For many holidaymakers Portugal is all about the sea, the sun-kissed beaches and picturesque coastal towns. So let’s go exploring the waters, see what’s in store for you.
The water’s CHILLY!
Brrrr…. if you’re expecting balmy tropical-style waters, step away from Portugal! The Atlantic Ocean, unlike the Med, is huge and features enormous chilly currents from the north that take the edge off the warmer southerly currents. Upwelling also contributes, when the wind pushes warmer water from the surface away from the beaches to be replaced by colder water from deeper down. And that’s why the water feels colder when it’s windy.
The Algarve, especially near the Strait of Gibraltar, has slightly warmer water compared to north Portugal. For the warmest sea temperatures head for Praia da Luz, Praia da Rocha Baixinha and others in the immediate area, all big Algarve favourites.
Cold water isn’t a bad thing, there are some amazing health claims made around feeling cold in general and cold water swimming in particular. It helps your immune system, improves circulation and makes you feel amazing. No wonder water sports lovers don’t mind a bit of a chill.
The warmest sea temperatures are July to September, convenient for the summer holiday season, But if you really don’t like cold water you might want to bring a wetsuit – or stay dry on the sand.
Charming coastal spots to visit
With a long and endlessly spectacular coastline, there are countless cities and coastal towns to explore. Portugal’s gorgeous seaside towns are famed for their magnificent beaches and warm welcome. It’s no surprise Portugal eats more fish than any other nation except the fish-crazy South Koreans and Norwegians. Here are some of the best-loved places to stop off along Portugal’s immense 1115 mile coast.
Matosinhos is near Porto, offering the best beaches in the Porto region along with outstanding fresh fish and seafood. Visit the beautiful Bom Jesus de Matosinhos Church, the Leça do Balio Monastery, and the curious saltwater pools at Piscina das Marés. Then experience the Castelo do Queijo, built to ward off attacks from pirates in the 1600s.
Lagos has some of the best golden sandy beaches in Portugal, with Praia da Dona Ana described as one of the world’s most beautiful. Don’t miss Batata, Luz, Pinhão, Camilo, and Porto de Mós beaches as well, each almost as gorgeous. A quiet place with a good number of attractions, it’s ideal when you want the best of both worlds: beach and culture. Don’t miss the Old Town, Avenida dos Descobrimentos, the Municipal Market, the Marina, and Forte da Ponta da Bandeira.
Peniche crouches on a lovely peninsula, another place beloved by surfers. The Praia dos Supertubos is the reason, another of the best surfing spots in Europe and a popular location for international and national surf competitions. On the other side there’s calmer, quieter Baleal Beach, loved by windsurfers and other water sports enthusiasts. Peniche fort is worth a visit and the seafood here is epic.
Azenhas Do Mar is a tiny place close by the strange, weird and wonderful Sintra castles, just 17 miles from Lisbon. Expect a stunning beach with views to match, exceptional seafood and lots of tiny, weeny pure white houses with traditional tiling on the front. Sunset is amazing here with unique views of the village and sea. The watermill is worth a look-see too.
Ferragudo lies between the city of Portimão and the village of Carvoeiro, offering over 300 sunny days a year. The charming historic centre sits on the Arade River banks, with dramatic cliffs and its fair share of lovely beaches. A small fishing village with a chilled out feel, it’s a delight to explore.
Cascais offers ocean and mountain views rolled into one, near to Lisbon and Sintra with beautiful beaches, plenty of culture, history, and leisure pursuits to enjoy. The weird rocks at Boca do Inferno and the fortress of Cascais Citadel are amazing, along with the Praia do Albano, Praia do Guincho and Praia da Rainha beaches. It’s a really pretty fishing village, unusually Instagrammable.
Cascais Cabo Da Roca comes with lovely parks, gracious squares and fascinating museums along with plenty for lovers of great food. Guincho beach is famous for its excellent restaurants where clams are top of the list. It even has its own one Michelin star restaurant.
Nazaré is a chilled-out placeand it has a secret: the amazing views from the cliff top, accessible either by funicular lift or car. Sítio da Nazaré, at the Mirante do Suberco, gives you remarkable views of Nazaré Beach and Praia do Norte, site of some of the planet’s biggest waves. You won’t believe your eyes if you’re lucky enough to witness one of these monsters, and you’ll be even luckier to see a world-class surfer attempting to ride them. You’ll get the best massive wave views from Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo in winter.
Aveiro sits in the mouth of the Vouga River, nicknamed the Venice of Portugal thanks to its fascinating river islands and canal network with boats a lot like gondolas, called moliceiros and available for boat tours. The Costa Nova do Prado is a big attraction with its gorgeous vividly-colourful fishing shacks, one of the country’s most famous landmarks. The area’s sweet dessert is a huge treat, well worth tasting. It’s called ovos moles, made from eggs and sugar and invented by nuns. Jolly well done, nuns.
Odeceixe… you’ve got to love a place name with an X in it! Odeceixe is an unusually calm and peaceful place rich in natural beauty with its own windmill and a great beach. It sits next to the clear, clean Seixe River, on green hills in the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina. Expect really pretty white houses and a breathtaking beach so good it’s on the list of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal.
Sagres lies in the magnificent Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, offering even more fabulous beaches along with dizzying cliffs, dramatic rocky outcrops, and unique scenery. This is a haven for surfing and water sports, especially Zavial, Tonel, Beliche and Ponta Ruiva beaches. The old red lighthouse at Europe’s most south westerly point completes the picture and you can also discover the magic of Sagres Fortress, dating back to the 11th century.
Tavira comes with a slower pace of life with its ancient Roman bridges, 37 churches and many historic attractions: Praça da República, Largo da Misericórdia, Castelo de Tavira, Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, Jardim do Coreto and more. Brilliant beaches include Terra Estreita beach, the naturist beach called Naked Man, and Praia do Barril featuring a massive graveyard of spooky old iron anchors stuck in the sand facing the water.
Aljezur sits at the heart of the Vincentian coast, the western coast of the Algarve, loved by local people with fewer tourists than many seaside towns. Winter surfing is big here, as are the lyrical landscapes of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. Some of the best beaches in Portugal are found here as well: visit Arrifana, Vale dos Homens, Vale Figueira, Cordoama and Castelejo beaches then explore the interesting castle.
The Silver Coast
On the western side of Portugal, next to the Atlantic, there’s the Silver Coast, named for the colour of the sand. It’s a lot less touristy but offers spotless beaches, loads of water sports and world-class golf courses. Stretching for 100 miles or so north of Lisbon, it’s where you’ll find Nazaré, Tomar Obidos, Torres Vedras, Peniche and Coimbra, as well as the dramatic mountainous Serra da Estrela.
The region also comes with wonderful Mediterranean weather, with average summer temperatures soaring to 30C and balmy winter highs of 14C. This place is fantastic for paddle-boarding and kite surfing, horseback riding, sailing and more, along with surfing on some of the world’s best waves, a nature lover’s paradise at Berlenga Island, and day trips to Porto and Lisbon. The Buddha Eden sculpture gardens are unforgettable, inspired by oriental and African culture, and there’s amazing Foz do Arelho Beach, a serene lagoon beach with crystal clear water, high cliffs, and lots of excellent beach bars and restaurants.
Inspired? We hope you fall in love with the coast of Portugal like millions of people before you. It’s quite something.
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