The best beaches in Portugal

If you have recently made the decision to embark on a degree qualification here in Portugal, then you are a likely to be weighing up where you’ll be studying. The superb climate and beaches, in cities such as Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, make our country extremely appealing for the student community.

The stunning weather and fantastic lifestyle, mixed with the excellent calibre of universities, means that student life here is probably the highest quality you will find anywhere on the continent; something we are rather proud of here at Collegiate Portugal.

While you can expect an outstanding university education here in Portugal, you’re in the perfect place to maximise your downtime and ensure you head to your lectures and seminars suitably refreshed and energised. So, we have put together this handy guide to the best beaches you will find in Portugal, fully updated for 2018 and beyond. Because who doesn’t love a great day at the beach?

Collegiate’s Guide to Great Beaches In Portugal 

As a student in Portugal, you have your pick of more beaches than you can shake a stick at spread across 1,700km of coastline. The tricky bit, however, is finding the best ones for you to enjoy during your well-deserved time away from your university studies. Although the beaches are all pretty beautiful in this part of the world, there are a few that are an absolute must visit so read on to see where we think you should be heading on your days away from campus.

Praia de Tavira, Illha de Tavira, The Algarve 

Unsurprisingly, our first entry is on the alluring coast of the Algarve, which needs little to no introduction thanks to its breathtaking cliffs, golden beaches, and sandy islands. Linked to the Portuguese mainland by ferry, the Praia de Tavira is a sandbar island that stretches southwest from Tavira as far as Fuseta.

Here you will find miles and miles of idyllic yellow sand and blue sea with not a hotel in sight, making it the perfect location to relax and forget about pretty much everything. You can hire sun loungers, pedalos and umbrellas if you so desire and there are a few restaurants available should you get a bit peckish.

Outstandingly beautyful, Praia de Tavira can get very busy during high summer but go during term time and you may well have this beach, regarded as one of the greatest in Portugal, to yourself.

Miramar, Porto

Ideal for any students living in our superb luxury student accommodation in Porto, Miramar is perfect for anyone looking for a secluded beach where you can relax and get away from the pressure of your studies. Miramar is a small town just outside Porto and allows you to get away from tourists and kick back.

There are some pretty spectacular views here due to the sand dunes, roaring waves and a chapel that looks down on the beach.

Portinho da Arrábida

If you’re studying in Lisbon, then you may have been struggling thus far to find beaches near the city where you can relax. As an urban capital, the beaches around Lisbon are a generally more busy but if you do a little digging, you can find quite a few beaches nearby that have all the charm of their Algarve counterparts.

Portinho da Arrábida is perhaps the best due to the fact that it is situated in the Serra da Arrábida National Park, which invites visitors to get their trainers on and do some hiking around some quintessentially Portuguese terrain. The reward is a beach that is quite simply breath-taking.

You can get here very easily from Lisbon city centre, via bus from Oriente Station and we suggest you take a camera, as you will be unlikely to have experienced views quite like this during your time in Portugal. We recommend packing for a picnic – this area is quite secluded, so you have more time to relax whether on the beach or in the National Park. This is definitely one of our picks for great beaches in Portugal and one that we recommend setting a full day aside to explore.

Other Beaches Near Lisbon

Once you’ve explored Portinho da Arrábida, you may also want to check out these great Portuguese beaches, all a short journey from the country’s capital;

·         Tróia

·         Costa da Caparica

·         Tamariz

·         Guincho

·         Carcavelos

We hope you enjoy exploring these beaches – they are just the tip of the iceberg, really. Our country has some of the very best you will find anywhere and any time spent here studying should surely involve checking out all that‘s on offer.

Before you head off to the beach, make sure you check out our brand new student accommodation at Collegiate Marquês de Pombal, and make an enquiry today so you can experience luxury student living during your time at university in Lisbon. We also have properties nearing completion in Coimbra and Porto, so we will have something perfect for any students looking for somewhere luxurious to live whilst studying in Portugal.

You may also wish to check out the other great articles we have about living in Portugal here at Collegiate. Don’t hesitate to get in touch should you need any assistance finding some great accommodation in Porto, Lisbon or Coimbra.