Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and although there aren’t any real beaches in the city itself, just a few miles away you can find some of the best beaches of Portugal. Whether you are a Lisbon resident or just dropping by for a visit, all you need to do is take the train from Cais do Sodre ( train station in Lisbon) towards Cascais and you will see many amazing beaches on the way. Here are my four favorite beaches on the Cascais train line. It takes between 20-30 minutes on the train to reach these beaches and a two way ticket usually costs around 5 euros per person.
Praia do Tamariz, Estoril
The Tamariz beach is located in the city of Estoril and is definitely one of the best sandy beaches you can find in this area. It is approximately 350 meters long and there are various activities in which you can indulge while relaxing in the sun. I usually rent an umbrella and a sun bed (10 euros for 1 person and 15 euros for 2 people) and spend hours listening to music on my phone while watching the waves. The beach is very family friendly but unfortunately big pets are not allowed. There are many restaurants on the beach itself and the prices range from low to high (depending on the restaurant) and you can choose between many types of dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Since this is a very popular and big beach, it can often get very crowded during the summer so it may not be the best option if you are looking for a very calm and quiet place to spend your afternoon. The Estoril casino and ocean water swimming pool are also very close to the beach.
Praia da Ribeira, Cascais
The Ribeira beach is located in the city of Cascais, which is also the last stop on the train that departs from Lisbon. It is only a 5 minute walk from the train station and it is very easy to find. The water is very calm and there aren’t that many waves so if you have kids, feel free to let them swim in the water. Although it is a rather big beach, there aren’t any umbrellas or beds available for renting so make sure you bring your own umbrella, or if you are used to strong sun only bring sun screen. The reason this beach is one of my favorites is because it is very clean and this part of the city is extremely beautiful. Cascais is rather well known for having very wealthy residents, so restaurants and services can be a bit more pricey than usual but still affordable for foreigners travelling through Portugal.
Praia Santo Amaro
The Santo Amaro beach is my favorite beach when I feel like having a calm and quiet day, and it is also the first large beach on the train from Lisbon to Cascais. The beach is very close to the train station and there is a big McDonald’s right next to it, if you prefer not to eat Portuguese cuisine in the beach restaurants. Since this beach is not as popular as the previous two mentioned, it is a lot quieter and you can even study or work on your laptop at the beach because nothing will disturb you. You can rent an umbrella with a bed/s for 9 euros if you are alone and 11 euros if you are two people. The restaurants on this beach are cheaper than other beaches, just be careful in the water because it gets deep quickly.
Carcavelos Beach
Carcavelos beach is one of Lisbon’s most popular beaches for various reasons. If you like to surf, this is a great place whether you are an independent surfer or you want to join a surf school. Another great thing about this beach is that there are many restaurants and even bars with a variety of products. My favorite restaurant in Carcavelos is called Capricciosa (a pizzeria) and it is located in the eastern part of the beach. The city of Carcavelos also has a small shopping mall so if you forgot to bring a bikini, don’t despair! You can buy anything in the mall.
Image Credits : boasnoticias.pt
I love all of the beaches which you have just read about, but if I had to pick a favorite beach it would be Santo Amaro because I love quiet and not too crowded beaches. However, this is my personal taste and if you are looking for something busier or you are into water sports, I recommend any of the other beaches mentioned above. Just remember not to leave your things unattended while you are taking a dip in the ocean because pickpockets may take advantage of your absence to steal your belongings. If you are alone, you can always ask someone on the beach (or a guard) to keep an eye on your things.