lifeguard service, umbrella rental, you can sit comfortably in a bar or restaurant.
Take the train from Lisbon to Estoril station.
Tamariz
The beach is located near the Estoril train station, separated from it by a small park. Tamarisk attracts vacationers with a swimming pool with warm sea water, and you can use it completely free of charge. The beach has clean sand, all the conditions for recreation, free parking, etc.
To get here from Lisbon you need to take the train and get off at the São João do Estoril stop.
Bushes
The beach is located at the same distance from Estoril and Cascais, so you can get there by walking from one or the other city. The beach infrastructure is well developed: there is a shower, sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent, lifeguards work, there is even a pontoon, walking along which is a pleasure.
However, swimming here will be inconvenient – the stones scattered across the water, which are exposed at low tide, are in the way. But there is a pool, and the water in it warms up much better than in the ocean.
Carcavelos
The town of Carcavelos is located 15 kilometers away from Lisbon. It is famous for its wide sandy beaches, well-equipped, with a high level of service.
Near the city center there is the beach Praia de Carcavelos. It is always crowded. Anyone can get surfing and windsurfing lessons, so there are always a lot of young people in these places. Conditions have been created for those who are fond of beach football, golf, volleyball. All the beaches of Carcavelos are well-equipped, the infrastructure is well-developed.
Take the train on the Cascais line, stop at Carcavelos. It takes less than half an hour from Lisbon. From the station it is very close to the coast – about 10 minutes walk.
In a separate article we have already talked in detail about beach holidays and attractions of the Portuguese resort of Carcavelos .
Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is a picturesque fishing village located near Lisbon. Vacationers have a great opportunity to try local fish dishes. The fish stew “caldeiradas” is in great demand.
There are great conditions for spending time with the family. Costa da Caparica is located at the mouth of the Tagus River, so the ocean is just beginning here. There are rarely big waves – you can safely swim without the risk of capsizing under the action of powerful waves.
Of all the beaches in Lisbon for swimming, Costa da Caparica is especially attractive to locals and visitors to the capital. Many come here for the weekend. Some beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag and a quality medal for creating a high level of service. A detailed review of the resort with photos and videos is presented in this article .
Sintra
If you are interested in a holiday by the ocean and want to know if there are beaches in Lisbon and its surroundings, we recommend visiting the historic town of Sintra . It is located about 20 km from the capital and has wonderful places for swimming.
Grande
One of the largest beaches near Lisbon, striking in its size and excellent facilities (Grande is translated from Portuguese as big). It is called the Portuguese capital of water sports. Every year, European and world championships are held here, so you can see world sports stars. The beach is also famous for its pool with ocean water – the largest in Europe.
From the center of Sintra, bus 439 goes and stops right at the beach.
Adraga
Adraga attracts vacationers with its snow-white sand. However, due to the raging waves, only the most desperate daredevils risk swimming here.
The beach has excellent conditions for paragliders – you can rent everything you need and make a beautiful jump. The cafe cooks seafood superbly.
The best way to get to this place is by bicycle or taxi – there is no other transport here.
Praia das Macas
A small beach (30 meters long) next to a fishing village. The trip to it can be a fascinating experience if you get there from Sintra on an old tram, which is more than 100 years old. You can see many interesting things on the way.
This place is called “apple beach”. Previously, along the river that flows into the ocean, there was a huge apple orchard. Apples falling into the river were carried into the ocean, and the waves threw them right onto the shore. This is how the name of the beach was born. There are excellent conditions for recreation with children. Surfers, bodysurfers, and fishermen are not ignored either. The pool with sea water functions all year round, so there are many vacationers here in winter. And in cozy restaurants you can taste dishes of national cuisine.
From Sintra station there are buses 440 and 441. The journey takes about half an hour.
When traveling to Portugal, be sure to visit Lisbon, the beaches located in nearby towns and villages. Although they are located at some distance from the capital, the trip will give you a lot of unforgettable impressions. For those who are fond of surfing, the beaches in Carcavelos are suitable. For comfortable swimming with children, it is better to go to Estoril and Cascais to those beaches that are located in the bays. For romantics, we recommend going to Costa da Caparica or Sintra.
