18 Best beaches in Portugal

Vila Franca is an unusual beach in the crater of an old volcano, located on a tiny islet near the Sao Miguel island, Azores. The water is shallow with a stony bottom. There is also a small sandy area good for smaller children. So in a contrast to most of Atlantic, the water is warm, and there are no waves. The islet has toilet room and lifeguards. / read more » /

Marinha - is the most famous beach in Portugal. Magic shaped rocks, white sand and clear water make a unique atmosphere. Surprisingly there is no a lot of people. / read more » /

Tavira - is a long island near the mainland in the southern Portugal. Formally, there are several beaches (Barril, Terra Estreita), but in reality all the southern coast of the island is a one big beach of white sand. If you realize that there are too many people around, - just walk away to the left or right, and the crowd will disappear. / read more » /

Porto Santo - an island with the best beaches in Portugal. In reality, it is one beach about 9 kilometers long on the southeastern coast of the island. / read more » /

Falesia - is a popular beach in the Algarve region of Portugal. Colored sandy cliffs make a unique landscape, so this beach is one of the most unusual in Europe. / read more » /

Rocha - is a beach of Portimão town in the south of Portugal. There is always a lot of people. But if you walk a bit to the west, you will find a beautiful stretch of coast (called Praia dos Três Castelos) with sandy cliffs and without the crowd. / read more » /

Odeceixe - is a popular nudist beach in the north-west of the Algarve region in Portugal. Due to the river flows into the ocean land turns to a small peninsula with sand dunes, which is almost completely going under the water during the high tide. / read more » /

Moinhos is a beach near Porto Formoso in the north of Sao Miguel island, Azores. This was the best secret beach of the island, but after the renovation it became a little more crowdy. However, it is still a great place to sunbathe, to swim and to eat at the delicious bar. There is a shower and a toilet, - everything is in a good condition. / read more » /

Amoreira - is a beach in the south-west of Portugal. Aljezur river flows into the Atlantic Ocean, so even if the sea has strong waves you can always find shallow calm water. / read more » /

Praia das Milicias (Praia Grande) is the largest and the most popular beach of Sao Miguel island in the Azores. The sand is slightly dark and gives a very pleasant feeling. The waves are usually strong, but there is shallow water ashore being comfortable even for the smaller children. / read more » /

Lombo Gordo is a wild beach down the mountain in the east of Sao Miguel island on the Azores. The artificial sandy coast sometimes migrates to the left or to the right, but most of time remains between the breakwaters. In the afternoon, there is a shadow ashore, so nobody here that time. Due to the poor transport accessibility, there are not many people anyway. / read more » /

Prainha is a beach in a large town of Angra do Heroismo in the south of Terceira island. The sand is almost white, that can be rarely met in the Azores, as well as sea water is calm without waves. There is a fortress wall around the beach, as well as pretty old town can be seen in the background. / read more » /

Madeira - the most popular island in Portugal. Unfortunately, there are no many beaches. Praia da Calheta is the best beach, but it doesn't make sense to go so far just to see it. / read more » /

Porto Martins is a city beach in the east of Terceira island, Azores. There is a small sandy area, as well as concrete fields with comfortable entry into the water. Due to the good location in an enclosed lagoon, there are never strong waves. / read more » /

Quatro Ribeiras is a rocky beach in the north of Terceira island, Azores. There are many trails around, as well as areas where you can sunbathe and swim in the ocean. There is also full sized pool with sea water, as well as a shower and toilet room. / read more » /

Mosteiros is a popular black sand beach in the west of Sao Miguel island, Azores. In a calm weather, this is a great place to swim. But when the waves are strong, you can move to a rocky site, where the cliffs protect the coast from waves. / read more » /

Biscoitos is the best beach in the island of Terceira, Azores. In reality, this is not a beach, but a series of natural pools in a stoned lava. Last years, significant coastal areas have been made up of a concrete. It became a little more convenient, but the beach lost its charm, and now it looks like Montenegro shore. In addition, it is slipperly on the wet concrete. There are lifeguards and a shower on the beach. / read more » /

Negrito is a Blue Flag bathing area in the south of Terceira island, Azores. In fact, these are two pools with sea water. In a storm, waves get into the bathing area, so it is not always calm water unlike the real pools. There is a historical fort nearby, - however, it is not very beautiful. / read more » /