The Best Beaches of Portugal

When us Portuguese travel somewhere and identify ourselves as such, we hear the most distinct things about our country:

our cuisine, Fado, the undeniable Cristiano Ronaldo, but something that always sticks out are the beaches of our coastline!

In this article, we’ll tell you about the most beautiful ones and since beauty is subjective and narrowing down the list was no easy task, we started by dividing it into four parts: North, Center, South and Islands.

Starting in the north of the country and knowing that the northern waters are only for the bravest, with their cold and violent waters, we have Praia do Senhor da Pedra in Vila Nova de Gaia, known for the chapel built into the cliffs, that gives it a mystical aura. The water at this beach is certified clean and crystal clear, it has good access, a restaurant and is watched over by a lifeguard.

Further to the center, we have the incomparable Praia do Norte in Nazaré, which you may not recognize by name, but these waters formed some of the biggest waves surfed in recorded history. 

Further down the coast, the water warms up a bit, as does the mood for swimming and consequently the demand for these beaches.

Comporta Beach, in the south of the Troia Peninsula, is known for its proximity to the Sado Natural Estuary, a unique reserve in Portugal, with scenery worthy of a movie… it has good access, and the moderate swell of its sea allows for water sports such as kitesurfing.

Reaching the southernmost point of our continental territory, the notorious and favorite Algarve! Choosing a beach isn’t difficult, it’s impossible, but we chose two: Praia do Camilo and the secret beach of the Algar de Benagil.

The first, located in Lagos and packed between cliffs, has a small sand beach and a staircase of around 200 steps which, despite being one of its trademarks, makes its access more complicated for people with walking limitations. Its natural rock formations are so impressive that they have become the region’s ex-libris.

Benagil is one of those “things” that you only believe when you see it and even when you see it you don’t believe it… What a spectacle of nature! The entire Benagil area is a possible surprise: caves and algares (which we’ll talk about in a moment), deserted beaches that are inaccessible by land, a serene sea and a tranquility that has become quite unique in the Algarves. People usually call it a “cave”, but the more accurate name for it would be “algar” due to its resemblance to a domed cathedral with a skylight, carved out by the sea over the last 20-something million years. You can only enjoy the beauty of its hidden beach on one of the many boat trips you can take there.

Finally, let’s take a trip to the Madeira Archipelago, more precisely to the island of Porto Santo, which, as well as being known for its beauty, it has been given attributes of therapeutic nature for the treatment of orthopedic and circulation problems.
With sunshine practically all year round and very inviting sea temperatures, it’s the perfect destination for a beach vacation.
To add to all these qualities, people with reduced mobility were not forgotten, and the areas of Fontinha, Cabeço da Ponta and Ribeiro Salgado were even awarded the “Inclusive Beach” prize.

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