Portugal – Best Beaches
One of the main prerequisites for many vacationers for a vacation in Portugal is a nice beach to relax on. It is fortunate then that Portugal has so many good beaches on offer along its 600 miles of coastline, making it ideal for both summer vacations and winter sun. In fact, 18 of Portugal’s beaches are designated as Blue Flag beaches and are therefore ideal for families.
Algarve:
One of the best known beaches in this area is the 6 km long Praia de Falesia (also known as “beach town”). Situated between the popular resorts of Albufeira and Vilamoura, the beach is a paradise for sun worshipers and is located in a peaceful setting along the southern coast of Portugal. Other popular beaches in the Algarve area are centered around popular tourist spots such as Praia da Gale in Albufeira, Meia Praia in Lagos, particularly popular with families as it is protected by a large bay, Praia de Alvor near Praia da Rocha / Portimao – a popular blue flag beach for water sports, and Praia de Garrao near the luxury resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo.
Alentejo (southern Portugal):
Stretching from the Algarve to the Sado estuary, this unspoiled coastline has many beautiful little beaches to choose from. With many located in coves along the coast, a car may be necessary here to reach them. Vila Nova de Milfontes is an exception, as it can be reached by bus from Lisbon. Other nice beaches to visit include Gale, Melides, Santo Andre, Porto Covo, Almograve, and Zambujeira do Mar.
Lisbon / Sintra Coast:
The popular Lisbon holiday area is served mainly by a large sandy beach called Costa da Caparica, which is very crowded and popular during the peak summer months in Portugal. It’s popular for sunbathing, drinking / eating in one of the many cafes and bars that line the shoreline here, and also for surfing – strong currents and the effects of the Atlantic Ocean here lend themselves to waves of all sizes. Other beaches to visit along this coastal region include Sesimbra Beach and Portinho da Arrabida Beach, a beautiful and relatively quiet beach popular with divers.
Costa Prata / central Portugal:
Nazaré is probably one of the best known beaches in this area, with crowds of tourists flocking there every year with many hotels and apartments to choose from. A lively and popular beach and resort, it can suffer from overcrowding in the height of summer. One of the largest beaches in Portugal (3 km) is also located in this area of the coast, in the city of Figueira da Foz. Nicknamed ‘Queen of the Beaches’, it is a white sand beach lined with cafes, and some parts of it received blue flag status.
Green Coast / North of Portugal:
With generally calm summer waters and ideal for swimming, Praia de Miramar is becoming more popular with tourists. Already popular with the locals, the beach here is also visited by surfers in the winter season. Further north along the shelters, Praia do Cabedelo in Viana do Castelo, is the main beach for these lively and popular vacations.
resort, with numerous sand dunes and safe waters for swimming, plus it is a popular spot for water sports such as windsurfing.
If you are looking for a cheap summer or winter vacation in Portugal, there are many offers on the internet.
Beware of last minute vacations that offer big savings for the whole family.