Review of the best resorts and beaches in Portugal. Where and when is the best time to relax at sea in 2021? Let's find out!
A measured rest, rich cultural leisure and the absence of crowds annually attracts millions of tourists to Portugal. As a rule, these are wealthy British and Germans, satiated with "olinclusive" and expecting new and vivid impressions from the rest. In Portugal, you can find many great places to relax by the sea and active leisure. Find out about the best places in this review.
The best places for a seaside holiday in Portugal
The most popular resorts in Portugal for beach holidays are the Lisbon Riviera, the Algarve province, Madeira and the Azores. All beaches in the country are public. Continental beaches have yellow sand, while Madeira and the Azores have pebbles, black volcanic or imported sand.
Algarve
It is the southern province of the country, renowned for its landscapes and rich architectural heritage. In the western part of the province there are predominantly rocky beaches, in the east - sandy. You can rest in the Algarve all year round: in spring it is +20 ... + 25 ° С, in summer +27 ... + 30 ° С, in winter + 14 ° С. Beach holidays at the sea in this region of Portugal are most comfortable in August and September on the coast from Albufeira to Lagos. At this time, the warmest water (+21 ... + 23 ° С), although this temperature will not seem pleasant to everyone.
Most of the coast of the province is occupied by nature reserves; there is a unique natural park where you can see pink flamingos. For lovers of active recreation organized golf courses, surfing and diving schools.
The center of the province is the city of Faro. It is a beautiful town with medieval buildings and ruins of ancient Roman settlements. The airport is also located here. Not far from Faro are the most popular seaside resorts in this province - Villamura, Albufeira and Portimão.
Willamura - a large resort complex, according to reviews, the best place for an active holiday in Portugal by the sea. There are parachuting centers, diving and surfing schools here. Lots of activities for children: zoo, water park and amusement parks. The best beaches are the shallow Falésia beach, popular with vacationers with small children, and the city beach Marina, located near the marina.
IN Albufeira lovers of seafood strive to rest, because local restaurants offer the most exquisite dishes from them. The city has three sandy beaches, the most popular of them is Peneku, located in the historical part of the city. There is a zoo with a dolphinarium not far from the city.
Resort Portimão famous for its Praia da Rocha beach. This is one of the most picturesque beaches in the Atlantic, surrounded by low cliffs and medieval buildings. Many hotels of various levels, as well as cafes and restaurants have been built along it. The resort is not considered expensive, people like to relax here both with children, there and youth companies, only when booking a hotel, it is advisable to clarify the presence of nearby nightlife.
Lisbon riviera
All the resort towns of this zone - Estoril, Cascais, Carcavelos and others - are located half an hour from Lisbon. The sea water is usually cool, even in summer it is only + 17 ... + 19 ° С, so those who want to combine a beach vacation in Portugal with cultural and educational prefer to relax here.
Respectable Estoril with its historical center has long been known among wealthy tourists. The first line of the town is completely built up with expensive hotels and luxury villas. Cascais and Carcavelos - typical youth resorts, windsurfing and nightlife centers.
The most famous beach and a real paradise for windsurfers is Guincho Beach. The shallow, warm seashell beach Salir do Porto near San Martino do Porto is ideal for young children. Not far from Cascais are the famous natural attractions - the Boca de Inferno cliff and the Cape of Cabo de Roca. From an excursion point of view, it is interesting to visit the capital Lisbon with its mosaic square and Old Quarter.
Azores
In the Azores, it is always moderately warm: + 25 ° C in summer, + 15 ° C in winter. According to tourists' reviews, it is best to rest on the islands of Portugal from June to September, when the weather is usually dry and sunny. With the arrival of autumn, rains and fogs become more frequent. There are few sandy beaches, most of them are located on the islands of Faial and San Miguel, in other places the beaches are volcanic. Almost every hotel has a swimming pool.
Main must see for all tourists it is Furnas with its lake and geysers, the islands of Terceira, Floris and São Miguel with their relic forests, museums and temples. The island of Pico has well-preserved reefs, and in its vicinity there is a migration route for whales, which attracts crowds of tourists every year.
In general, vacation in the Azores is more of a contemplative nature than a beach passive one. The prices for services are pleasing with their availability. This is probably why European and Canadian pensioners like to rest here so much.
Madeira
Madeira is a volcanic island, famous for its mild climate and natural beauty. The climate of the island is subtropical, and due to the action of the Gulf Stream, the air temperature changes slightly throughout the year: in winter + 17 ° С, in summer + 27 ° С. The water temperature is kept at an average annual mark of + 19 ° С.
There are few cultural attractions, so the main entertainment of vacationers is hiking trails along trails and levads, a cable car and a botanical garden in Funchal, exploring rocks, caves and waterfalls. Many opportunities for outdoor activities: yachting, water skiing, fishing, surfing, diving, horse riding, tennis and golf.
Many beaches are rocky by nature, so they are covered with imported sand. According to tourists, the best places for a beach holiday in Portugal by the sea are in Madeira - here the water is warmest. The best is considered Calheta beachcovered with desert sand and covered by a breakwater. There is a good sandy beach on Ponto Santo Island, you can get there by ferry from Madeira.
When to go on vacation to Portugal
The climate in Portugal is mild and comfortable: with cool summers and warm rainy winters. There are no sharp temperature changes here, although in the mountains it is slightly colder than on the coast. Most of the precipitation falls in the north of the country, the warmest regions are the Madeira archipelago and the Azores. You can rest on the islands all year round, however, in the winter-spring period, the rest takes on an exclusively cultural, educational and health-improving connotation.
Complete beach vacation in Portugal possible from the beginning of June. At the beginning of summer, the fishing season starts and there are comfortable conditions for windsurfing. In June, in Lisbon, Algarve and Faro, the daytime is + 25 ° С, the water temperature is +17 ... + 19 ° С. Best of all, the water warms up off the coast of Madeira + 21 ° C.
IN july and august all temperature indicators increase: +27 ... + 29 ° С in Lisbon and the Algarve, not so hot in Porto and Madeira + 25 ° С. In Portugal, during these months, it is best to rest in Madeira, where the water near the coast reaches + 23 ° C.
Holidays in Portugal by the sea in september is still quite possible. On the Atlantic coast, it is moderately warm: in the daytime + 26 ° С, water +20 ... + 23 ° С. IN october the beach holiday season in Portugal is coming to an end, and despite the relatively high air temperature of +22 ... + 24 ° С, the cooling effect of the ocean affects - it rains and fogs more and more often.
November to April in Portugal low season (excluding New Year and Christmas holidays). At this time, the wind is blowing from the ocean, the water temperature is not higher than + 15 ° С, it is relatively warm only on the islands. In the south, in the Algarve + 17 ° С, in Lisbon + 15 ° С, in Madeira + 19 ° С.The coldest part is in the northern part of the country, but even here it does without frosts, in the afternoon +5 ... + 9 ° С.
At the end of February, Portugal is already noticeably warmer. Precipitation is not uncommon, but there are more sunny days. In March in Lisbon and the Algarve +17 ... + 18 ° С, in Madeira + 19 ° С. The water in the ocean is still cold +14 ... + 16 ° С, much warmer off the coast of Madeira + 19 ° С.
IN april in Portugal it warms a couple more degrees, it is already becoming comfortable for sunbathing and long walks. In May, the amount of rain gradually decreases, the air warms up to + 22 ° С. The water is cold +16 ... + 18 ° С everywhere, except for the coast of Madeira - there is + 19 ° С.
