The region boasts a wide variety of beaches that have been awarded the prestigious blue flag by the European Union for the quality of their sea water, infrastructure and back-up services.
The Estoril Coast has delightful beaches, many of them in coves overlooked by elegant villas and palaces, very much like the Côte d’Azur, with walkways by the sea, esplanades and a wide range of lively, cosmopolitan bars.
The coast to the north of Cabo da Roca has dramatic cliffs interspersed with rocky beaches. The water has a high iodine content and the natural environment is still absolutely unspoiled. Some of the smaller beaches are somewhat inaccessible and therefore almost empty.
The beaches at Oeiras, Sintra and Mafra are also well worth visiting.