Along the train to Cascais
Sintra and around
Beaches around Lisbon
Costa da Caparica
This is the most popular beach around Lisbon. And also the longest, 15km. It stands on the other side of the river facing west. If you don't have a car, these are the ways you can get there:
By public transports: There are many options, some involving ferry, train or bus. But the easiest option is using a direct bus by Transportes Sul do Tejo. Catch bus TST 153 (click on it to check the stops in Lisbon where you'll find it.) Return bus is same route but in TST 161. By bicycle: Go west using the bike lane along the river from Cais do Sodré till Belém (ca. 20'). After the Electricity Museum (huge brick building), you'll see the ferry-boat station. Catch the ferry to Trafaria (ca. 20'). (You can use the public transports rechargeable card. And it's the price with or without a bike.) Once in Trafaria, grab the main road leading to Costa da Caparica (you want to go direction southwest), it's about 10 to 15 minutes till you reach the first beach. Tip# 1 - The best beaches are farther south, starting with Praia da Mata, because that where the town's residential area ends. In the summer you can catch a little beach train that passes through all of them. Tip#2 - Look at the ferry boat schedules before you leave. Sometimes departures are every 60 minutes and that's a long time to wait. Do the same thing for the return ferry, you don't want to be stuck in the other side of the river : ) Tip#3 - Both Trafaria (and the middle stop Porto Brandão) have good restaurants for sea food. I like one in Trafaria called Casa 10, because it is cheap, unpretensious and friendly. In this link you can have an idea of how the area looks from above. |
Beaches along the coast to Cascais
There are many beaches along the train line Cais do Sodré > Cascais. My favorites are:
- Praia de Carcavelos - Urban beach, popular among surfers. To get there exit at station Carcavelos and walk about 15 minutes south. Very crowded in the summer!
- Praia das Avencas - This is a smaller and quieter beach. It's usually empty in the winter and bearable in the summer. To get there exit at station Parede and walk south, look for an underground pedestrian passage. The best beach is the one with a tall yellow sign in the shape of fish/glass (it's the local restaurant's logo).
- Praia do Guincho - Guincho is a wide, wild and windy beach. Famous among windsurfers and kitesurfers. It's surrounded by beautiful cliffs and dunes. To get there exit at the last station (Cascais) and try to get a free urban bicycle (ask someone at the station). Get close to the shore and ride along the sea towards west. It will probably take about 30 minutes, in a steady pace. When you're halfway you will find a bike lane along a roda. Follow it. The view along that road is amazing. On the way there are also a couple of places of interest (Boca do Inferno, Farol da Guia).
Beaches around Sintra
There are several beautiful beaches in the area of Sintra. (To get to Sintra, you need to catch a train in Estação do Rossio.) Ask at the train station in Sintra which ones are accessible by bus. These are the beaches in Sintra:
- Praia da Adraga - my favorite one;
- Praia Grande - the most popular in Sintra, it's big but a bit crowded in high season;
- Praia Pequena - it stands right next to the previous one. I don't usually go there, so I don't have an opinion;
- Praia das Maçãs - urban beach, surrounded by a residential area. I don't usually go there, so I don't have an opinion;
- Praia da Ursa - It's the most wild and amazing of them all. It's never crowded because the access is very difficult, or I could even say dangerous. But if you are bold and don't mind steep cliffs and narrow paths, you will be rewarded. It's a good spot for nudists.
- Praia das Azenhas do Mar - the beach itself is not amazing, it's small and a bit dirty sometimes, but the charming town Azenhas do Mar gives an aura of magic to the landscape. (Very good restaurant at the bottom of the valley).
Sesimbra
Other places of interest within 50km
Other places of interest within 150km
West Coast of Alentejo and Algarve
não esquecer campismo, spots favoritos, legais e selvagens