The riverside sandbank by Ribeira das Naus in Lisbon is a tempting spot to put down your towel and dip your toes within the Tagus River, however it’s not formally thought-about a seashore. Happily, the Portuguese capital is a brief journey away from loads of golden stretches of sand so that you can take in the solar, go for a swim, breathe within the ocean breeze and learn to surf.
Seashore season formally runs from June to September, however nice seashore climate can begin as early as Could and stretch to mid-October. Within the low season, most amenities are closed, and lifeguards are off-duty. These are the very best seashores that may be simply reached from Lisbon.
1. Alburrica Seashore is the closest seashore to Lisbon
Hop on the ferry from Terreiro do Paço and cross the Tagus River to the post-industrial metropolis of Barreiro. Only a few minutes stroll from the ferry terminus, you’ll come throughout three windmills on a stretch of white sand with panoramic views of Lisbon. Because the river seashore closest to the mouth of the Tagus, the waters of Alburrica Seashore are a mixture of river and ocean however with out the currents and waves of an oceanic seashore. Outfitted with showers, a bar and a volleyball courtroom, it’s a favourite spot for native beachgoers on weekends and scorching summer season afternoons after work.
Native tip: On colder days, or when the one ones keen to bear the wind are the kite surfers, locals reap the benefits of the picket walkways for hikes and biking.
2. Carcavelos Seashore is the place for rookie surfers
In case you are but to journey your first wave, catch the prepare in Cais do Sodré and get off at Carcavelos. The waves at Carcavelos Seashore are sufficiently small for rookie surfers to deal with, however they nonetheless put up an honest problem for studying new abilities. Earlier than braving the waves by yourself, e-book a category with Carcavelos Surf Faculty, the primary college on this seashore, that now has greater than 20 years of expertise.
There are many seaside eating places and cafes to take pleasure in right here on breaks between swims or for taking in views of the ocean and the São Julião da Barra fort. Carcavelos is among the hottest seashores within the Cascais space, and one of many seashores closest to Lisbon metropolis middle by prepare, so summer season weekends listed here are sometimes busy.
Native tip: Dodge the crowds by hitting the seashore early within the morning or on weekdays.
3. Guincho Seashore is finest for knowledgeable surfers
Windy and wavy Guincho is perhaps a nuisance for normal beachgoers, however for knowledgeable surfers, it is simply the correct spot that’s not too removed from Lisbon. Itching to get within the water however didn’t pack your wetsuit and board? The parents at Moana Surf Faculty hire out gear in addition to supply non-public classes for these needing an intro to browsing the Atlantic. In the event you’re extra of a watcher than a doer, head to the close by Bar do Guincho for drinks by the mighty sea.
Planning tip: Each October, Guincho Seashore is normally chosen as the situation for the ultimate leg of Portugal’s skilled surf championship. Get there early to avoid wasting your spot on the dunes and watch your favourite surfers battle it out for the title.
4. Fonte da Telha is finest for households
On the first signal of heat climate, Lisbon households flock to Costa da Caparica for weekend day journeys to swim and sunbathe. However with nearly 20 miles of sandy coast, which seashore is finest?
Positioned in a former fishing village, Fonte da Telha is one thing of a well-kept native secret and the most effective seashores in Lisbon for households, a half-hour drive from town middle (it’s not accessible by public transport). Keep on with the part subsequent to the car parking zone and the eating places, and you’ve got every thing you want. The chilly Atlantic Ocean wants a little bit getting used to, however there’s loads of area to put down your towel on the golden sand and sunbathe as a substitute. For the youngsters, meaning a lot of room to spend the day constructing sandcastles.
Native tip: Solely having the ability to attain this seashore by automobile may be a bonus: you may arrive and go away everytime you need, and also you by no means want to fret about crowds.
5. Adraga Seashore is the very best spot for sunsets
Probably the greatest seashores north of Lisbon, nestled between Cascais and Sintra, Adraga is the embodiment of romantic walks on the seashore. Darkish rugged rocks distinction dramatically with the shimmering sand, and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean flip to liquid gold at sundown. The winding highway that results in the seashore is a part of Adraga’s attraction, and on summer season weekends it tends to get crowded quick.
Native tip: In the event you’re simply right here for the romantic setting, take within the views at dinner for 2 at beachside Restaurante da Adraga.
6. Foz do Lizandro finest for accessibility
An hour’s drive west of Lisbon, Foz do Lizandro is among the hottest seashores in Ericeira and definitely worth the highway journey. Awarded as the most effective accessible seashores in Portugal, Foz do Lizandro is supplied with picket ramps, amphibian chairs and amenities for individuals with decreased mobility. Seashores on Portugal’s west coast are sometimes labeled as windy and chilly however nice for surfers: at Foz do Lizandro, nonetheless, you’ll discover a extra sheltered spot the place the river meets the ocean.
Detour: After spending the day on the seashore, take within the small-town vibe of charming Ericeira, with its historic middle and conventional eating places serving contemporary native seafood dishes.
7. Tróia-Mar is the very best for a seashore resort close to Lisbon
The seashore at Tróia-Mar, a few two-hour drive from Lisbon, is a little bit slice of heaven. Right here you will get the primary glimpse of Portugal’s southern area of Alentejo and test into an all-inclusive seashore resort close to the tranquil deep-blue sea and smooth sand. It’s standard and will get busy in the summertime, however that’s the worth you pay for a seashore simply steps away from bars, cafes, eating places and the ferry port that connects Tróia to Setúbal. The view of Serra da Arrábida, the sense of seclusion with out feeling remoted and the tranquility of this seashore vacation spot make the journey worthwhile.
Planning tip: To get right here, hop on an early morning prepare from Lisbon to Setúbal after which take the 15-minute ferry journey to Tróia.
