10 Best Beaches Near Lisbon

Praia do Guincho is a spectacular beach about 4.5 miles northwest of Cascais with vast dune-backed stretches of white sands and natural wonders. The beach draws a wide range of water sports enthusiasts from surfers to kite surfers, windsurfers and others due to the strong winds that blow through the area. It's important to note that the beach isn't sheltered from the winds, so they can make this beach a bit chilly. They also cause strong currents and undertows.

The beach is, however, a Blue Flag destination and is a remote beach with fewer crowds than some of the other local beaches. It's good for a romantic walk along the shores; just be sure to bundle up.

Praia de Carcavelos is among the most popular beaches in Lisbon, offering over a mile of sand and sea with surfing and leisure activities galore. If you're an experienced surfer, this beach offers prime waves and is a popular spot. If you're looking to learn how to surf, you can take classes from one of the many well-regarded surfing schools. You'll find kiosks here that rent e-scooters, bicycles, paddle boards and other gear. You can also catch a pro beach volleyball match. The beach is lined by cafes and restaurants, including a few locally famed seafood joints.

This beach is as popular with locals as it is with visitors. It's also just a 15-minute walk from the Carcavelos railway station.

Costa da Caparica is among the longest stretches of sand in Lisbon offering everything from clothing-optional stretches to LGBTQ+ beaches, nightlife and trendy hangouts. One thing that sets this long stretch of beach apart is that it's largely frequented by locals as opposed to visitors. While trains do bring holiday travellers through here during the summer high season, visitors usually pass the nightlife area and head for the nudist and LGBTQ+ beaches.

If you're looking for a beach that offers just about everything, this beach about 20 minutes from the centre of Lisbon has what you want. It offers bars, restaurants, showers, bathrooms and lifeguard-observed swimming.

Praia da Conceição is at the centre of Cascais and offers powder-white sand and an exclusive, upscale atmosphere in a sheltered inlet with calm and clean surf. This beach is family-friendly and has a Blue Flag rating. It's also lined with an abundance of restaurants and beachfront cafes for those who want to grab a bite to eat right along the waterfront.

Praia da Conceição is also the beginning of a seafront promenade over a mile long that's a fantastic walk full of memorable scenery and small shops. Its flat layout also makes it one of the more accessible beaches in all of Lisbon and an attractive destination for people with disabilities.

Praia do Tamariz is a stretch of beach just 30 minutes by train west from Lisbon along the Estoril shore offering clean sand and surf, eateries, shops and water sports. You can spend days here exploring all the leisure activities on offer, from souvenir and boutique shops to cafes and restaurants along the promenade offering everything from good coffee to fresh seafood.

You can hire a paddle boat or canoe, take diving classes or hit the local nightlife with weekly fireworks displays during the summer. Of course, you can also spend hours just lounging in the soft sand and wading or swimming in the warm Atlantic waters.

Praia da Ursa about 25 miles northwest of Lisbon is a rugged, wild stretch of coast lined by high cliffs that provide cover for the clothing-optional surf and sand. This beach is best experienced during low tide, as much of the sand is covered by the ocean when the tide comes in. It's also part of a national park and does not have clean-up crews to maintain it, so it's asked that you be careful about what you bring and what you leave behind.

It's got calm winds and calm surf, making it great for swimming and relaxation, and it's welcoming to naturists of all varieties. Be aware that there's no division between the clothing and nudist areas here.

Fonte da Telha is a stretch of soft, golden sand and crashing sea at the heart of the Arriba Fóssil Nature Reserve that's backed by cliffs and verdant green hills. It also offers several small restaurants and beach bars, making it popular with locals looking to escape the crowds of the high season. While it may not offer the wildest nightlife in the region, it does go on into the wee hours of the morning.

This stretch of coastline is best accessed by the small, rickety Transpraia railway that services the remote beaches of the region every summer. If you're looking for a relaxed beach and laid-back nightlife, Fonte da Telha is the destination to check out.

Praia da Figueirinha is among the most family-friendly beaches in the Lisbon region, offering an arc of sugar-white sand and calm, deep-blue waters that are ideal for swimming. At this beach an hour south of the city centre, you can also rent lounger chairs and beach umbrellas for extra relaxation. The lagoon is sheltered, which means it's ideal for a dip, and the shallows are good for kids to run and splash in. You'll see hundreds of tropical fish darting around in the crystal-clear waters.

If you're looking for a bite to eat, a beachside cafe lets you grab some refreshments right on the shore. A lifeguard is on duty in the summer months to keep everyone safe.

Praia dos Galapinhos has been voted several times as Europe's most beautiful beach, offering calm, crystal-clear waters and a pristine landscape with relaxing surroundings. This vast stretch of beach draws fewer crowds than some other beaches despite its reputation for pristine, unspoiled beauty, so it's a good place to come with the family or your significant other if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle for a while. The calm waters are good for wading, swimming, splashing, paddle boarding or cooling off on a hot summer day.

It's also backed by lush green foliage for fresh air and a back-to-nature feeling. Praia dos Galapinhos is just an hour south of the city centre.

Lagoa de Albufeira along the Costa da Caparica coastline offers 2 deep lagoons carved into soft, white sands surrounded by marshlands and offering water sports and wildlife-watching experiences. It's a popular beach among local day-trippers but is a hidden gem that many holiday travellers don't even know about. Just steps from the beach are miles of pristine forests with well-travelled footpaths that are ideal for hiking. The wetlands are frequented by huge flocks of birds and other local wildlife.

The waters are great for surfing and kitesurfing, and many locals come here to enjoy the weather. Best of all, the beach is only about 45 minutes south of the city centre.