Most of Portugal‘s best beaches are in the Algarve, and typically these are vast, sandy areas with beautiful scenery and fantastic local facilities such as hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants. The Algarve has been a popular destination for tourists for many years, and one criticism of this area is that it is very commercialised and there is little cultural input, and Portugal‘s colourful history is barely represented in many of the bland modern resorts and bars. Still it is a lively area, and good value for money so it does make a great sun and beach destination.

Swimming Guidelines
Although the water looks great in Portugal not all areas are safe for swimming, especially on the west coast, which is battered by the Atlantic Ocean. Rip tides are very common, and can take even experienced swimmers by surprise, and as they are almost impossible to detect from the shore you should avoid swimming at beaches that do not have lifeguard cover, or flags indicating where the water is safe. The swimming season officially ends after September, so remember there will no lifeguard cover or flagged areas throughout the winter, and at these times it is best to ask advice about the water from nearby tourist information offices or local beach users. Surfers in Portugal cannot avoid rip tides altogether, as the best surf occurs in the more dangerous waters, so make sure you are confident on how to handle these situations before you get in the water.

Best Beaches
Here are a few of the best beaches in Portugal:

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* Ilha de Tavira – the campsite at Ilha de Tavira can be reached by road or ferry, and has lots of facilities including restaurants, cafes and water sports centres. The beach is known for its wide soft sands, and it much quieter than some of the other Algarve beachfronts, so is ideal for those looking for a more peaceful holiday. There is also a nearby town, which has some pretty buildings and churches to wander around during the day.

* Ericeira -this is a surfer’s paradise on the west coast, just over an hour away from Lisbon by car. There is a wonderful relaxed vibe to the whole area, and the Portuguese stage of the Surfing World Championships are held just around the bay, which shows just what excellent surf this part of the coastline enjoys.

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* Albufeira – this beach is known for its vast fine sands, and is basically Portugal‘s answer to the popular Spanish destination Torremolinos. It caters to those travellers who want a taste of home whilst away, with big screen sports, greasy spoon cafes and fish and chip shops. There are also plenty of bars and nightclubs for those that like to party hard in the evening. The reason why Albufeira is worth a mention is that the accommodation, food and shops are very reasonable, so it makes a great budget beachside destination, especially if you enjoy a vibrant nightlife.

* Tamariz – this is an excellent area for swimming, and also has a nice sandy beach for sunbathers. The surrounding area of Estoril boasts a world famous racetrack and a casino, as well as plenty of historic and cultural architecture and monuments, so there is also plenty of other things to see and do.
* Torre - this pretty little beach is between S.Juliao da Barra fort and Picina Oceanica and is safe for swimming. There are also some excellent facilities, such as good bars, cafes, shops and restaurants, and there is also a good supermarket so that self-catering visitors can stock up on essentials.