The 10 Prettiest Beach Towns in Portugal
Wave-washed, sand-fringed Portugal sits at the very end of the Iberian Peninsula. It’s got some of the most dramatic coastline in Europe up its sleeve, ranging from the azure waters and golden powder of the Algarve to the empty, dune-backed stretches of the Silver Coast. Some seriously handsome towns punctuate all that. They tumble down from the cliffs of the south with whitewashed walls and red-tiled roofs, or open into charming canals topped by coffee-clinking cafés. Nope, there’s certainly no shortage of gorgeous beach towns in Portugal…
1 | Sagres
Sagres straddles two coastlines – the Western Algarve and the southern Atlantic. It’s perched right at the south-western tip of the country, baked by the sun, smashed by the swells, and topped by the muscular Fortaleza de Sagres, a 16th-century castle that once protected Portugal from Berber pirates.
The centre unfolds in a mix of surf rentals and umbrella-filled beer bars. They filter through a patchwork of cobbled streets where hostels and villas cluster amid the pavements. There’s access to two very different beaches. In the west, that’s Tonel, a wild affair with rock-ribbed cliffs that has good intermediate surf breaks. Then there’s Praia do Martinhal, where the waves are smaller and Algarvian seafood joints crown the hills.
insider tip
Drive northwest to Praia do Beliche if you can – it's a stunning bay with rugged headlands and lots of grottoes.
2 | Ferragudo
Ferragudo is only a stone’s throw from the bustling port city of Portimão in the heart of the popular Algarve. However, it promises to whisk you back through the centuries with its relaxed vibe and time-stood-still looks. You’ll find it sort of rolling down the coast hills on the side of the Rio Arade, a cascade of white-painted cottages and terracotta roof tiles framed by a speckling of fishing boats.
Palms on the main promenade sway in the sea breezes that drift down the estuary, bathing a whole host of acclaimed seafood restaurants in fresh Atlantic airs from morning until night. To the south, Praia do Torrado is pure Algarve stuff – think honey-hued cliffs and green-blue waters. Alternatively, you could head for Praia da Angrinha to swim in the brackish river waters under the 17th-century battlements of the Castle of Arade.
insider tip
Do some water sports! The presence of a river estuary and the Atlantic makes Ferragudo a SUP, kayak, and boating hotspot.
3 | Praia de Odeceixe
Praia de Odeceixe is an exclave of the larger town of Odeceixe, found draped over the lush green hills of the Costa Vicentina in the south of Portugal. It’s everything you might expect of a beachside hamlet on the edge of the Algarve. There are hardy brick bungalows painted in a dazzling white, dashed with blue and fronted with lovely balconies.
The best thing is that the beach opens up just below. It’s a wide bay flanked by muscular cliffs, opening onto waves that roll and crash against cinnamon-tinted sand. You can follow the snaking river all the way into Odeceixe town centre. That’s a maze of alleys and walkways far too narrow for the rental car, packed with family taverns and vacation cottages.
insider tip
Nearby Adegas Beach is the place to go if you're the type that likes to sunbathe au naturel.
4 | Cascais
Cascais lies down the stunning Costa da Estoril from the buzzy capital of Lisbon. The train there takes just an hour from the heart of the big city, so this beach town is pretty popular in the warmer months of the year. It’s easy to see why: The duo of beaches, Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa, are true stunners. They offer golden sands and relatively calm ocean waters that gleam a certain shade of turquoise.
Cascais is something of a jet-setter destination, too. It’s packed with chic B&Bs and boutique lodges, and comes lined by a marina where million-dollar yachts bob by the jetties. Between May and August is when the nightlife gets into full swing, especially around the sunset terraces of Blue Bar and the famous Cascais casino.
insider tip
Don't forget to add in a trip to nearby Sintra. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's laden with Renaissance and Moorish palaces high up in the sierras.
5 | Sines
The onetime home of revered explorer Vasco da Gama, Sines faces straight out at the wide Atlantic blue. It’s surrounded on three sides by the ocean, with the marina to the south and the wave-splattered Cabo de Sines to the west.
You’ll want to explore the downtown the most. That’s the historic core of it all, complete with a Moorish medieval castle that’s still topped by cannons once used to fend off pirate raids. The Old Quarter is also brimming with cobblestone streets and lookout points, with the most famous being the one adorned with the proud statue of Vasco da Gama himself.
insider tip
Drop into the Praia da Costa Norte that starts just north of town. It's the beginning of the longest uninterrupted stretch of beachfront in the whole of Europe!
6 | Nazaré
Just a mention of the name Nazaré is enough to send shivers down the spine of surfers the globe over. Yep, this town is legendary in the world of wave riding. When the autumn kicks in, the colossal offshore Nazaré Canyon draws in power from the Atlantic Ocean and gives rise to some of the biggest swells of all. They regularly hit 70 feet or more and come roaring into the headland that juts out above Praia do Norte.
However, Nazaré is a charmer no matter the season. The town below is rabbit’s hole of winding lanes and streets that never seem to end up in the right place. It’s got oodles of seafood taverns that serve up salt cod and cataplana stews bursting with prawns and mussels. What’s more, the main beach – Nazaré Beach – is pure Silver Coast, offering soft sands and clean ocean waters.
insider tip
Head up to the lighthouse on the funicular to watch the surfers do their thing between October and November – peak wave season.
7 | Aljezur
It’s pretty easy to fall in love with Aljezur. The town isn’t technically a beach town in that it doesn’t spill straight down to the coast. However, the protected reserves of the Costa Vicentina lie right behind, offering access to some of the most celebrated sands in the country – the drive from centre to sea is about 10 minutes, no more.
The real joy is that you can hit the beach in the day and retire to Aljezur in the evening. The Old Town area is the charmer. Crowned by a big Moorish castle and fluttering Portuguese flags, it cascades down a steep ridge with the Aljezur River winding away to one side and pockets of cow-speckled farms rolling away to the other. Many of the cottages there have now been transformed into bijou surfer shacks with log fires and balconies.
insider tip
Arte Bianca does a fantastic wood-fired pizza. Look for it on the main road leading out of town to the south.
8 | Ericeira
There’s a real buzz about Ericeira. Sat on the Silver Coast a couple of hours’ drive north of Lisbon, it’s nothing short of epic for would-be surfers looking to hit some of Portugal’s best waves. In fact, the whole town is now a designated World Surfing Reserve, with all sorts of breaks, from barrelling Coxos (for the pros) to Foz do Lizandro (for the beginners).
The fame of the waves has helped the town become a real hubbub of bars, cafés, and restaurants, too. The core of it all hugs Praia dos Pescadores, where the fishing boats come in. The main surfing spots are to the north and south, connected by regular buses.
insider tip
Ouriço Terrace is cracking for a sunset drink.
9 | Tavira
Tavira is one of the last beach towns in Portugal before the Spanish border. It lies at the easternmost end of the Algarve, a touch back from the barrier isles of the Praia do Barril. You can get there in a jiffy to enjoy soft, golden sands topped by clusters of sea oats. And the best part? This area is never as busy as the western Algarve, so you should find some space to call your own.
Tavira itself is bisected by the Rio Gilão. Its history goes back to ancient times, but the main draw is a medieval old quarter that’s a labyrinth of lanes and plazas that promise exceptionally good people watching. Daytrips into the Ria Formosa are also usually spectacular – keep the eyes peeled for pink-tinged flamingos there.
insider tip
Be sure to walk across the Ponte Romana de Tavira. It's one of the most ancient monuments around, dating back to 400 BC!
10 | Aveiro
Aveiro is hailed as the Venice of Portugal for its web of canals and colourful punt boats (moliceiros). The whole place sits just a stone’s throw back from the glorious and untrodden beaches of the Silver Coast. The sands of Praia da Barra and Costa Nova are less than 15 minutes’ drive away, but salt-water adventures can also come in the form of wildlife excursions to see flamingos and kingfishers on the Aveiro Lagoon, which extends some 10 miles inland.
You should also take some time to enjoy the buzz of Aveiro’s centre. Hit the riverways to cruise on the moliceiros gondolas. Delve into the fisherman’s market for uber-fresh seafood buys. And definitely don’t miss the Convento de Jesus em Aveiro, the 15th-century resting place of Princess Saint Joan.
insider tip
Restaurante Musgo is hidden down an alley on the north side of the old town. It's one of the top places for veggie food in Aveiro.
