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There’s something about being near the ocean that makes us weak at the knees, when planning our future FOA adventures coastal destinations have us at hello. Let’s say we have a soft spot for spectacular beaches, ocean sunsets and we have noticed that those who live near the coast are happier (studies back up this observation).
Portugal boasts 943 kilometres of coastline, with the majority of the population living along the coast and hundreds of beaches to enjoy. The Sintra region is home to some of the best beaches in Portugal, with a jaw-dropping coastline to discover.
The stunning Sintra coastline has golden sand, dinosaur fossils, lighthouses, rock formations and a rich biodiversity of plants and wildlife. This guide will share the best beaches in Sintra, from hidden coves to large sweeping sandy beaches and includes all the information you will need to know before visiting.
These beaches are near Lisbon and Cascais, making it ideal to combine your visit with a trip to see this spectacular coastline. The beaches surrounding Lisbon and Cascais can get crowded, especially in the summer months, heading away from the cities to the Sintra coastline will allow you to enjoy nature at its finest!
Stay tuned for our guide to the best things to do in Sintra. For more Portugal inspiration, read our best places along the west coast of Portugal.
What do you need to know before visiting Sintra beaches?
Check the Tide times
The tide along this stretch of coastline in Portugal can experience strong currents and large waves. The tides can change quickly and on remote beaches you must be aware of the tide times before setting foot on the beach as you can risk being cut off from the tide.
Be aware of landslides and rockfalls
After periods of heavy rainfall the loose rocks and soil can result in landslides and rockfalls, that can fall onto the beaches below. If you’re standing on the cliffs above take care if the path is close to the edge as rocks can be lose and unstable beneath. A terrible accident in 2018, where a group of tourists were camping under the rocks in stormy weather and resulted in a casualty. Please take care when exploring along this coastline, you will notice several signs warning of rockfalls.
Lifeguards
Some of the beaches included in this guide will not have lifeguards onsite, as they are too remote. Take caution if you plan to swim where there is no lifeguard and make sure you are not alone. In case of an emergency call 112. On more accessible beaches lifeguards may be present but only during the summer months from May to mid October.
PRAIA DA ADRAGA
A beautiful golden sand beach, Praia da Adraga is framed by dramatic cliffs and accessed by a tarmac road from Almoçageme village. This was one of our favourite beaches in Sintra, it has a remote feel despite the easy access and magnificent features such as arches, stacks and is a wonderful place to watch the sunset. We were accompanied by a few other photographers attempting to capture the magical glow on Adraga beach and watching a white horse running along the beach was a special moment. There is free parking, showers and a wonderful family-owned restaurant Restaurante da Adraga, try the succulent grilled sea bass which comes with traditional potatoes and salad.
PRAIA DO CAVALO
Only accessible during low tide from Praia da Adraga, this quiet cove is a wonderful beach to escape. There is a route down from the cliffs above, however it requires climbing and only advisable if you have good fitness levels and experience. Otherwise the views from above are impressive with high cliffs either side of the beach, make sure to check tide times before you visit as at high tide the beach is not accessible.
PRAIA DA URSA
This remote beach is considered one of the most beautiful along the Sintra coastline, Praia da Ursa is a picture-perfect beach located along the Sintra-Cascais coastal path. The best way to get to Praia da Ursa is driving to Cabo da Roca, as there is a large free car park. You can also catch the bus to Cabo da Roca, there is a bus stop there and follow the coastal path north east to Praia da Ursa. We visited the beach with a guide as part of hiking the coastal path and were advised how challenging and dangerous it is to climb down to the beach. There are regular landslides, rock falls especially after heavy rain, take caution around the cliff edges and do not attempt to walk down to the beach. It is easy to get cut off by the tide, fall over on the slippery rocks and is not safe for swimming.
PRAIA DO GUINCHO
A little closer to Cascais, Praia do Guincho is a lovely beach that has impressive sand dunes and is surrounded by some of the best seafood restaurants in the area. If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the paths north of the beach to Fort of Guincho. The beach is great for surfing and kite surfing with schools offering lessons. There is a large car park located to the north of the beach, with sheltered spots and does not allow campervans or motorhomes. If you are visiting from Cascais, there is a beautiful coastal cycle path that takes you directly to Praia do Guincho, just be aware that it can be quite windy heading towards the beach but the wind will give you a push on the way back. We’d highly recommend Panorama Guincho restaurant which is located opposite Praia da Crismina, the next beach along. Panorama Guincho serves quintessential Portuguese seafood, fresh and high-quality dishes which are truly memorable.
PRAIA GRANDE
A local favourite, Praia Grande is the largest beach on the Sintra coastline with lovely golden sand and is accessible by car and public transport with plenty of free parking opposite the beach. Praia Grande is one of the closest beaches to Sintra with all the facilities including toilets, cafés, outdoor showers, a beach bar, surf schools, surfboard rental and a sheltered outdoor saltwater swimming pool at Arribas Sintra Hotel. A truly unique and memorable experience is discovering the dinosaur footprints set in stone at the far southwestern side of Praia Grande. Walk up the steps where you can observe around 60 footprints from the Megalosaurus and Iguanodons from over 100 million years ago.
PRAIA DAS MAÇÃS
The beautiful Maçâs beach translates to Apple Beach. It is derived from an age-old story about a river from the Sintra mountains and it was known that apple orchards were found on the edge of the stream and now and then it would catch fallen apples and carry them down to the beach, hence the name Praia das Maçâs. To continue the fairytale of the beach, there is a charming traditional red tram which travels from Sintra town centre to Praia das Maçâs which takes you through many lovely villages and takes around 40 minutes. There is free parking along the beachfront, a children's playground, cafes, restaurants, toilets, surf schools and an outdoor swimming pool.
PRAIA DE AZENHAS DO MAR
The picturesque village of Azenhas do Mar is perched on a cliff, and whitewashed traditional Portuguese houses create a fairy-tale-like backdrop. The best views are from the opposite cliffs next south of Praia de Azenhas do Mar beach. The beach is only visible at low tide and a spectacular outdoor swimming pool offers swimming during high tide. There is a small car park next to a café and parking is free of charge, if you are visiting in the summer months it can get fairly crowded and the best time to visit is early in the morning or by public transport as there is limited parking.
PRAIA DA AGUDA
One of the best beaches for surfing, Praia da Aguda is a lovely choice to spend the day relaxing and is a more quiet and sheltered beach compared to Praia Grande. Praia da Aguda promises fewer crowds and great waves, access to the beach is by a steep staircase and the views from the top are incredible. At low tide Praia da Aguda connects with the neighbouring beach Praia do Magoito. There are no facilities on the beach which makes it a remote, wild beach perfect for those looking for peace and untouched nature. There is a car park at the top of the stairs, if you feel uncomfortable taking the stairs you can access it via Praia do Magoito at low tide.
PRAIA DO MAGOITO
Praia do Magoito has all the drama, the dark sheer cliffs stand in contrast behind the golden sand below. The beach is accessible by a steep ramp which makes it family-friendly and accessible for most to enjoy. There is a large car park north of Praia do Magoito, opposite a restaurant with lovely beach views and a nearby café. This is a great place for surfing and a surf school is found on the beach.
Praia da Crismina
Next to Praia do Guincho, there is another lovely sandy beach which is slightly smaller with beach bars and restaurants ideal for sunset drinks and conveniently located near Cascais. To the south of the beach there is Crismina Fortress and the north another fortress have been transformed into a hotel, known as Fortaleza do Guincho. There are two car parks, one for the northern part and southern part of the beach. The north section of Praia da Crismina is best for sunbathing as its sheltered from the winder and the southern section is best for surfing.
