The Best Beach Towns in Portugal

Looking for a seaside base in Portugal? The country’s beach towns range from whitewashed Algarve fishing villages and surf towns on the Atlantic to elegant resorts near Lisbon and island towns with golden sand. Here are the best beach towns in Portugal, what each one is like and how to reach them.

Quick answer: in the Algarve, choose Lagos, Carvoeiro, Tavira or Ferragudo. Near Lisbon, try Cascais, Ericeira or Sesimbra. On the wild west coast, Vila Nova de Milfontes and Aljezur. In the north, Nazaré and Costa Nova. For island sand, Porto Santo.

How to choose

The south coast of the Algarve has the warmest, calmest sea and the most sunshine. The west coast faces the open Atlantic, so the water is colder and the waves are bigger, which is great for surfing and less good for small children. Towns near Lisbon let you mix beach days with the city, and most are reachable by train or bus. If you don’t want to drive, pick a town with a station or a good bus link.

The Algarve

• Lagos: coves, boat trips and a lively old town. Golden cliffs and sea stacks around Ponta da Piedade, a long sandy beach at Meia Praia and plenty of restaurants inside the old walls. Lagos has a train station. See where to stay in Lagos.
• Carvoeiro: a village wrapped around a cove. Small, pretty and close to Benagil and the Seven Hanging Valleys trail. The town beach gets crowded in August. See Carvoeiro.
• Ferragudo: a pretty fishing village. Across the river from Portimão, with a small square, grilled sardines and beaches a short walk away. See Ferragudo.
• Tavira: elegant, with island beaches. A calm town on a river, with the long sands of Ilha de Tavira a short ferry ride away in summer. It also has a train station. See where to stay in Tavira.
• Alvor: a huge beach and boardwalks. Wooden walkways run through the dunes and along the lagoon, good for walks and birdwatching. See Alvor.

Near Lisbon

• Cascais: chic, with town beaches and Guincho. Trains from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré take about 40 minutes and run along the coast. The town beaches are small and calm, while Guincho, a short drive or bike ride away, is windy and wild. See the best hotels in Cascais.
• Ericeira: a surf town. It was named Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve in 2011, and its white and blue houses sit on low cliffs above several beaches. Buses run from Lisbon in about an hour. See where to stay in Ericeira.
• Sesimbra: a fishing town by the Arrábida coast. Sheltered by hills, its bay is usually calm, and the seafront is lined with fish grills. The clear water of the Arrábida beaches is close by. See Sesimbra.

The wild west coast

• Vila Nova de Milfontes and Aljezur: rivers, dunes and Atlantic beaches. In Milfontes, the River Mira meets the sea, so you can swim in calmer river water or on the ocean side. Aljezur has a hilltop castle and surf beaches such as Arrifana and Amoreira nearby. A car helps here. See Costa Vicentina.
• Comporta: rice fields and endless sand. Low-key and stylish, with wooden beach restaurants and wide beaches. Bring a car, as public transport is thin. See Comporta.

The Silver Coast and north

• Nazaré: a classic beach town. A wide sandy bay in summer, and in winter the giant waves at Praia do Norte draw big-wave surfers and crowds of spectators. A funicular climbs to the Sítio clifftop. See Nazaré.
• Costa Nova: striped houses and a long beach. A short hop from Aveiro, with the lagoon on one side and the Atlantic on the other. See Costa Nova.
• Viana do Castelo: beaches and kitesurfing. The Cabedelo beach across the river is popular for windsports, and the town has a handsome historic centre. Trains run from Porto. See Viana do Castelo.

Islands

Porto Santo has a 9km golden beach and calm, clear water, a contrast to rocky Madeira. Reach it by ferry from Funchal (about two and a half hours) or a short flight. See Porto Santo.

When to go

• June and September: warm, with fewer crowds than July and August.
• July and August: peak season, so book well ahead in the Algarve.
• Sea temperatures: the south coast is noticeably warmer than the west and north, where the Atlantic stays cool even in summer.

See the best time to visit the Algarve.

More: the best beaches in Portugal and the best Algarve beaches.

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