11 Must See Places Along The Beautiful West Coast of Portugal
At almost 700 kilometres in length, the west coast of Portugal has a lot to offer including, beautiful nature reserves, spectacular beaches and vibrant cities.
A road trip along the Portugal coast is a must for an epic European road trip and for us, it is right up there with some of the best coastal road trips in the world.
Portugal is home to some of the best surf towns and waves in Europe including Europe’s first surf reserve. So what are you waiting for?! It’s time to grab your board and hit the road. We’ve put together our list of the top 11 places you must see along the west coast of Portugal. You’ll find a map below of the coast of Portugal including all of our recommended spots to visit.
The West Coast
Almost 11 million people live in Portugal and around two-thirds are concentrated along the coastal regions. The west coast makes up the longest stretch of coastline in Portugal. Lisbon and its surrounding areas such as Cascais are home to almost 2 million residents making it Portugal's largest metropolitan area. Porto is also located along the coast north, and the capital city is Lisbon and its metropolitan area is home to 1.7 million people.
Despite the vast majority of people in Portugal living within or near the west coast, there are areas such as Alentejo which are largely protected from development. This leads to a large expanse of coastline that feels very untouched, beautiful and remote.
1. Peneda-Gerês National Park
Not strictly on the west coast, however it’s only just over an hours drive from Porto and is a worthy mention as Peneda-Gerês National Park is Portugals only national park. Here you’ll find crystal clear pools, perfect for a refreshing dip to cool from the summer sun.
2. Porto
A vibrant city with a mixture of traditional and old architecture with modern buildings. Famous for its production of Port and the stunning Luís I Bridge. Porto is a must visit for a day or two. Wander the quiet streets, each great food and walk the paths along Douro River.
We visited Porto in February 2015 and were greeted with mild weather and clear blue skies. Porto has many beautiful airbnbs to choose from for your stay and we love the artistic loft space feel of the ones we chose, with windows that opened up to the streets to watch the sunset over the rooftops. Check out our Porto photo diary here.
3. Aveiro
Also known as the Little Venice of Portugal, Aveiro is lovely town to visit. Located between Porto in the north and Nazaré further south. The small beautiful town is perfect to spend the day strolling along the canals, watching the boats go by, exploring churches and eating good food.
4. Nazaré
Home to the biggest surfable waves in the world. Holding the world record for biggest waves ridden, Nazaré is worth a visit along the west coast. The geological layout of the seabed creates enormous waves which are best seen in the winter months.
5. Peniche
A surfers paradise just south of Nazaré. A large dirt car park is located just a couple of minutes from the main beach. The car park is free and surfers spend the summer months parked here in their vans spending the day surfing. The town is also home to many surf camps. The only reason that made us finally move on from this laid back surf town was when we finally ran out of water in our van.
6. Ericeira
Ericeira became the first surf reserve in Europe) North Devon in the UK was recently named as a world surf reserve) and Portugals home of surfing. It is a must visit for anyone who surfs, with plenty of beaches and waves to choose from.
There are plenty of surf schools to book a lesson and if you are looking to catch your first wave or just improve on your current ability this is a great place to do that.
Ericeira town is also well worth a visit even if you don’t surf. There are many boutique shops and coffee shops that give this town a very chilled vibe. Known as the Canggu of Europe, Ericeira has become a hub for digital nomads. Check out our detailed guide to Ericeira, which includes food recommendations and best spots you must visit for surfers and non-surfers alike.
7. Sintra
Just south of Ericeira is the castle town of Sintra. The town itself is a popular tourist destination with the mountain top castle of Castelo dos Mouros one of the main attractions. We visited on a cloudy misty day and walking along the castle walls poking out from the clouds made it look very similar to the Great Wall of china. The walk up to the castle is a test in itself, but the views are definitely worth it! Also try a delicious pasta del nata from Fábrica da Nata and watch them being made.
8. Lisbon
Visit the capital of Portugal, eat great food and explore the winding streets. Home to the Vasco da Gama Bridge which extends for more than 12km. The bridge links the north and south of Portugal and you will most likely drive across it as you carry on south down the coast.
9. Arrabida
Just a short drive south of Lisbon is the stunning nature reserve of Arrabida. It is a personal favourite of ours. You can drive the cliffs and have incredible views out over the coast. The beaches in this area are protected and private vehicles are banned. We stayed at a local campsite and jumped on the convenient bus to the beaches. Read our full Arrabida guide here.
10. Galé-Fontainhas Beach
One of our personal favourite beaches we found on this stunning Portuguese coastline. This incredible beach is ranked as low as 23rd out of the 38 beaches in the Alentejo region. The ranking reflects just how incredible the Alentejo region is and Galé-Fontainhas beach is possibly overlooked as access is granted through a private campsite. The turquoise water, golden sand and dramatic fossil rich jagged cliffs make this a must see in the region.
11. Alentejo
The largest region in Portugal, Alentejo has a declining population as more people move to the cities. The Alentejo coast has large protected areas meaning that more often than not the beaches are untouched, remote and beautiful! The beaches in Alentejo are as beautiful as their southern cousins in the algarve but without the crowds. From surfing, sun bathing and hiking Alentejo is a stark contrast to the cities of Porto and Lisbon and an outdoor lovers dream.
Other noteworthy beaches on the west coast
Praia de Afife
Praia Baleal Norte
Praia de São Bernardino
Praia do Forte Paço
Praia da Samoqueira
Foz do Lizandro
Praia dos Coelhos
Praia de São Julião
Praia Gale Fontainhas
Ursa Beach
Where to surf in Portugal
Many of beaches along the west coast are good for surfing because of the Atlantic Ocean waves. The majority of towns along this coastline have surf schools and can cater to all abilities. Meet like minded people of similar abilities and fast track your surfing ability by checking into a surf camp. Ericeira and Peniche are popular spots for a good reason, however if you’re looking for quieter spots head to the Alentejo coastline south of Lisbon.
Best way to explore the west coast
We would highly recommend visiting the west coast by campervan as it allows you to explore at your own pace, giving you the chance to explore places in depth.
We spent 3 weeks exploring the beautiful west coast of Portugal in our own campervan and met several other couples who had hired vans to explore the coast.
Hire your own campervan where you can pick up and drop off at different locations and there are facilities and campsites along the coast. Check out our other road trip guides here.
