Costa da Caparica Beach

Located just across the bridge from Lisbon is Costa da Caparica. This resort town is little known outside of Portugal, but incredibly popular with Lisbon locals during the summer months.

It is easy to see why; a seemingly endless expanse of fine golden sand facing into the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean provide a string of beaches, each with their own charms and character. The majority of beachgoers don’t make it beyond the first couple of beaches. These are great for families with all the amenities and entertainment you could ask for close at hand. However, it is worth exploring further along the coast to find a beach that suits you.

Travelling up and down the Costa da Caparica coast is made easy by the “Transpraia” - a miniature train which runs for nearly 10 km along the coast with 21 seperate stops. Some beaches are quiet and backed by low dunes whilst others are more lively with beach bars pumping out music. Overall though, the vibe is laid back all along the coast.

Perhaps the best known of Costa da Caparica’s beaches are Fonte da Telha, which is at the end of the line and Praia 19, which is the 19th stop on the train line. Fonte da Telha is a lively spot which was a small fishing village in a former life; people come here to hang out and party.

Praia 19 on the other hand is renown internationally for being one of only a handful of nudist beaches in Portugal. These days though it has evolved into being almost exclusively regarded as a gay beach. There isn’t much here except the beach and the dunes, but this is what makes it special.

Costa da Caparica is also a great place to surf and learn to surf. There are often powerful waves here but it is also generally a little gentler than many of Portugal’s other surfing beaches making it perfect for beginners during the summer months.