Best beaches near Lisbon you want to visit time and again

Join Lisbon residents on the most famous sunny coast located north of Tagus River. For the best experience, grab your beach bag as soon as the first sign of spring shows up. The vast expanse of sand is lined up with a series of restaurants and bars on a 1.5km promenade above the waters. The bars offer smoothies and cocktails under red umbrellas, the perfect breathing spaces in a blazing sun. While Carcavelos waters are crystal clear, the waves are so big that only experienced swimmers can take a dip. But they are the best conditions for budding surfers, and several surf schools provide lessons in Portuguese and English. Before leaving Carcavelos, check out a 16th-century military defence complex known as São Julião da Barra Fort.

The beach of Tamariz is found in the coastal town of Estoril that is adored by James Bond fans. The centre has a dazzling old-fashioned glamour, attracting tourists from nearby casinos. Praia do Tamariz, which also reflects this elegance, is fringed with palm trees and bordered by Forte da Cruz's historic castle. Unlike other accessible beaches near Lisbon by train, Tamariz beach is more relaxed, with thick white sands dropping steeply into the ocean. Take photos at the stone promenade behind the beach, especially at sunset. Enjoy your favourite cocktails in one of the beach bars or café along the coastline, or splurge in a swanky beach lounge in the area.

A 26-kilometre shoreline of glorious Atlantic beaches is for you to explore at Costa da Caprica. It is probably the closest beach to Lisbon, with natural scenery extending to the Setubal peninsula's western region. Costa da Caparica is named after the most famous resort town in Caparica, a lively and modern place. Down the shore is a fishing village of Fonte de Telha, offering a pretty lagoon and pristine waters. Touring Costa da Caparica entails bodyboarding, surfing, and kitesurfing, thanks to the waves that are also good for novices. Try coastal horseback-riding if you wish to explore the entire beach. After beach-hopping in summer, enjoy delicious Portuguese drinks and snacks in the best place to stay in Lisbon near beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen or an umbrella because there’s little shade.

Are you looking forward to the summer beach holidays near Lisbon? Add Cascais to your travel plan and come with kids since there are no winds or currents, plus lifeguards supervise the beaches here. The historic town of Cascais offers four beaches you can access by foot: Conceicao, Duquesa, Queen’s beach (Praia da Rainha), and Ribeira. Praia du Duquesa and Praia da Conceicao, the two main beaches separated by a minor headland, provide calm waters, a sandy stretch, and numerous activities. Head to Praia da Ribeira, the central coast in Cascais, and a fishermen’s spot overlooking the fort. When you want a more secluded space, the Queen’s Beach is a great choice to swim in still blue waters surrounded by rocky outcrops. Though small, it is regarded as the prettiest beach in the whole of Cascais coastline.

Between Cascais and Sintra, at the foot of National Park hills, is Guincho Beach, a wild stretch of rocks and sands. Unlike other beautiful beaches near Lisbon, Guincho beach faces the Atlantic Ocean directly. As such, there are strong waves that are tough for swimmers but great for bodyboarding and surfing. You can sign up for kitesurfing lessons or hire a board to tackle the wave. Stiff breezes blowing from the north shore make the beach a kitesurfing and windsurfing paradise, spring and autumn being the best seasons for surfing.

Explore the wild turquoise waters engulfed by cliffs at Adraga Beach as you taste local delicacies like goose barnacles. Take a dip near the shore or paddle between rocks. The sea may feel chilly if you are sensitive to cold, but you’ll love the jagged rock scenery while chilling out at sunset. When the tide retreats, scout the caves on both sides of the beach where goose barnacles thrive. You can’t pick them without a permit, though. A beach restaurant in Adraga offering some of the best seafood in Lisbon does not disappoint.