Best Sandy Beaches in Portugal

We rank the top 40 of 50 sandy beaches in Portugal. Praia da Bordeira (Portugal) comes first with 4.7 / 5, followed by Praia da Falésia, Praia da Ursa.

The sea reaches about 20 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 25 of the 40 have easy access, and 12 are hidden gems.

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1Praia da Bordeira

Carrapateira, Algarve · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A wide, wild Atlantic beach on the west Algarve coast with dunes, cliffs and a shallow lagoon that forms behind the sand.

2Praia da Falésia

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A long golden beach backed by red and ochre cliffs and pine trees, stretching toward Vilamoura.

3Praia da Ursa

Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 17 °C

A small, wild sand cove below steep cliffs near Cabo da Roca, known for its tall rock stacks and rough Atlantic surf.

4Praia do Camilo

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 20 °C

A small golden cove framed by honey coloured cliffs and rock stacks near Lagos, reached by a long wooden staircase of around 200 steps.

5Praia do Carvalho

Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A small golden cove enclosed by tall Algarve cliffs, reached through a short tunnel cut into the rock and down a flight of steps.

6Ilha de Tavira

Tavira, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A long barrier island off the eastern Algarve with wide sandy beaches, calm lagoon water on one side and the open Atlantic on the other.

7Porto Santo Beach

Porto Santo, Madeira · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A nine-kilometre golden beach on the island of Porto Santo, with calm, shallow, clear water.

8Praia da Albandeira

Lagoa, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A small, sheltered cove at the foot of golden limestone cliffs in the Algarve, with a natural rock arch and clear water.

9Praia da Comporta

Alentejo coast, Portugal · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A long, quiet stretch of pale sand backed by dunes and pine woods on the Alentejo coast.

10Praia de Odeceixe

Odeceixe, Algarve, Portugal · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

A horseshoe shaped beach on the west coast of the Algarve where the Ribeira de Seixe river curls behind the sand to meet the Atlantic, with calm river pools on one side and surf on the other.

11Praia de Sao Rafael

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A golden cove with striking rock stacks and cliffs on the Albufeira coast, with clear water and a calm feel compared to the town beaches.

12Praia do Amado

Carrapateira, Aljezur, Algarve, Portugal · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A broad sandy beach with hills behind it on the west coast of the Algarve, popular with surfers.

13Praia do Beliche

Sagres, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 20 °C

A sheltered sandy cove near Sagres on the far south-west tip of Portugal, backed by tall cliffs and facing the open Atlantic with golden sand and clear water.

14Praia dos Tres Irmaos

Alvor, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A sandy beach in Alvor, in the western Algarve, with golden sandstone cliffs and rock stacks that form little arches and caves at low tide.

15Meia Praia

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A very long sandy beach east of Lagos, backed by dunes and reached by wooden walkways.

16Praia da Adraga

Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

A golden Atlantic beach below eroded cliffs and rock arches on the Sintra coast, with strong surf and a beach restaurant.

17Praia da Coelha

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A small sandy beach on the Algarve coast near Albufeira, set below golden cliffs with clear water and a quieter feel than the main resort beaches.

18Praia da Foz do Arelho

Foz do Arelho, Silver Coast · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A wide sandy beach on the Silver Coast where the calm Obidos lagoon meets the open Atlantic, so you can pick between gentle lagoon water and ocean waves.

19Praia da Ilha do Pessegueiro

Porto Covo, Alentejo · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A sheltered sandy beach on the Alentejo coast looking out at Pessegueiro Island and its small fort.

20Praia da Luz

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A sandy beach beside a small Algarve village near Lagos, with rocky outcrops and a seafront walk.

21Praia do Barril

Santa Luzia, Tavira, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A wide sandy beach on the barrier island of the Ria Formosa, reached from Santa Luzia by a flat footpath or a short tourist train.

22Praia do Carvoeiro

Lagoa, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A small golden beach set in a cove below the whitewashed village of Carvoeiro, with cliffs on each side.

23Praia do Evaristo

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long golden beach with red cliffs on the western side of Albufeira, with good swimming and a natural rock pool at low tide.

24Praia do Vale Figueiras

Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A quiet Atlantic beach on the west Algarve coast with golden sand, low cliffs and room to spread out away from the busier south-coast resorts.

25Praia do Zavial

Raposeira, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A broad sandy bay on the western Algarve, backed by low cliffs and a beachfront restaurant.

26Praia da Arrifana

Aljezur, West Algarve, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 18 °C

A crescent bay below steep cliffs on the west coast of the Algarve, with fishermen houses at the foot of a winding road and consistent waves that suit surfers.

27Praia da Costa Nova

Aveiro · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A long Atlantic beach beside the colourful striped houses of Costa Nova near Aveiro, with wide golden sand and dunes.

28Praia da Ingrina

Raposeira, Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A small sandy cove on the western Algarve near Raposeira, sheltered by rocks.

29Praia da Rocha

Portimao, Algarve, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A very wide sand beach below golden Algarve cliffs and rock formations, with a long promenade behind.

30Praia da Salema

Salema, Budens, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A Blue Flag beach beside the fishing village of Salema on the western Algarve, with golden sand between low cliffs and a line of beachfront restaurants.

31Praia da Zambujeira do Mar

Odemira, Alentejo · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A pretty cove in the Alentejo with a golden beach, dark cliffs and a lively little village on top.

32Praia de Burgau

Burgau, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A small sandy beach in the western Algarve, backed by the whitewashed houses of Burgau village and framed by green hills.

33Praia de Porto de Mos

Lagos, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A broad sandy beach below golden cliffs a few kilometres west of Lagos.

34Praia de Santa Barbara

Ribeira Grande, Azores · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A long, dark volcanic sand beach on the north coast of Sao Miguel, popular with surfers.

35Praia de Santa Cruz

Torres Vedras, Estremadura · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A wide Atlantic beach of golden sand with dramatic rock stacks, popular with surfers and known for its golden evening light.

36Praia do Baleal

Baleal, Peniche, Centro, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

Two sheltered beaches around the small headland of Baleal near Peniche.

37Praia do Castelejo

Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A wide Atlantic beach on the wild western Algarve, set below tilted dark schist cliffs and rolling hills.

38Praia do Guincho

Cascais, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

A long, wind-blown Atlantic beach west of Cascais, backed by dunes and the Sintra hills and known as one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Europe.

39Praia do Seixal

Seixal, Madeira · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A small beach of dark volcanic sand on the north coast of Madeira, framed by steep green cliffs.

40Praia do Tonel

Sagres, Algarve, Portugal · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

A sandy Atlantic beach below the town of Sagres, open to the ocean and popular with surfers.

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How we picked these beaches

Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

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