The best beaches near Lisbon

You might be tempted to grab your towel and head for Ribeira das Naus in Lisbon to relax or dip your toes in the Tagus River – but it’s not officially considered a beach. Fortunately, the Portuguese capital is just a short trip away from stretches of sand along river and ocean where you can soak up the sun, go for a swim, breathe fresh air and learn how to surf.

Beach season officially runs from June to September, but great weather can start as early as May and stretch to mid-October. Most facilities are closed during the off-season and lifeguards are off-duty.

These are the best beaches close to Lisbon.

1. Fonte da Telha

Best beach for families

At the first sign of warm weather, Lisbon families flock to Costa da Caparica on the Setúbal peninsula for weekend day trips to swim and sunbathe. But with almost 20 miles of sandy coast, which beach is best?

Located in a former fishing village, Fonte da Telha is something of a well-kept local secret and one of the best beaches in Lisbon for families, a half-hour drive from the city center (it’s not accessible by public transport). Stick to the section next to the parking lot and the restaurants, and you have everything you need. The chilly Atlantic Ocean needs a little getting used to, but there’s plenty of space to lay down your towel on golden sand and sunbathe instead. For kids, that means lots of room to spend the day building sandcastles.

Local tip: Only being able to reach this beach by car can be an advantage: you can arrive and leave whenever you want, and you never need to worry about crowds.

2. Alburrica Beach 

Best beach for proximity to Lisbon

As the river beach closest to the mouth of the Tagus, the waters of Alburrica Beach are a mix of river and ocean but without the currents and waves of an oceanic beach. Equipped with showers, a bar and a volleyball court, it’s a favorite spot for local beachgoers on weekends and hot summer afternoons after work.

To get there, hop on the ferry from Terreiro do Paço and cross the Tagus River to the post-industrial city of Barreiro. Just a few minutes walk from the ferry terminus, you’ll come across three windmills on a stretch of white sand with panoramic views of Lisbon. 

Local tip: On colder days, or when kite surfers are the only ones willing to bear the wind, locals take advantage of the wooden walkways for hikes and cycling.

3. Guincho Beach

Best beach for experienced surfers

Windy and wavy Guincho might be a nuisance for regular beachgoers. But for experienced surfers, it's just the right spot that’s not too far from Lisbon. Itching to get in the water but didn’t pack your wetsuit and board? The folks at Moana Surf School rent gear and offer private lessons for those needing an introduction to surfing the Atlantic. If you’re more of a watcher than a doer, head to the nearby Bar do Guincho for drinks by the mighty sea.

Planning tip: Every October, Guincho Beach is usually chosen as the location for the final leg of Portugal’s professional surf championship. Get there early to save your spot on the dunes and watch your favorite surfers battle it out for the title.

4. Carcavelos Beach

Best beach for rookie surfers

If you are yet to ride your first wave, catch the train in Cais do Sodré and get off at Carcavelos. The waves at Carcavelos Beach are small enough for rookie surfers to handle, but they still put up a decent challenge for learning new skills. Before braving the waves on your own, book a class with Carcavelos Surf School, the first school on this beach, that now has more than 20 years of experience.

There are plenty of seaside restaurants and cafés to enjoy here on breaks between swims or to take in views of the ocean and São Julião da Barra fort. Carcavelos is one of the most popular beaches in the Cascais area and one of the beaches closest to Lisbon city center by train, so summer weekends here are typically busy.

Local tip: Dodge the crowds by hitting the beach early in the morning or on weekdays.

5. Foz do Lizandro

Best beach for accessibility

An hour’s drive west of Lisbon, Foz do Lizandro is one of the most popular beaches in Ericeira and worth the road trip. Heralded as one of the most accessible beaches in Portugal, Foz do Lizandro is equipped with wooden ramps, amphibian chairs and facilities for people with reduced mobility. Beaches on Portugal’s west coast are often labeled windy and cold but great for surfers: at Foz do Lizandro, however, you’ll find a more sheltered spot where river meets ocean.

Detour: After spending a day at the beach, take in the small-town vibe of charming Ericeira, with its historic center and traditional restaurants serving fresh local seafood dishes.

6. Adraga Beach

Best beach for sunsets

One of the best beaches north of Lisbon, nestled between Cascais and Sintra, Adraga is the embodiment of romantic walks on the beach. Dark rugged rocks contrast dramatically with shimmering sand, and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean turn to liquid gold at sunset. The winding road that leads to the beach is part of Adraga’s charm, and on summer weekends it tends to get crowded fast.

Local tip: If you’re just here for the romantic setting, take in the views at dinner for two at beachside Restaurante Adraga.

7. Tróia-Mar

Best beach for a resort experience

The beach at Tróia-Mar, about a two-hour drive from Lisbon, is a little slice of heaven. Here you can get the first glimpse of Portugal's southern region of Alentejo and check into an all-inclusive beach resort near the tranquil deep-blue sea and soft sand. It’s popular and gets busy in the summer, but that’s the price you pay for a beach just steps away from bars, cafés, restaurants and the ferry port that connects Tróia to Setúbal. The view of Serra da Arrábida, the sense of seclusion without feeling isolated and the tranquility of this beach destination make the trip worthwhile.

Planning tip: To get here, take an early morning train from Lisbon to Setúbal and then take a 15-minute ferry ride to Tróia.