Lisbon Beaches

Visitors are often surprised by how close the beaches are to Portugal's capital city. There are over 20 beaches in this area that serve the population of the Greater Lisbon region, and most of the beaches are easily accessed by train from Lisbon's Cais do Sodre train station, with many also having their own car park. Cascais and Estoril are popular holiday destinations. The beaches around Carcavelos and São Pedro are a big draw for all types of surfriding. As a consequence, these beaches are very popular all year round. The beaches in this area are all south-facing and offer calmer conditions than the westerly beaches that face the full force of the Atlantic. The beaches we have chosen are not exactly a secret or wild but offer an alternative to anyone who prefers getting away from the main tourist haunts. As they have neither a train station nearby nor a car park, they do however, require a little bit ofeffort to get to. As the number of people is lower than elsewhere beaches offer a more relaxed atmosphere than the packed beaches in the summer period

This tiny hidden beach is just metres from the centre of Cascais and offers both a stretch of sand that is sheltered and shallow waters that are perfect for children. The beach is easy to miss as it's close to Cascais's most popular park (Parque Marechal Carmona), behind Cascais Marina and next to a beautiful palace (Palácio do Conde de Castro Guimarães). There’s a stream (Ribeira dos Mochos) that flows into thesea from here. On a good day, it really does look picture perfect and a wonderful place for a picnic.

This beach is a lovely place for children to paddle safely and explore the rocks. Although there's obviously more sand at low tide, it is at high tide when Praia da Santa Marta looks at its best and when it is possible to swim under the bridge to the bay next to the marina. Going to the rocks, either by swimming or climbing, is well worth it as the view from here is fantastic.

Despite being only a short walk from the famous but often crowded Praia do Tamariz, Praia do Pescoço do Cavalo manages to remain a peaceful alternative during the summer season. Most people walk past the Cascais to São Joãodo Estoril promenade, not realising that it is an actual beach-the thin strip of sand is hidden by the promenade itself. The beach is between two narrow piers and has steps from the promenade to the sand. As there is no lifeguard, the beach is the only one in the Estoril / Cascais region where you can take your dog without getting into trouble. There are many rock pools to explore during low tide, and there are elevated sections of a wave-cut platform that locals dive off at high tide. In fact, the rocky platforms provide a wonderful launch pad to swim or snorkel from.

Praia da Avencasis a truly remarkable beach that offers visitors a glimpse of what this coastline must have looked like before the Marginal was built. It is a sandy beach that immediately becomes reef-like at the water's edge. Caution is advised when swimming here as the rocks can be jagged and sea urchins are very common. Protective aqua shoes are a must when venturing into the sea. Recently, a tidal pool has been rebuilt to offer safer conditions for swimming. It’s at low tide when Avencas shows us why it’s so special, as the biodiversity here is quite incredible and unlike anything else on this coast. The rock pools are teeming with life and are a wonder for children, and Marine Biology students are often brought here forfield trips. Being so close to a built-up area, this beach and its biodiversity are in a precarious position and for this reason, a restricted area (Zona de Interesse Biofísico das Avencas) has been introduced to prevent further destruction. This is probably the best place to snorkel on this stretch of coastline. It doesn’t have its own parking area above the beach and, as a result, has fewer visitors than its neighbours, Praia da Parede and Praia de São Pedro

This beautiful, protected little cove is one of the less well-kept secrets of the Cascais/Estoril area but it is still a wonderful place to unwind and get away from the ‘tourist’ beaches. Azarujinha is the last beach ofthe "Paredão de Cascais", which is a promenade that provides a lovely walk from Cascais. This beach is perfect for those who want to be by the sea but are not keen on sand. It is also a safe place to bring children and is one of the best places for rock-pooling. There are fewer people here as there is no parking above the beach. The café at the beach has been closed for a while, which again keeps the numbers down during the summer period. Praia da Azarujinha is a  wonderful place for a swim or snorkel in the summer yet out of season, it is also a well-known surf spot, which offers reef-type conditions for competent surfers.