The 12 Best Beach Vacation Destinations in Portugal

• 8 August, 23

Sun, sand and surf await from the Algarve to the Azores.

Portugal has many attributes – from the vegetation covered volcanic landscape of Sao Miguel and the rolling vineyards of Douro Valley to the cultural hubs of Porto and Lisbon. One of the other reasons why Portugal attract many tourists come to visit is the abundance of spectacular beaches.

Portugal is situated on the Iberian Peninsula in southwest Europe. It shares a border with Spain to the north and east and is otherwise surrounded by Atlantic Ocean all along its 800km (500-mile) coastline. Both Azores and Madeira are stunning island destinations and prominent for their beautiful nature and tranquility in Portugal for a vacation. Here are the top of best beaches in Portugal, with something for every type of traveler.

Lagos

Lagos is one of the most popular destinations in the southern of Portugal’s Algarve region. Among its most famous, Praia do Camilo, a picturesque and secluded beach nestled between towering cliffs with the promise of a sandy cove, blue water and staggering rock formations. Praia de Dona Ana, one of the finest beaches of the Algarve, with soft sands surrounded by golden limestone cliffs. Meia Praia is a long swath of sand that’s punctuated by colorful umbrellas, especially in the summer months. Lagos has also many bars, restaurants, hip cafes, juice shops, souvenir stores and gelaterias.

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Mercan projects in Lagos

Madeira

Madeira, the main island on the autonomous Portuguese archipelago of the same name, is best known for fortified wine, botanical gardens, cable cars and lush hillsides teeming with UNESCO-protected laurel forests. But the coastal charms of this water-surrounded sub-tropical paradise shouldn’t be overlooked either. A lot of the beaches in Madeira, like so much of Europe, are covered in volcanic stones and pebbles, but quite a few sandy beaches do exist — two of the most notable being Prainha do Seixal, a cliff-backed crescent near the natural pools and the larger Prainha do Caniçal on the eastern tail. Both have soft, black shorelines of volcanic origin that provide a cinematic contrast to the tides and are great spots to stop for a few photos or to spend the afternoon.

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Mercan projects in Madeira

Porto Santo

Porto Santo is a Portuguese island 43 kilometers (27 miles) northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is the northernmost and easternmost island of the archipelago of Madeira, located in the Atlantic Ocean west of Europe and Africa. This 16-square-mile island brims with spectacular beaches that kiss turquoise tides. You can walk from the marina to Praia do Penedo in about 20 minutes. Further down at the southwest tip of Porto Santo lies the Ponta da Calheta, a magical spot where gorgeous waves lap sun-warmed sand, and rock formations add wild appeal. 

In addition to the places mentioned above, there are other places that are also in the top 12 best beach vacation destinations including Comporta, Ericeira, Quinta do Lago, Santa Maria, Zambujeira do Mar, Culatra Island, Sagres, Setubal, Castro Marim.

Cre: InsideHook