Best Family-Friendly Beaches in Cascais and Surrounding Areas

If you have added Cascais to your itinerary, you are probably already aware that Cascais is famed for its beautiful beaches.

Depending on the location of your accommodation, your family’s dynamics and interests (strong swimmers keen to surf or tiny tots), your needs and interests may vary.

From a relaxed day at the beach to surfing – Cascais and its neighbouring areas have a beach to delight everyone. The summaries below will help you pinpoint the right beach for you and your family.

If you are travelling with young children, novice swimmers or simply want a calm day at the beach, you would probably prefer a beach along the Costa do Estoril (Estoril Coast). These beaches are within walking distance from central Cascais, have tranquil waters and golden sands, and have plenty of facilities including toilets, restaurants and shops.

However, if you are interested in surfing or other watersports, you would probably prefer to hop on a train towards Lisbon and enjoy the watersports at Praia de São Pedro do Estoril or Praia de Carcavelos. Experienced surfers would prefer to head north towards Guincho.

Cascais’ Main Beaches

If your accommodation is in central Cascais and you would prefer a beach that is within walking distance and easy to access, you have several options available to you. Why not try a different beach every day and experience all of the beauty that Cascais has to offer?

With golden sands, tranquil waters and a variety of facilities (such as shops, restaurants and toilets) Cascais’ beaches near the historical centre are ideal for families with young children and families that enjoy a relaxing day at the beach.

Praia da Rainha

A beach fit for a queen. Frequented by Queen Amélia (Portugal’s last queen) when the royal family visited Cascais, this beach became known as “The Queen’s Beach”. Sandwiched between two cliffs, this small beach feels private, picturesque and secluded. The waters are calm and generally safe for children and novice swimmers. If you are planning on visiting during the summer months, be aware that because of its popularity and small size Praia da Rainha gets crowded quickly.

Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa 

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Although technically two beaches, at low tide, Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa become one long stretch of golden sand. Praia de Duquesa is closest to the entrance from Cascais, and Praia da Conceição is only a short walk away. These beaches are Cascais’ most popular bathing spots and therefore get busy with both tourists and locals on weekends and hot summer days. However, even on a busy day, there should still be enough space for everyone to find a spot for their beach towels.

The water is calm, making it a great beach for children and novice swimmers to splash around on the waves. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer. There are plenty of facilities such as toilets, restaurants and shops.

Due to their calm waters, these beaches are perfect for Stand-Up-Paddle (SUP). You can hire a board from local businesses and if you are new to paddleboarding you can attend a class to learn the basics.

Praia da Ribeira or Praia dos Pescadores

This beach is picturesque with a scattering of fishing boats on the water and with a beautiful terrace of traditional Portuguese pavement. Known locally as Praia dos Pescadores (Fishermen’s Beach), this was once a working beach where the fishing boats were unloaded and moored. Today the boats do not moor on the beach, making it suitable for sunbathers.

Due to its sheltered location, Ribeira beach has some of the calmest waters in Cascais. Making this beach great for families with young children or novice swimmers who will love splashing in the sea. It’s also very popular with guests from Hotel Bahia which is just across the street.  Due to its proximity to historical Cascais, you can combine your day at the beach with a visit to the nearby craft market and lunch at the local restaurants.

Good to know! The water quality at Praia dos Pescadores is monitored and considered to be safe for swimming. However, due to the high number of boats and fishing in the nearby areas, the water quality isn’t always perfect. The other beaches on this list have better water quality.

Nearby (within walking distance)

Don’t limit yourself to Cascais’ main beaches – there is so much to explore nearby! Take a 15-20 minute walk on the Paredão (promenade) towards Estoril and discover beautiful beaches and a seawater swimming pool.

Praia das Moitas / Praia da Rata

This small beach is a narrow strip of golden sand along the Paredão (promenade) that connects Cascais with the nearby town of Estoril. Less popular with tourists and locals than the larger neighbouring beaches, this beach is a good option to consider on a hot summer’s day. With its proximity to Cascais and Estoril, facilities such as shops and restaurants are only a short walk away.

Piscina Oceânica Alberto Romano

Do you love swimming in the sea, but hate getting covered in sand? Piscina Oceânica Alberto Romano is perfect for you. This seawater swimming pool borders Praia das Moitas / Praia da Rata and can be accessed from the Paredão (promenade) that connects Cascais and Estoril. The pool is free of cost and ideal for families and novice swimmers. The water is refreshed regularly by the tide, and if you are lucky, you will see fish that were trapped in the pool when the tide retreated.

Praia do Tamariz

Follow the Paredão (promenade) from Cascais and you will arrive at Praia do Tamariz in Estoril. This beach will definitely be worth the stroll. With its golden sand, tranquil waters, and rockpools it’s the perfect family beach. With its proximity to Estoril town, a variety of restaurants, shops and toilets are available nearby. A short walk from the beach is Pastelaria Garrett, the best patisserie for miles.  

On the Eastern side of the beach, you will find Piscina Oceânica Tamariz. This is a simple saltwater swimming pool. The pool catches small fish which are very entertaining for children and the sun warms up the water which is great for those who find the ocean water a bit too chilly.  

Further afield (public transport required)

If you have explored all the beaches within walking distance from Cascais and want to try somewhere new, or if you would like to spend a day at a beach suitable for beginner or intermediate surfers, use Cascais’ public transport network (or catch a taxi).

Just a short train ride away are two beaches suitable for beginner or intermediate surfers. However, if your family has intermediate or advanced surfers who would like to experience Portugal’s famous swells, the rugged and windy beaches of the Sintra coast are only a bus, taxi or bike ride away.

Praia de São Pedro do Estoril

This beach is mostly used by locals, and therefore does not generally get as crowded as Cascais’ main beaches. The waters are calm and clean, the sand golden, and at low tide rockpools emerge that are great for the kids to explore.

If you are interested in surfing, Praia de São Pedro do Estoril has medium waves. These are great for longboarders, and both beginner and intermediate surfers. The Bico area in São Pedro do Estoril has the most consistent swell. Surf schools are available if you are a beginner or would like to improve your technique.

Praia de São Pedro do Estoril has limited services, however, a cafe is available nearby.

Praia de Carcavelos

Praia de Carcavelos is the sixth stop from Cascais Train Station. This beach is a great choice for active families that love sports. This wide and long beach with golden sand is the largest of the beaches between Lisbon and Cascais. Due to its proximity to Lisbon, Praia de Carvavelos is popular with tourists and locals alike and can get busy during the summer months. This popular beach has a great selection of restaurants, shops, and toilets.

The surf can be strong, making it appealing to surfers and bodyboarders. There is a selection of surf schools available, ready to help you enjoy the waves. During the winter months, Praia de Carvavelos is one of the most consistent surfing spots in the area.

The sports available in Praia de Carcavelos are not only limited to the water. Carcavelos’ one kilometre stretch of sand has a selection of volleyball and football nets open to the public. There is always a game going on!

Praia do Guincho

Located in the suburbs of Cascais, and only a bus ride away from Cascais’ centre, is Praia do Guincho. Wild, windy, and rugged this beach couldn’t be more different from the calm waters of the beaches of Cascais and Estoril.

Located only a short distance from the most Western point of Continental Europe, Praia do Guincho is exposed to the full power of the Atlantic Ocean.  This makes it a great spot for a variety of water sports such as bodyboarding, surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Several surfing schools run lessons at Praia do Guincho and can help you and your family master the waves.

Due to the frequent strong winds and currents, this is not a beach for sunbathing or swimming. Therefore, if part of the family won’t be taking part in the watersports, they can enjoy their time at Praia do Guincho at the northern side of the beach. There, you will find sun loungers and parasols available to rent (during the summer season) and a snack bar.

With 1 km of golden sand and backed by both sand dunes and the Serra de Sintra hills, Praia do Guincho is also a site of stunning natural beauty.

Good to know: You can extend the adventure by cycling to Praia do Guincho from Cascais. Simply hire bikes from central Cascais (there are several bike rental companies to choose from) and follow the cycle path all the way to Praia do Guincho. Take your time so that you can enjoy the stunning views along the way including a cliff and arch formation called Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth in Portuguese), Farol da Guia (a working lighthouse) and Forte de São Jorge de Oitavos (a 17^th Century Fort).

Praia Grande

This is the furthest beach from Cascais on our list. Although you can access it by bus, it can be a long journey. The fastest route is by taxi, however, this can be a bit expensive. So why include this beach on our list at all? This beach is worth a day trip if you have a dinosaur lover in the family or would like to swim in one of Europe’s largest saltwater swimming pools.

Praia Grande as the name suggests is a “Big” beach that can absorb the summer crowds. The sands are golden and the waters are suitable for surfing. Surf schools offering lessons and facilities such as cafes, toilets and parking are available at Praia Grande.

Two characteristics make this beach unique, fossilised dinosaur footprints and one of Europe’s largest saltwater swimming pools.

Dinosaur footprints:

During the Cretaceous period, dinosaurs went for a muddy walk. Today, we can see the 66 footprints they left behind. The location of the footprints makes it look like the dinosaurs took a vertical walk up the cliff. Of course, this was not the case. At around the time that Sintra Mountain was formed, what used to be horizontal ground was forced upward creating the cliff we see today. Over time the top layers of soil eroded exposing the footprints.   

To see the footprints, head towards the southern side of the beach. There you will find a staircase with over 200 steps, which will help you view the footprints. If you are travelling with small children, be sure to take a sling or baby carrier with you. As you climb all those steps, take your time to take in the incredible views.

Saltwater swimming pool:

The Arribas Sintra Hotel hosts one of Europe’s largest saltwater swimming pools. Although part of the hotel, the pool is open to the public between May and August. See entry fees here.

The pool is 100 meters long and has two depths, 0.65m for children and 33.95m for adults. The water is taken straight from the Atlantic Ocean, filtered and pumped straight into the swimming pool.