Holidays Destinations in Portugal with Beach

Portugal is a country blessed with a diverse landscape, which allows you to choose beach and nature holidays, among many other options, without major constraints. However, at this time of year, the beach is the big winner when it comes to choosing a family activity.

If you are looking for some of the best holiday destinations in Portugal with a beach to enjoy the good weather, discover some of our suggestions, always with a Guerin station nearby.  

Portugal: Holiday Destinations with a Beach

The mild climate, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine, allows you to enjoy Portugal's most distinctive beaches throughout the seasons. There is also the advantage of Portugal being a country which is only a few hours' drive from any European capital.

With a coastline reaching 943 km in length on the mainland and a further 667 km on the Madeira and Azores islands, the options for beach holiday destinations in Portugal are almost endless. Discover some of our favorite Portuguese beaches, from the North to the South of the country.  

Porto and North Region

1) Esposende: compiles the best of everything that represents holidays in Portugal. Beaches, nature trails, culture and gastronomy: the decision is up to your family. Less than 1 hour away from the city and airport stations of Porto, as well as Braga, almost all the beaches of the municipality of Esposende have Blue Flag. To complement your day, this beach holiday destination still includes an active nightlife, with several reputable entertainment venues.

2) Matosinhos: this beach destination is one of the best known and frequented in the North region. There are several beaches that we can find in this county, with the most varied extensions. In Matosinhos alone there are 12 beaches with a Blue Flag. The proximity to the city of Porto makes it one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Portugal with a beach by all those who choose our country. Fish restaurants also delight those who visit Matosinhos, so be sure to pay them a visit. Car hire will not be a problem, as there are four Guerin stations in and around the city of Porto.

Central Region

1) Figueira da Foz: the waves on the beaches of this municipality attract many water sports lovers and, perhaps because of its diversity, it is considered the "Queen of Portuguese Beaches". Less than an hour away from Coimbra, the beaches of Figueira da Foz offer you the opportunity to enjoy the sea and the river, the Casino or even the mountain landscape or a visit to the cliffs of Cape Mondego.  

2) Nazaré: we cannot talk about holiday destinations in Portugal with beach without mentioning the beach of Nazaré. Between the stations Guerin Leiria and Caldas da Rainha, offers to all sports lovers several options. Here you will find several surf schools, allied also to a luxury gastronomy. Recognized worldwide due to its super waves, considered some of the biggest in the world and immortalized by the surfer Garrett McNamara, you should take the opportunity to go up to "Sítio", through its lift with more than 100 years. 

3) Peniche: if before it was the fishermen who faced the waves in this area, they have long since been "tamed" by the surfers who come from all over the world. From Supertubos beach (the Medão beach), known for its perfectly shaped and tubular waves (hence the name Supertubos), to Consolação beach for its recognized therapeutic properties, to Baleal beaches, with a blue flag since 1987, the year in which this distinction was implemented on the European continent, there are many incredible options waiting for you.  One of the most famous tourist attractions is Forte de São João Baptista, on the Berlengas Islands.

Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region

1) Ericeira: as with Nazaré, it is thanks to surfing and the waves with ideal agitation for the practice of this sport, that Ericeira is known as one of the best holiday destinations in Portugal with Beach. In total, you can find in this area 9 beaches, which are surrounded by rocks sculpted by nature, that also delight all lovers of photography. The best part? You can enjoy the tranquility of this beach only 45 minutes away from our stations in Lisbon and still take the opportunity to make a tour in the capital.

2) Costa da Caparica: With 15 kilometers of sand, there are several beaches in Costa da Caparica to choose from. It is one of the holiday destinations in Portugal with the beach most selected by families, with several offers of restaurants on the beach line, good access and parking and well-known camping sites for the more adventurous.  

3) Setúbal: the landscape is breathtaking on these beaches. Embraced by the Arrábida Mountain, the gastronomy here is a "must": the fried cuttlefish is king, but any fish will surprise you. Rent a car at Guerin and discover Portinho da Arrábida, considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal, which attracts tourists from everywhere. The apparent sensation of a wild beach allows you a sea with unique colors and all the tranquility just outside the capital.  Galapinhos beach was nominated "best European destination 2017" and Figueirinha beach is also one of the most sought after.

Algarve Region 

1) Albufeira: Albufeira's beaches have long had an international reputation. Along practically 20 km of golden sand, there are beaches for everyone. Praia dos Pescadores is the best known, with its fine sand and paradisiacal blue sea water, with plenty of cultural offerings during the summer. Praia da Galé is one of the few beaches that is not between rocks, offering a wide range of beach bars. And if it is fun you are looking for, then in Areias de São João you will find the busiest nightlife in the Algarve, with many reasonably priced bars and restaurants, shops, discos and fast-food establishments.

2) Vilamoura: both Vilamoura and neighboring Quarteira benefit from a climate with over 300 days of sunshine a year, to enjoy the extensive sandy beach at any time of the year. With Faro airport nearby and a calm swell, which is felt almost all year round makes this an excellent beach for families with small children. The Marina area offers several bars and restaurants to relax at the end of the day and nightlife venues. 

3) Lagos: it is, possibly, the Algarve beach resort that most gathers young Portuguese and foreigners (mainly English), who are looking for holidays with paradisiacal beaches and lots of nightlife. It is here that we can find the well-known beaches of Estudantes, Luz, Batata or Dona Ana, with the advantage of being close to Albufeira and Vila do Bispo. The color of the sea water and the imposing cliffs give the motto for pictures of landscapes to make envious.

4) Portimão: of all the holiday destinations in Portugal with a beach, Portimão is perhaps the option that offers everything for a truly unforgettable holiday. Crystal clear waters, small paradisiacal bays framed by cliffs, hiking trails, several instagrammable viewpoints and temperatures above 30ºC, both in spring and summer. Here you will find Praia dos Três Castelos, of Vau, Alemão and, perhaps the best known, Praia da Rocha, which offers numerous nightlife venues. You can find a Guerin station here.  

Know the Holiday Destinations in Portugal with Beach 

Discover Portugal this summer and prepare your adventures along our coast. And for each destination, the ideal car: rent a spacious car for your family or your bags and enjoy the summer to the fullest. Make your reservation hehttps://www.guerin.pt/en/guerin-stations/re.