Discover Southern Europe | Portugal’s Top Ten Beaches Tavira Barril beach. Photo: AT Alagrve
has 200 steps winding down from the amber cliffs to the beach’s rear. The cliffs provide a wonderful natural shelter from the winds, making the golden sands and clear waters perfect for luxuriating in.
5
Praia do Guincho
On the Estorial coast, between the Sintra mountains and Cascais, the strong winds here make Praia de Guincho a favourite with surfers of all levels, as well as kite surfers. If you’re new to surfing, look no further than one of the nearby surfing schools, where you can also hire wetsuits.
6
Falesia
With more than three and a half miles of golden sand, this is one of the longest beaches in Portugal. It’s also another of the most family-friendly, with soft sand and clear, crystalline waters. Backed by cliffs and pine trees, this vast swathe of sand is near to a good selection of restaurants and bars, and it’s also, unlike many other beaches, easily accessible by public transport.
7 Praia do Camilo, Lagos, Algarve. Photo: John Copland
3
Praia da Rocha
Long considered one of Portugal’s best family-friendly beaches, Praia de Rocha has pretty much everything you could want when travelling with children: a vast, broad stretch of soft, golden sand, clean, shallow waters and plenty of facilities, with shops, restaurants and bars close at hand. You can hire deck chairs, loungers and par54 | Issue 5 | June 2019
asols, and during the peak summer months there are lifeguards on the beach too.
4
Praia do Camilo
Just half an hour’s stroll from the busy town of Lagos, you could easily call this the quintessential Portuguese beach. With the wooden steps so typical of many beaches around these parts, this one
Arrabida National Park
This is the kind of magical landscape that holiday brochures are made of, with impeccable white sands, azure waters and rugged cliffs, not to mention some 40 miles of lush green countryside. Come here to laze on the beach or, if you’re feeling more energetic, you can go horse-riding, or follow the walking trails.
8
Praia do Amado
The large waves on Portugal’s wonderfully wild Western Atlantic coast, make this another favourite with surfers, who come from all over Europe. Two surfing schools on the beach offer a wide range of classes and courses for children and adults alike, from beginners to seasoned pros.