Best Beaches in Portugal: 15 Top Picks
The best beaches in Portugal by region: the Algarve, the wild Costa Vicentina, Lisbon's coast, Nazaré and Porto Santo, with sea temperatures.
January 6, 2026 • 7 min read
Best Beaches in Portugal: 15 Top Picks
The Best Beaches at a Glance
The Algarve
The Algarve is Portugal's best-known beach region, with golden limestone cliffs in the center and west and long sandy islands in the east.
1. Praia da Marinha
Near Carvoeiro, in Lagoa, Praia da Marinha is a small sandy beach below orange limestone cliffs and rock arches. The Michelin Guide has named it one of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world, and CNN included it in its list of the world's 20 most beautiful beaches in 2018. The path down is steep, so wear proper shoes.
2. Praia do Camilo
Just outside Lagos, Praia do Camilo is a small cove reached by a long wooden staircase, next to the grottoes and rock arches of Ponta da Piedade. Arrive early in summer, as it is small and fills up fast.
3. Ilha de Tavira
In the eastern Algarve, Ilha de Tavira is a long sandy island in the Ria Formosa, reached by ferry from Tavira. The eastern Algarve usually has warmer water than the west, thanks to its more Mediterranean influence.
The Costa Vicentina and the Alentejo Coast
North of the Algarve, the south-west coast is protected as the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, which runs from São Torpes to Burgau. Its beaches are wilder, with cliffs, dunes and strong Atlantic waves.
4. Odeceixe
At the border of the Algarve and the Alentejo, the Seixe River meets the sea at Odeceixe, so families can choose between the calm river and the ocean.
5. Arrifana
Arrifana is a curved bay below high cliffs, near Aljezur, and one of the Algarve's most popular spots for surf lessons.
6. Comporta
South of Setúbal, Comporta has long, quiet beaches backed by dunes and rice fields, popular for a slower, more upscale beach escape.
Lisbon and Setúbal
Lisbon is one of the few European capitals with Atlantic beaches less than an hour away, by train, bus or car.
7. Portinho da Arrábida
In the Arrábida Natural Park, south of Setúbal, this sheltered bay has calm, clear water below green hills, a contrast with the open Atlantic beaches.
8. Carcavelos
Carcavelos is a long sandy beach on the train line between Lisbon and Cascais, easy to reach without a car and a good place for surf lessons.
9. Guincho
West of Cascais, Guincho is a wild beach of dunes and strong winds, better for kitesurfing, windsurfing and walks than for a calm swim.
10. Praia da Ursa
Near Cabo da Roca, on the Sintra coast, Praia da Ursa is reached by a steep path and rewards the effort with sea stacks and wild scenery. It is not for young children or anyone unsure on their feet.
11. Costa da Caparica
South of the Tagus, Costa da Caparica stretches for kilometers of sand, with beach bars and a more local feel, about half an hour from central Lisbon.
Central Portugal
12. Nazaré
Nazaré has a long town beach for swimming in summer and, from Praia do Norte, some of the biggest waves ever surfed. In October 2020, Sebastian Steudtner rode a 26.21-meter (86-foot) wave there, a Guinness World Record.
13. Praia de Mira
South of Aveiro, Praia de Mira has held the Blue Flag for 40 consecutive years, which Portugal's government describes as a record unique in the world.
14. Costa Nova
Near Aveiro, Costa Nova is known for its striped wooden houses facing a long beach and the lagoon behind it.
The Islands
15. Porto Santo
Madeira itself has few sandy beaches, but its neighbor, Porto Santo, has about nine kilometers of golden sand, reached by ferry or a short flight from Madeira. In the Azores, look for volcanic black-sand beaches and natural lava pools.
Which Coast Is Right for You?
Sea Temperatures and When to Go
Portugal's sea is Atlantic, so it is cooler than the Mediterranean. In August, sea temperatures across Portugal range from about 16 to 24°C (61 to 75°F), and Faro averages 21.3°C (70°F). The west coast and the western Algarve can be colder, as summer north winds push surface water offshore and bring colder water up from below.
The best months for beach holidays are June to September, and September is warm with fewer crowds. Portugal has 350 coastal and 46 inland Blue Flag beaches in 2026, a mark of water quality, safety and services, and ranks fifth in the world for Blue Flag coastal beaches.
