Beaches · Lisbon · Portugal
The best beaches in and near Lisbon
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Carcavelos (About 20 km west; 25 minutes by train).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 4
- Warmest sea
- 19°C (66°F)
The beaches
About 20 km west; 25 minutes by train · Surfing and long beach walks
1.Carcavelos
The longest sandy beach on the Cascais train line, popular with surfers and families, with surf schools and beach bars. Waves can be strong.
About 30 km west; 40 minutes by train · Families and easy beach-plus-town days
2.Cascais town beaches
Small sandy coves such as Praia da Rainha and Praia da Conceição beside Cascais town centre, with calmer water than the open coast.
About 15 km south across the 25 de Abril Bridge · Long, wide beaches and sunset drinks
3.Costa da Caparica
Kilometres of sandy Atlantic beach south of the Tagus, with beach bars and seafood restaurants; quieter stretches lie further south.
About 35 km west, beyond Cascais · Kitesurfing, windsurfing and scenery
4.Guincho
A wild, wind-swept beach backed by dunes and the Sintra hills, famous for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Strong currents make swimming risky.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C (59°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| February | 14°C (57°F) | 16°C (61°F) |
| March | 15°C (59°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| April | 15°C (59°F) | 20°C (68°F) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| June | 17°C (63°F) | 26°C (79°F) |
| July | 18°C (64°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
| August | 19°C (66°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| September | 19°C (66°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| October | 18°C (64°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| November | 17°C (63°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| December | 16°C (61°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
Staying near the beach
Getting to the beaches
- Metro — Four colour-coded metro lines run until about 1am, linking the airport, Baixa-Chiado, Rossio, Avenida da Liberdade and Parque das Nações.
- Tram — Historic trams such as routes 28 and 12 wind through the old quarters, while modern tram 15 runs along the river from Praça da Figueira to Belém.
- Train — Suburban trains run from Rossio station to Sintra and from Cais do Sodré along the coast to Belém, Carcavelos, Estoril and Cascais.
- Ferry — Commuter ferries cross the Tagus from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas and from Terreiro do Paço to the south bank, giving cheap river views of the city.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in June–September. The busiest of those is June, so book early.
Beach safety
Lisbon is generally relaxed for visitors, but pickpockets work on Tram 28, in the Baixa and at busy viewpoints. Street sellers offering drugs in the Baixa and Bairro Alto are a known scam. The polished stone pavements are very slippery when wet. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Lisbon have beaches?
Yes: Carcavelos, Cascais town beaches, Costa da Caparica and Guincho.
+What is the best beach near Lisbon?
Carcavelos: The longest sandy beach on the Cascais train line, popular with surfers and families, with surf schools and beach bars. Waves can be strong.