When the city bakes, head for the sea. Most of these beaches sit on the Cascais train line, and the best ones for small kids have calm water: a sheltered cove, a bay behind a jetty, a seawater pool only 40cm deep. Here's what we checked, from the Oeiras Ocean Pool to the clear coves of Arrábida.
Two pools filled from the sea sit side by side at Oeiras Marina, next to Praia da Torre and looking out over the mouth of the Tagus.
Small kids get a 330 m² pool only 40cm deep; older swimmers get a big main pool and a diving tower with boards up to 7.5 meters. Lawns, loungers, umbrellas, a restaurant-bar, changing rooms and lockers surround the water, with lifeguards on duty.
Praia da Rainha is a sandy cove about 50 meters long, tucked between cliffs in the middle of Cascais. The rocks shelter it, so the water is usually calm enough for paddling and first swims.
A stairway leads down to the sand, and a snack bar with outdoor seating sits nearby. It is named for Queen Amélia, who favored it during royal stays in the town.
Conceição and Duquesa are two small sandy beaches on Cascais bay, side by side below the seafront promenade and joined into one stretch at low tide. The bay keeps the water calm for paddling and swimming, though the Atlantic stays cold even in August.
Beach bars and restaurants line the promenade above, and the walkway runs about 3 km east to Azarujinha beach in São João do Estoril.
The largest beach in Oeiras, a long stretch of sand between the mouth of the Ribeira da Laje and Praia da Saisa, beside the Forte de São Julião das Maias. Two stone jetties keep the water calmer, and surfers and beach volleyball players fill the sand.
A lit seafront promenade runs past the Oeiras marina to Torre beach, and a garden across the coast road offers shade.
Praia de Carcavelos is a 1.25 km stretch of open sand beside the Fort of São Julião da Barra, the first Cascais beach coming from Lisbon. Strong Atlantic waves make it a surf, bodyboard and windsurf spot, with surf schools on the sand.
The beach also has three volleyball courts, three beach tennis courts, a footvolley court and a football field, and a promenade of cafés runs behind it.
Costa da Caparica is a 15 km run of Atlantic beaches on the south bank of the Tagus, facing open ocean rather than the river. Beaches by the town are the busiest, São João to the north is calmer, and the long stretch south is backed by dunes.
The waves draw surfers, and beach bars along the sand serve grilled fish and clams.
Sandy coves line the foot of the Serra da Arrábida, where steep green hills drop into clear, calm water. Figueirinha is the longest and busiest, with a Blue Flag for over a decade. Further west, Galapos, Creiro and Portinho da Arrábida are smaller and quieter. Off Creiro, the rocky islet of Pedra da Anicha is a protected marine reserve. Sheltered water makes this a good swim spot for younger kids.
Sesimbra is a working fishing town on a south-facing bay of the Setúbal peninsula. Its two town beaches, Praia do Ouro and Praia da Califórnia, usually have calm water and gently sloping sand, and Praia do Ouro adds a playground and a sports field.
Above town, the medieval castle has walls to walk along and wide sea views. The Fortress of Santiago on the seafront houses a maritime museum.
Ericeira is a whitewashed fishing town on cliffs above the Atlantic, and the center of a World Surfing Reserve. Praia dos Pescadores, the harbor beach below the old town, sits in a bay sheltered by the pier, one of the calmest swims on this stretch of coast. Pedra Branca, Coxos and Ribeira d'Ilhas draw surfers from around the world, while Foz do Lizandro and São Julião offer wide sand with beach bars.
When the city bakes, head for the sea. Most of these beaches sit on the Cascais train line, and the best ones for small kids have calm water: a sheltered cove, a bay behind a jetty, a seawater pool only 40cm deep. Here's what we checked, from the Oeiras Ocean Pool to the clear coves of Arrábida.
Two pools filled from the sea sit side by side at Oeiras Marina, next to Praia da Torre and looking out over the mouth of the Tagus.
Small kids get a 330 m² pool only 40cm deep; older swimmers get a big main pool and a diving tower with boards up to 7.5 meters. Lawns, loungers, umbrellas, a restaurant-bar, changing rooms and lockers surround the water, with lifeguards on duty.
Praia da Rainha is a sandy cove about 50 meters long, tucked between cliffs in the middle of Cascais. The rocks shelter it, so the water is usually calm enough for paddling and first swims.
A stairway leads down to the sand, and a snack bar with outdoor seating sits nearby. It is named for Queen Amélia, who favored it during royal stays in the town.
Conceição and Duquesa are two small sandy beaches on Cascais bay, side by side below the seafront promenade and joined into one stretch at low tide. The bay keeps the water calm for paddling and swimming, though the Atlantic stays cold even in August.
Beach bars and restaurants line the promenade above, and the walkway runs about 3 km east to Azarujinha beach in São João do Estoril.
The largest beach in Oeiras, a long stretch of sand between the mouth of the Ribeira da Laje and Praia da Saisa, beside the Forte de São Julião das Maias. Two stone jetties keep the water calmer, and surfers and beach volleyball players fill the sand.
A lit seafront promenade runs past the Oeiras marina to Torre beach, and a garden across the coast road offers shade.
Praia de Carcavelos is a 1.25 km stretch of open sand beside the Fort of São Julião da Barra, the first Cascais beach coming from Lisbon. Strong Atlantic waves make it a surf, bodyboard and windsurf spot, with surf schools on the sand.
The beach also has three volleyball courts, three beach tennis courts, a footvolley court and a football field, and a promenade of cafés runs behind it.
Costa da Caparica is a 15 km run of Atlantic beaches on the south bank of the Tagus, facing open ocean rather than the river. Beaches by the town are the busiest, São João to the north is calmer, and the long stretch south is backed by dunes.
The waves draw surfers, and beach bars along the sand serve grilled fish and clams.
Sandy coves line the foot of the Serra da Arrábida, where steep green hills drop into clear, calm water. Figueirinha is the longest and busiest, with a Blue Flag for over a decade. Further west, Galapos, Creiro and Portinho da Arrábida are smaller and quieter. Off Creiro, the rocky islet of Pedra da Anicha is a protected marine reserve. Sheltered water makes this a good swim spot for younger kids.
Sesimbra is a working fishing town on a south-facing bay of the Setúbal peninsula. Its two town beaches, Praia do Ouro and Praia da Califórnia, usually have calm water and gently sloping sand, and Praia do Ouro adds a playground and a sports field.
Above town, the medieval castle has walls to walk along and wide sea views. The Fortress of Santiago on the seafront houses a maritime museum.
Ericeira is a whitewashed fishing town on cliffs above the Atlantic, and the center of a World Surfing Reserve. Praia dos Pescadores, the harbor beach below the old town, sits in a bay sheltered by the pier, one of the calmest swims on this stretch of coast. Pedra Branca, Coxos and Ribeira d'Ilhas draw surfers from around the world, while Foz do Lizandro and São Julião offer wide sand with beach bars.
