Lisbon Beaches are very few in number as the city is located on the bank of the river Tagus, but within an area of 20 km from Lisbon, you will find at least 20 beaches which will give your vacation a nice sporty and lively mood. 

Costa da Caparica Beach

Costa da Caparica is just outside the city perimeters of Lisbon and can be reached by bus or ferry. It is an 8 km long beach and lined with numerous bars and restaurants. It is famous for lively nights and the bars stay open till well past midnight. The beach is so vast that during the peak seasons a small open air train runs along the beach and you can just ring the bell and step off anywhere you want. The best places in Costa da Caparica are Morean and Sereia which are surrounded by lovely sandy ridges and lively bars. Surfing and windsurfing are the main attractions here. You will find many surfing equipment outlets and even training schools along the beach. Sereia and Mata are some of the best locations for surfing.

Carcavelos Beach

Carcavelos Beach is definitely the most famous beach in Lisbon. It can be reached by bus or car. It will take only 15 to 20 minutes to reach from Lisbon. The beach is teeming with a lively young crowd. The beach bars and pubs are open all night. The loud music continues till very late in the night. Surfing is definitely another attraction. The small waves make it a very safe beach for surfing. If you want to shy away from crowded places, then Carcavelos is not for you. Traveling a little farther north to Sao Pedro or Parede Beaches will give you some privacy.

Sao Pedro, Sao Joao and Parede

Just 10 minutes north of Carcavelos Beach, the 3 beaches namely Sao Pedro, Sao Joao and Parede, are lined one after another and are totally of different characteristics than Carcavelos. These beaches are less crowded and do not have many restaurants. The tranquility and peaceful atmosphere make these beaches a sought-after destination for people looking to get away from the humdrum of the city. These beaches have a couple of good resorts. The beach is not as good a surfing spot as Carcavelos, but if you are a surfing veteran you might like the slightly rough water challenging your surfing ability here. 

Guincho Beach

Guincho Beach came into the limelight when it was used as the climax location for the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty's Secret Service.” Around 15 km away from Lisbon, this beach is one of the best beaches in Europe for windsurfing. The beach has some nice beach breaks, making it an excellent spot for surfing, kite surfing and windsurfing. The months from June to August, due to the strong northern winds, are best for windsurfing where during the winter, the eastern winds make it a great spot for surfing.