Are there actually beaches in Lisbon? The answer is yes, there are no beaches in Lisbon, but you don't have to go far. Some beautiful sandy beaches near Lisbon can even be reached by public transport.
The most beautiful beaches near Lisbon
Although the Portuguese capital Lisbon does not have any beaches of its own, you will find a large selection of wonderful sandy beaches in the surrounding area. You have plenty of choice: urban beaches with promenades and a wide selection of restaurants, huge natural beaches with impressive dunes or beaches for windsurfing or kitesurfing. And best of all, many beaches can be reached by car or public transport within an hour.
Costa da Caparica
The beaches of the Costa da Caparica stretch for 15 km. They are also known as the "popular beach" of Lisbon. The most beautiful stretches of beach include Praia da Morena and Praia da Sereia. However, both beaches are located a few kilometres from the centre of the town. Praia da Cabana do Pescador is the most popular beach on the Costa de Caparica, and it is particularly crowded in summer. There is a good gastronomic offer at many beaches, with numerous restaurants and beach bars.
The municipality of Costa da Caparica is located on the other side of the Tagus River. From Lisbon, you can reach the beaches by car via the Ponte 25 de Abril. The journey takes between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Bus line 161 runs hourly from Praça Francisco Sá Carneiro (formerly Praça do Areeiro) directly to Costa da Caparica. It is operated by Transportes Sul do Tejo (TST). The journey takes between 40 and 60 minutes.
From the district of Belém, there is a ferry to Trafaria, which, like Costa da Caparica, belongs to the city of Almada. The ferries leave almost every hour from the port in Belém. The journey takes about 25 minutes, with a stopover in Porto Brandão.
Costa do Sol - Cascais & Estoril
The beaches on the coast between Oeiras and Cascais are also within easy reach of Lisbon. Praia de Santo Amaro de Oeiras is the first beach outside Lisbon. However, the wide sandy beach does not have the best water quality. Much nicer are Praia do Torre and especially the great sandy beach Praia de Carcavelos.
Carcavelos beach is about 20 km from Lisbon city centre. It takes about 25 to 35 minutes by car. There are plenty of parking spaces on site. It is even easier to get there by train. The Lisbon-Cascais suburban train (Linha de Cascais) leaves from Cais do Sodré station. Trains run every 12 to 20 minutes during the day, depending on the time(see timetable). The journey from Cais do Sodré to the station "Carcavelos" takes about 20 minutes. From the station you have to walk about one kilometre to the beach.
The next beautiful beaches are waiting for you in the once fashionable seaside resort of Estoril. The small, clean bathing bays are well frequented, especially at weekends. The best beaches are Praia do Tamariz (get off at the "Monte Estoril" station) and Praia da Poça (São Joao do Estoril station).
Directly adjacent to Estoril is the pretty town of Cascais. Here, too, you will find numerous small beaches, some in the immediate vicinity of the town centre. Praia da Conceição is particularly popular and can also be easily reached by train (Cascais station). However, the Linha de Cascais ends here. All beaches west of Cascais can then only be reached by car.
The next kilometres along the coast are characterised by many rocks. The Boca do Inferno ("Hell's Mouth") is particularly impressive. This is a cave with 20 m high cliffs.
If you are looking for seemingly endless natural beaches, you have to drive a little further to the western Atlantic coast. Here, the wild, windswept Praia do Guincho awaits you. This beach is very popular with surfers and is known for its magnificent dunes. The drive from Lisbon takes about an hour. If that's too far for a day trip, you'll find several hotels, guesthouses and a campsite at Praia do Guincho and the other local beaches.
TIP: With the Lisboa Card you can use the trains to Estoril and Cascais for free. You can find more information here.
TOP tip: Surfing and surfing near Lisbon
Lisbon is surrounded by good surf spots. Within an hour's drive you can reach famous spots like Ericeira and Peniche. Even closer are the beaches in the south and west of the Portuguese capital.
One of the most popular surfing spots is Praia de Carcavelos, located between Lisbon and Cascais. Here you will also find numerous surf schools and affordable accommodation. Due to its proximity to Lisbon, however, Carcavelos is extremely popular and can quickly become overcrowded.
Really great waves are almost always at Praia do Guincho on the west coast. If you are a beginner, however, you should only go into the water here with a surf school.
For more tips, read our article on surfing in Portugal.
Costa da Lisboa - Arrábida Nature Park
The coast of Lisbon stretches south to the Setúbal peninsula. The most beautiful beaches in the area can be found in the Parque Natural da Arrábida. The nature park - located between the cities of Sesimbra and Setúbal - impresses with its breathtaking landscape and unique flora.
The three best beaches are close together: Praia Portinho da Arrabida, Praia de Galapinhos and Praia da Figueirinha. It takes about an hour to get there by car from Lisbon. There are no bus or train connections.
An excursion can be wonderfully combined with a hike. Be aware, however, that the nature reserve is partially closed to visitors. To be on the safe side, take a tour or a guided walk.
Also highly recommended is a stopover at Cabo Espichel, the peninsula's extreme south-west peak.
Cabo da Roca & Sintra
To the west of Lisbon, north of Cabo da Roca, you'll find some pristine sandy beaches with mostly really high waves. Among the most popular beaches are Praia das Maçãs, which belongs to the seaside resort of the same name, the wild natural beach Praia da Ursa, the huge Praia Grande and the also almost untouched Praia da Adraga. All these beaches are located in the Sintra-Cascais Nature Park.
A car is definitely recommended to explore each beach. If you stay overnight in Sintra, you can also use some local buses that take you to the coast.
Beach excursions from Lisbon
Beach resorts north of Lisbon
Further north, there are some beautiful seaside resorts that you can easily reach on a day trip. Ericeira, about 50 km from Lisbon, is famous worldwide among surfers. But even without a surfboard, you'll feel right at home here. The best place for swimming is Praia dos Pescadores, one of the safest beaches in the region. The extensive sandy beaches of Praia Foz do Lizandro and Praia de São Julião in the south of Ericeira are also beautiful.
Further north, many secluded natural beaches await your visit. Praia do Baio and Praia Alto da Vela in São Pedro da Cadeira are beautiful. The beaches in A dos Cunhados are also great, but a little more crowded in summer. A wonderful holiday resort is Lourinhã with Praia da Areia Branca, one of the most popular beaches on the Portuguese west coast.
Just under 100 km away from Lisbon is the small town of Peniche, which is also very popular with surfers. Both surfers and families with children are attracted to Praia do Baleal. Peniche is also ideal for a longer stay. There is a large selection of accommodation for holidaymakers.
Conclusion: As you can see, there is a huge choice of great beaches in the vicinity of Lisbon. Some of them require a bit more driving time, but the effort is rewarded with some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Portugal. We hope you enjoy your beach trip in Lisbon!
