10 Beautiful beaches close to Lisbon
One of the many things that makes Lisbon unique as a capital is that you have the ocean on your front porch. Whether you want to surf, swim, sunbathe, or even hike, this list of my favorite beaches will be a good start for you to plan your beach days in Lisbon.
Praia do Guincho
Located outside of Cascais, about 30 minutes from Lisbon by car, this is one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in the area. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, strong winds, and waves, which make it popular for surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.
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Praia da Adraga and Praia Ursa
Located in Sintra, about 40 minutes from Lisbon by car, these two beaches are considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, thanks to their crystal-clear waters, dramatic cliffs, and golden sand. If you don’t have a car it might be difficult to get here as there is no public transport to the beach. To Ursa you can grab a bus to the Cabo da Roca: from there you need to hike along cliffs for 30min to reach it. Adraga Beach is further up north, another 20-minute hike from Praia da Ursa. Great beaches for people who like to hike or admire the coast!
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Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is a long stretch of sandy beach with over 15 km of coastline, making it one of the largest beaches in Europe. The beach is located on the other side of the bridge connecting Lisbon. It is known for its great surf conditions, and it’s a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming. You can reach it by taking bus 3710 from Lisbon or bus 3025 from Pragal (Town between Lisbon-Setúbal reached by train). Mind that summer time the beach is packed and the buses are quickly saturated!
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Praia de Carcavelos
If you had to choose one decent beach accessible by public transport from the center of Lisbon it would be Carcavelos. This is a popular beach for locals and tourists alike, with its wide expanse of sand, good surf conditions, and a lively beach scene. Plenty of surf schools if you want to take a class. There are a few bars too if you want to have a drink or lunch. This beach is easily reached with the train from Cais do Sodré going to Caiscais, a 30/40min train ride depending on the hour.
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Praia do Meco and das Bicas
If you don’t mind traveling a bit and prefer not to stay on the busy beach of Costa Caparica then keep heading south. If you have a car you can easily reach the beaches of das Bicas or do Meco. These beaches have a more laid-back vibe than some of the other beaches near Lisbon and are great for surfing and other water sports.
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Praia da Foz de Lizandro and São Julião
If instead, you want to travel up north from Lisbon, there is a beautiful unknown beach with an amazing backdrop of cliffs. São Julião beach is rarely crowded and offers a nice hike if you come by car. On the other hand, if you need to take public transport, I recommend taking the bus nr. 1633 or 2133 and hop off at Foz do Lizandro. São Julião is located south of Foz de Lizandro. There is a 15-minute hike you can take called Trilho de São Julião which gives a great view of the two beaches from the hills.
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Praia da Rainha
This is a controversial pick since many would consider it overrated due to the crowd, I believe however that its location makes up for it. This beach can be reached after a 2-minute walk from the Cascais train station. It is a great stop to make if you are exploring the city of Cascais and want to cool yourself with a quick swim. While it may be more crowded due to its small size compared to other nearby beaches, the proximity to the train and the rest of Cascais’ center is hard to beat in my opinion.
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Praia do Tamariz and da Azarujinha
Located close to Cascais, Tamariz Beach is popular for its calm waters and is great for swimming and sunbathing. It is also surrounded by bars, cafes, and restaurants. If you are curious and want to go for a walk, I also recommend walking for 5 min eastward and you can be at the Praia da Azarujinha which is more secluded and probably quieter. These beaches can be easily reached by hopping off at the train station Estoril for Tamariz Beach or São João d. Estoril for Azarujinha depending on which of these two beaches you want to see first.
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Praia da Foz
It probably doesn’t get more remote than this beach while still being less than 1h away from Lisbon. This beach is located outside of Sesimbra. It is surrounded by cliffs and has crystal-clear waters. Without a car, it is difficult to make it here. It is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. Due to the rocky coast, this is not a surfing spot I would recommend.
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Praia da Ribeira do Cavalo
If you are looking to challenge yourself and don’t mind sweating, this is a stunning beach that is only accessible by a small hike (or by boat). It is known for its turquoise waters and is a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. I take public transport to Sesimbra and from there I usually take a Bolt or Uber to be dropped off at a parking lot near the cliffs. From there it takes 20 min to hike down the slopes and rocky terrain. One of the more difficult beaches to make it to, however, I have not seen a beach in Portugal quite like it.
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Douglas, you look so damn handsome on the picture in “About” section 🙂