Pedro DominguesCosta da Caparica beaches are among the most famous in Portugal. After all, they are located just south of Lisbon and are the most accessible summer retreat for those looking to escape the frenetic pace of the Portuguese capital. You’ll always find space to spread out your towel, but you may not find a place to park your car, depending on when you arrive at the beach. 😉
There are around 15km of beaches, some more urban and others more remote, but all with sufficient infrastructure. The bars are what distinguish them more, some of them themed and accompanied by excellent restaurants where you can eat good fish. The fabulous fossil cliff of Costa da Caparica also stand out, intensely marking the landscape.
For lovers of surfing, kitesurfing and other similar sports, some of these beaches are sanctuaries of perfect waves. There are, in fact, several schools promoting activities for the general public, such as the following:
- Opção 1 – Surf Experience
- Opção 2 – Surf Experience
In this article I’ll leave you with lots of photos of the various beaches on offer, so that you can choose the best spots for your stay in Costa da Caparica.
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How to get to the best Costa da Caparica beaches?
To get to Costa da Caparica from Lisbon, just cross the 25th of April Bridge and then turn off onto the A38, which takes you directly to the beaches. If you opt for the more urban beaches, the coastal roads will all be asphalted; for the more remote beaches (to the south), however, be prepared for dirt tracks.
Almost all the beaches have paid parking lots, but there are also free spaces for those who arrive early. There used to be a tourist train that ran along the coastline, but it stopped running during the pandemic and didn’t resume afterwards.
Due to the large number of people visiting Costa da Caparica in the summer, it’s normal for queues of cars to form at peak times when leaving the beach. Ideally, you should arrive early and leave early, or only after sunset.
Where to sleep to visit the best Costa da Caparica beaches?
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Crowne Plaza | 8.4 | Costa da Caparica |
| TRYP by Wyndham | 7.9 | Costa da Caparica |
| Mr Ziggy’s Surfhouse | 9.2 | Costa da Caparica |
| Villa Caparica Hostel | 8.8 | Costa da Caparica |
| Natural Mystic Hostel | 8.5 | Costa da Caparica |
| 5th Element Beach House | 8.6 | Costa da Caparica |
Best Costa da Caparica beaches
And now for the best beaches in Costa da Caparica. I’m going to give you 25 suggestions from south to north, starting at Fonte da Telha beach and ending at Cova do Vapor beach, near the mouth of River Tagus. The entire Atlantic coast of the municipality of Almada is considered here!
As the beaches are very similar to each other, the description of each one is presented mainly through photos of my own visit to the region. 😉
Map of the best Costa da Caparica beaches
1. Fonte da Telha Beach (+ Dezanove and Adiça naturist beaches)
Fonte da Telha beach is one of my favorites on this list. If you follow the sand north or south, you’ll come to two official beaches for Naturism: Adiça beach and Dezanove beach.
This is one of the most beautiful beaches in terms of landscape, as the fossil cliff is very close to the sea and only move away as you head north towards the town of Costa da Caparica.
Nearby you will find the CIMM (Mata dos Medos Interpretation Center), where you can find out more about why the region has been classified as a protected landscape. Go for a walk along the trails that start at the interpretation center, or head to the Costa da Caparica Wooden Walkways, that lead you to reach the best viewpoints in Costa da Caparica, at the top of the fossil cliff. The best place to start the walkways is the Zimbral Picnic Area.
2. Bela Vista Beach
It’s worth noting that it was in the vicinity of this beach that I found the most kitesurfers. Bela Vista beach is very popular with LGBT people.
3. Nova Vaga Beach
4. Infante beach
5. Sereia beach (Mermaid Beach)
Sereia beach usually attracts a younger crowd. The same goes for Morena Beach.
6. Morena beach
7. Praia do Rei (King’s Beach)
8. Princess Beach
10. Cabana do Pescador Beach (Fisherman’s Hut Beach)
On the beach at Cabana do Pescador I met lots of parrots, who amusingly repeated “olá” (hello, in English) when prompted by people arriving or leaving the beach. 😉
10. Castelo Beach (Castle beach)
It is believed that the name of this beach comes from the castle-like dwelling that can be seen near the access to it.
11. Praia do Irmão (Brother’s Beach)
12. Praia da Rainha (Queen’s Beach)
Queen’s beach is very popular with vacation camps. The same goes for Mata beach, which will be presented later.
13. Riviera Beach
14. Mata Beach
15. Cornélia beach
16. Praia da Saúde (Health Beach)
This beach is very close to the campsites, which is why it is also known as the CCA beach (Almada Camping Club). Also noteworthy are the old fishermen’s huts that have been restored to serve as accommodation for tourists.
17. New Beach
18. New Beach II
Take a detour to the Capuchos Viewpoint, from where you’ll have a great view of the town of Costa da Caparica and the campsites. This and the next beaches are all bordered by pontoons. This is where the Costa da Caparica promenade begins, heading north.
19. Red Dragon Beach
20. Tarquínio-Paradise Beach
In the center of Costa da Caparica, my recommendation is that you visit not only Rua dos Pescadores, but also Rua 15 (do Mestre Adrião), the latter of which is very colorful. Make sure you stop off at Merendeira for some good bread with chorizo and a delicious caldo verde soup.
21. CDS Beach
22. Santo António Beach
23. North Beach
24. São João Beach
It used to be frequented by the humblest families in the region, but today it is very popular with wealthier families and even public figures of Portugal.
25. Cova do Vapor Beach
Cova do Vapor is a typical fishing village, so you’ll find many colorful fishing boats in the vicinity.
Secure a Car Rental and Travel Insurance
A car is indispensable for exploring the best beaches in Costa da Caparica. If you don’t own a vehicle, I suggest renting one via Discover Cars, a platform that enables you to compare prices easily.
Similarly, it’s prudent to obtain travel insurance for your trip. To be protected against several types of travel hazards, I also recommend that you take out travel insurance for your stay in Portugal, and I recommend you to do it with World Nomads.
More of Central Portugal and Alentejo
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