Hotel Marquês de Pombal Summer, Sun and Heat: The Must-Visit Beaches Around Lisbon
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Summer, Sun and Heat: The Must-Visit Beaches Around Lisbon
August 01 2025
Visit Lisbon 
When summer arrives in full force, we naturally seek refuge by the sea. The good news is that just minutes from the city center, Lisbon offers beaches for every taste: spacious, wild, family-friendly, or ideal for water sports. Between golden sands and stunning landscapes, our picks are just the beginning of a well-spent summer on the Atlantic coast.
1. Carcavelos Beach
Location: Cascais Line (Cascais)
Access: Direct train from Lisbon (Cascais Line): Carcavelos Station + 10 min walk
Ambience: Young, family-friendly, sporty
Carcavelos Beach is one of the busiest beaches in the Lisbon area and perfect for a full day by the sea. With its vast stretch of sand, it’s ideal for families with children, groups of friends, or even digital nomads who gather in beachfront cafés with Wi-Fi.
It’s also one of the top spots for surf lessons, with several local surf schools available. You’ll find beach volleyball courts, bars, open-air cafés, showers, and lifeguards during the bathing season.
Local tip: Arrive early on summer weekends, as the beach gets very crowded in peak season.
2. Guincho Beach
Location: Cascais (Sintra-Cascais Natural Park)
Access: By car or bike from Cascais (about 10–15 minutes)
Ambience: Wild, adventurous, scenic
Guincho Beach is famous for its ideal windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions, thanks to the constant wind. But even for non-sports enthusiasts, it’s a breathtaking experience.
Surrounded by dunes and natural park vegetation, Guincho offers a landscape in perfect harmony with nature. It’s perfect for those who love raw, untouched environments and want to escape the urban hustle.
Heads up: The water is usually cold and the wind strong — ideal for the adventurous, less so for sunbathers.
Extra tip: In the late afternoon, try Fortaleza do Guincho, a Michelin-starred restaurant with an incredible sea view.
3. Praia das Maçãs
Location: Colares, Sintra
Access: By car or the tourist tram from Sintra (when available)
Ambience: Family-friendly, nostalgic, traditional
This beach gets its name from the river that flows into it, carrying fallen apples from the trees along the way. Praia das Maçãs is popular with families due to its good infrastructure, wide promenade with cafés and restaurants, a saltwater swimming pool, and easy parking.
It’s a great choice for combining a beach day with a cultural trip to Sintra — or even a walk to the nearby Praia Grande.
Local tip: Try a travesseiro de Sintra (local pastry) or some handcrafted ice cream from the village — perfect after a day in the sun.
4. Costa da Caparica Beach
Location: South bank of the Tagus River (Almada)
Access: Direct bus or car (25 min from Lisbon)
Ambience: Diverse, young, family-friendly, and surf-oriented
Costa da Caparica Beach is one of the largest and most iconic beaches in the Lisbon area, with kilometers of continuous golden sand stretching along the Atlantic coast. It’s a great choice for those looking to combine nature, leisure, and sports all in one spot.
Very popular among surfers of all levels due to its reliable waves and numerous surf schools, the central area is lively and family-friendly, with beachfront cafés, terraces, and fresh seafood restaurants. The southern beaches offer a quieter, more natural setting.
Local tip: For a more peaceful experience, walk or take the mini-train to the more distant beaches, such as Praia da Morena or Praia da Nova Vaga. Perfect for relaxing away from the crowds.
5. Praia da Torre
Location: Oeiras
Access: Train (Cascais Line – Oeiras Station) or by car
Ambience: Calm, local, urban
Praia da Torre is one of the most accessible beaches for Lisbon locals. Located next to the São Julião da Barra Fort, it offers a calmer, family-friendly atmosphere — great for anyone looking to relax without leaving the city.
It features lifeguard services, sunbed rentals, beach cafés, and a pleasant wooden boardwalk perfect for walking or jogging by the sea. The sunset here is absolutely worth seeing.
Local tip: Combine an afternoon swim with a visit to the Oeiras Marina or a stroll through the gardens of the Palácio do Marquês de Pombal.
With so many beautiful beaches nearby, exploring Lisbon’s coastline is easy — especially if you start from the city center. Hotel Marquês de Pombal, with its prime location and welcoming atmosphere, is the perfect base for those wanting to combine sunny beach days with the best of Lisbon. At the end of the day, you’ll find well-deserved rest, comfort, and hospitality — everything you need for the perfect summer getaway.
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1. Carcavelos Beach
Location: Cascais Line (Cascais)
Access: Direct train from Lisbon (Cascais Line): Carcavelos Station + 10 min walk
Ambience: Young, family-friendly, sporty
Carcavelos Beach is one of the busiest beaches in the Lisbon area and perfect for a full day by the sea. With its vast stretch of sand, it’s ideal for families with children, groups of friends, or even digital nomads who gather in beachfront cafés with Wi-Fi.
It’s also one of the top spots for surf lessons, with several local surf schools available. You’ll find beach volleyball courts, bars, open-air cafés, showers, and lifeguards during the bathing season.
Local tip: Arrive early on summer weekends, as the beach gets very crowded in peak season.
2. Guincho Beach
Location: Cascais (Sintra-Cascais Natural Park)
Access: By car or bike from Cascais (about 10–15 minutes)
Ambience: Wild, adventurous, scenic
Guincho Beach is famous for its ideal windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions, thanks to the constant wind. But even for non-sports enthusiasts, it’s a breathtaking experience.
Surrounded by dunes and natural park vegetation, Guincho offers a landscape in perfect harmony with nature. It’s perfect for those who love raw, untouched environments and want to escape the urban hustle.
Heads up: The water is usually cold and the wind strong — ideal for the adventurous, less so for sunbathers.
Extra tip: In the late afternoon, try Fortaleza do Guincho, a Michelin-starred restaurant with an incredible sea view.
3. Praia das Maçãs
Location: Colares, Sintra
Access: By car or the tourist tram from Sintra (when available)
Ambience: Family-friendly, nostalgic, traditional
This beach gets its name from the river that flows into it, carrying fallen apples from the trees along the way. Praia das Maçãs is popular with families due to its good infrastructure, wide promenade with cafés and restaurants, a saltwater swimming pool, and easy parking.
It’s a great choice for combining a beach day with a cultural trip to Sintra — or even a walk to the nearby Praia Grande.
Local tip: Try a travesseiro de Sintra (local pastry) or some handcrafted ice cream from the village — perfect after a day in the sun.
4. Costa da Caparica Beach
Location: South bank of the Tagus River (Almada)
Access: Direct bus or car (25 min from Lisbon)
Ambience: Diverse, young, family-friendly, and surf-oriented
Costa da Caparica Beach is one of the largest and most iconic beaches in the Lisbon area, with kilometers of continuous golden sand stretching along the Atlantic coast. It’s a great choice for those looking to combine nature, leisure, and sports all in one spot.
Very popular among surfers of all levels due to its reliable waves and numerous surf schools, the central area is lively and family-friendly, with beachfront cafés, terraces, and fresh seafood restaurants. The southern beaches offer a quieter, more natural setting.
Local tip: For a more peaceful experience, walk or take the mini-train to the more distant beaches, such as Praia da Morena or Praia da Nova Vaga. Perfect for relaxing away from the crowds.
5. Praia da Torre
Location: Oeiras
Access: Train (Cascais Line – Oeiras Station) or by car
Ambience: Calm, local, urban
Praia da Torre is one of the most accessible beaches for Lisbon locals. Located next to the São Julião da Barra Fort, it offers a calmer, family-friendly atmosphere — great for anyone looking to relax without leaving the city.
It features lifeguard services, sunbed rentals, beach cafés, and a pleasant wooden boardwalk perfect for walking or jogging by the sea. The sunset here is absolutely worth seeing.
Local tip: Combine an afternoon swim with a visit to the Oeiras Marina or a stroll through the gardens of the Palácio do Marquês de Pombal.
With so many beautiful beaches nearby, exploring Lisbon’s coastline is easy — especially if you start from the city center. Hotel Marquês de Pombal, with its prime location and welcoming atmosphere, is the perfect base for those wanting to combine sunny beach days with the best of Lisbon. At the end of the day, you’ll find well-deserved rest, comfort, and hospitality — everything you need for the perfect summer getaway.