Recently updated on August 18th, 2025 at 02:03 pm
Glorious Portuguese beaches are the perfect antidote to months spent indoors, so we’ve compiled a selection of the very best beaches in Portugal for you to while away your summer holiday. The Portuguese government are running real-time status updates for crowding levels on beaches available via the Info Praia app, so you can keep an eye on how many people are going to be at the beach and ensure you can easily manage your distance.
Remember to check up on Portugal’s guidelines for tourists as well as the rules on returning to your own country after a holiday to Portugal.
1. Praia da Alagoa, Altura
Altura is located in the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, known for its fishing villages and breathtaking coves.
Take a short walk along the dunes, just minutes from the city of Altura and you’ll find a favourite among Portugal’s beaches, Praia da Alagoa, a rolling, white sandy beach that is seemingly endless.
Located a half-hour drive from Portugal’s border with Spain, Alagoa’s water warms up to an inviting 20 degrees at summer’s peak, making it the perfect spot for a beach holiday in Portugal.
2. Ilha do Farol, Faro
Easily reached by a ferry from Faro, Ilha do Farol is a haven of tranquillity with some of Portugal’s best uncrowded beaches to explore.
Farol translates to lighthouse and the first thing you’ll see of this island is its 50-metre high structure, built in 1851 and one of the first in Portugal. Be sure to go to the top of the lighthouse for a view across the island when you visit Farol.
With no paved roads on the island, Farol can’t be reached by car, making it a serene spot to spend a day on a short break to Portugal. Ilha do Farol’s beach stretches 6km, meaning a walk along this coast can quickly feel like a deserted island in the Caribbean.
3. Praia da Rocha Baixinha, Vilamoura
Praia da Rocha Baixinha is a lively Portugese beach located near the Vilamoura resort, renowned for incredible summer parties alongside the nearby beach bars.
As it welcomes great numbers of visitors for beach holidays to Portugal, Baixinha also offers water sports and equipment you can hire on the beach.
Praia da Rocha Baixinha translates to ‘Low Rock Beach’ and the name comes from the striking red cliffs flanking it which become low dunes as they stretch towards the east of Baixinha.
The beach stretches around a hundred metres from the land to the sea and runs over a kilometre in length so you always have plenty of space to find the perfect spot even in the busy summer season.
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4. Praia do Pinhão, Lagos
Lagos is one of the most popular spots for visitors to the Algarve region of Portugal, and hums with nightlife and activity.
Lagos can be reached by train from Faro, and once there you are spoilt for choice with three of the best beaches in Portugal within twenty minutes’ drive from the city centre.
Our pick of the bunch is Pinhão, a hidden gem among Portugal’s beaches found at the bottom of a stone stairway. You won’t get the beach bars of the larger Meja Praia but you avoid the difficulty of finding parking there.
Praia do Pinhão is also secluded as it is surrounded by huge coves, meaning you feel a world away from the city of Lagos.
5. Praia do Beliche, Cape St Vincent
Praia do Beliche is located 3km from the town of Sagres and this Portuguese beach can be reached by a decent forty minute walk or by car in under ten minutes.
Beliche’s coastline is incredibly striking, with forty metre high cliffs on either side of the beach. The cliffs also give you some needed protection from the strong winds in Sagres.
Beliche is the furthest west you can get while visiting the Algarve beaches, and being away from the tourist hubs means you avoid big crowds even in the summer months.
The golden sands have a remote and unspoiled feel and the water is also free of rocks, making for a soothing swim. However Beliche is also a surfers’ favourite and the strong currents are best for confident swimmers.
6. Praia do Tamariz, Cascais
Located in the Cascais region and closest to the resort town of Estoril, Tamariz is a serene Portuguese beach with historic surroundings and a promenade perfect for long walks or bike rides.
Praia do Tamariz can be reached from Lisbon in an hour on public transport or by car in half an hour for an escape from the city. It is also worth noting that finding parking near this beach can be very difficult on the weekend.
Behind the beach you can visit Chalet Barros, a medieval-style palace built in 1890 by a rich local resident for his terminally ill daughter. This intriguing setting also gives the beach a distinct feel and sets it apart from many of the other best beaches to visit in Portugal.
EXPERIENCE THIS ON: Best of Portugal
7. Praia do Guincho, Cascais
Praia do Guincho is situated on the western edge of Serra da Sintra National Park. This heritage status means the remote and wild nature of this Portuguese beach has escaped the clutches of resort developers.
Guincho beach also has a different kind of heritage as the filming location for the opening scene of 1969 James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In the opening scene Bond rescues co-star Diana Rigg, who later featured in Game of Thrones, from the ocean.
The powerful winds on this beach makes Guincho one of the best beaches in Portugal for surfing, and it’s a favourite among adventurers looking for a perfect Portugal day trip.
8. Praia da Nazaré, Nazare
Nazare, Portugal’s most famous fishing town, takes its name from the Biblical city of Nazareth. Nazare’s fisher women wear the seven skirts of Nazare, a tradition that developed to keep warm as they watched and hoped for their husbands return on cold nights on Portugal’s beaches.
Today Nazare is known for its imposing waves that crash on some of Portugal’s best beaches and the Guinness World Record for the tallest wave surfed was set here in 2017 for an 80-footer.
The golden sands of Praia da Nazare stretch 1.5km in length and are backed by a promenade and a range of restaurants serving freshly caught fish. At the northern end of the beach you can also ride a hundred year old funicular lift up the 318 metre rock face for unforgettable and expansive views of the region.
9. Praia do Molhe, Porto
Trips to Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, wouldn’t be the same without a visit to beautiful Praia do Molhe – a welcome escape from busy city life.
Praia do Molhe is a mixture of coarse sand and rocks so is less of a sunbathers retreat than some of Portugal’s other beaches. However, it is highly recognizable for the yellow pillars of the pergola, often seen on postcards of Porto and part of a project to beautify the beach during the 1930s.
Praia do Molhe is found within a twenty minute walk from Porto’s City Park in the Foz district of the city and can also be reached by bus on the STCP Route 500.
EXPERIENCE THIS ON: Picturesque Portugal
10. Praia da Ponta da Areia, Vila Real de Santo Antonio
So close to Spain that you could literally swim across the border (though we wouldn’t recommend it!) Praia da Ponta da Areia is where the last strips of Portuguese shoreline meet the Guadiana River. There’s plenty of room to stretch out on the golden sand, though we would follow down the narrow, rocky hiking path to the small lighthouse jutting out into the sea.
11. Praia da Marinha, Caramujeira
Marinha Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal — and arguably one of the most stunning beaches in the world. This tranquil beach is at the base of towering cliffs, offering you an opportunity to gaze out at the ocean from above before settling in on your beach towel below.
12. Praia das Adegas, Odeceixe
For those who hate tan lines, head to Praia das Adegas. It’s one of the official naturalist beaches in Portugal so you can lounge comfortably knowing that you’re in a secluded and secure space just far enough from the main (clothed) sunbathers on Odeceixe’s larger beach.
13. Praia do Telheiro, Sagres
Surf’s up in Sagres at Praia do Telheiro. It’s a rugged beach seemingly built by nature for those who love a wild ride on the waves. Very few amenities are available, so while it might not be the ideal Portugal beach vacation, it is the perfect place for groups of friends to hang ten.
14. Praia da Comporta, Comporta
It’s known as the Hamptons of Portugal…need we say more? Ritzy part-time residents and travellers in the know flock to this chic, chill beach town close to Lisbon. Luxurious boutique hotels, unspoilt nature, and dazzling beaches make Comporta one of the best in Portugal.
Hit the beaches near Lisbon following our Spain, Morocco & Portugal Whirl tour.
15. Praia da Claridade, Figueira da Foz
Praia da Claridade has long been on Portugal’s best beaches list. Located in Figueira da Foz on the Costa de Prata, this expansive beach ideal for sailing and kitesurfing is lauded for its cleanliness, sports amenities, and ample space despite the crowds.
FAQs about Portugal’s best beaches
What part of Portugal has the best beaches?
The Algarve has Portugal’s best beaches. The crystal clear water. The dramatic limestone cliffs. The golden sand. The Algarve is the go-to place for Portugese beach vacations and you won’t regret adding a day along the shoreline to your schedule.
Where is the clearest beach water in Portugal?
Looking for the clearest beach water in Portugal? Look above. Praid da Marinha, Praia da Falésia, and dozens of other beaches in the Algarve have crystal clear waters that sparkle under the sun.
What are the best beach towns in Portugal?
Azenhas do Mar is an awesome beach town in Sintra. Although the beach itself is relatively small, this village atop the cliffs is super charming thanks to its cobbled streets and whitewashed architecture. Nazaré is the classic Portugal beach vacation. It’s one of the most popular and best beach towns in Portugal due to its quintessential boardwalk, lighthouse, snack vendors, and traditional Portuguese bathing tents called barracas.
See more sights on our Treasures of Spain and Portugal tour.
Which beaches are better: Spain or Portugal?
The debate between Spain and Portugal’s beaches will always end in a stalemate. Spain is where you want to go for that chic Med vacation, though Portugal’s coastal towns do have alluring and luxurious beach clubs, too. Portugal is the place to hang ten; surfing isn’t as swell in Spain, but you can still find plenty of other on-water activities to do at the beach.
You can visit all of these incredible Portugal beaches and more on our Best of Portugal tour, or extend your trip into Spain and explore some Great Iberian Cities. Have you explored Portugal’s beaches? Let us know your favourites in the comments below.