The Best Beaches Near Sintra

Below the misty Sintra hills lies a wild stretch of Atlantic coast, with dramatic coves, surf beaches and cliff villages. It’s a great way to finish a day of palaces. Here are the best beaches on the Sintra coast.

Quick answer: the best Sintra beaches are Praia da Adraga (a cove with rock arches and a great fish restaurant), Praia Grande (a big surf beach with dinosaur footprints on the cliff and a huge seawater pool), Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar (pretty village beaches), and the wild Praia da Ursa near Cabo da Roca. A car makes them easy to reach.

The beaches

• Praia da Adraga: a stunning cove framed by cliffs and arches.
• Praia Grande: surf, a long beach, dinosaur footprints on the cliff at one end, and a huge seawater pool.
• Praia das Maçãs: a family-friendly village beach.
• Azenhas do Mar: a clifftop village with an ocean pool. See Azenhas do Mar.
• Praia da Ursa: wild rock stacks below Cabo da Roca, reached by a steep and difficult path. Swimming is dangerous. See Cabo da Roca.

Tips

• Atlantic waves: strong currents, so swim only where there are lifeguards.
• Fog: the coast can be misty when inland is sunny, and vice versa.
• Getting there: by car, or by local bus from Sintra station.
• Combine with Sintra and Cascais. See Sintra and Cascais in one day.

More: the best beaches near Lisbon, Guincho and where to stay in Sintra.

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