Does Lisbon have a beach? Absolutely. Here are my top 5:
Lisbon is well known as one of Europe’s most beautiful city break destinations. Yet, somehow, many miss out on the wonderful beaches right on its door step. What a shame it is to miss out on an opportunity to combine the feel of a city break, with a relaxing beach holiday.
Admittedly, the beaches are not as close to the city as the famous destination of Barcelona, but they are only a short ride away on public transport.
Here are my top 5 – although there are of course plenty more:
Praia do Santo Amaro – 20 minutes away
Praia (beach) do Santo Amaro, is one of the better beaches close to the city centre of Lisbon and is also popular among the locals in summer for this very reason. An extra reason for this being in my top 5, is that it is located next to a McDonalds across the road which is equipped with a balcony with panoramic views of the beach below. When the heat gets a little much, you can quickly pop over and grab a McFlurry to cool down. For the adults, there is also a beach bar called O Amarelo.
How to get there:
Get the train to Cascais from the station Cais do Sodre, getting off at Santo Amaro.
The journey will take 24 minutes and costs €1.55.
Praia de Carcavelos – 25 minutes away
Praia de Carcavelos is the largest beach on its coastline (Lisbon – Estoril – Cascais) and makes the perfect beach for a day away from the city centre. With a line of restaurants, cars and bars and the option to rent out some surfing gear, you won’t get bored at Carcavelos.
My restaurant recommendation would be Capricciosa Carcavelos. Although no Portuguese dishes are served here, as it is an Italian restaurant, the outdoor seating area is divine. Don’t miss the opportunity to dine whilst listening to the waves crash below.
How to get there:
Get the train to Cascais from the station Cais do Sodre, getting off at Carcavelos.
The journey will take 26 minutes and costs €1.95.
Praia de Caxias – 15 minutes away
Praia Caxias is the first beach from the city of Lisbon. Smaller than others along the coast, this is perfect for squeezing a little bit of time for sea and sand in your vacation due to its proximity to the capital. Despite it being smaller, this often means it is quieter, so will leave you with some peace and tranquility.
From here, you also have views of Lisbon’s famous red bridge (The Ponte 25 de Abril) as well as the statue of Jesus, Cristo Rei.
How to get there:
Get the train from Cascais from the station Cais do Sodre, getting off at Caxias.
The journey will take 16 minutes and costs €1.35.
Pria de Sao Pedro do Estoril – 30 minutes away
Sao Pedro do Estoril is another beach perfect for surfing. Surrounded by limestone, the beach is perfect for beginner surfers as it provides shelter from the wind.
How to get there:
Get the train to Cascais from the station Cais do Sodre, getting off at Santo Amaro.
The journey will take 30 minutes and costs €2.25.
Praia do Guincho – 1 hour 34 minutes away
Praia do Guincho is the furthest away from Lisbon on this blog’s list and is much closer to the town of Cascais. Sitting within the natural park of Serra de Sintra, the beach is phenomenal. However, there is not much protection from the wind so it is advised to check the weather before planning a trip (although that is super favourable for expert surfers!)
If you are an active person, there is a hiking route along the cliffs that leads to other beaches, including Praia da Gota, which is remote and accessible via this route.
How to get there:
et the train to Cascais from the station Cais do Sodre, getting off at Cascais. From here, you will need to take the bus 405 or 415 from Cascais bus station.
The journey will take 1 hour 34 minutes and costs a total of €4.60 (€2.25 for the train and €2.35 for the bus).
You can also ditch the bus and rent bikes from Cascais along the coast line.