The golden sandy beaches of the Sintra coast, close to Lisbon, are very popular and offer excellent restaurants to relish a fish meal and a good, refreshing white wine, like Colares, for example.

A ride along the beaches

While Praia das Maçãs is more appreciated for sunbathing and swimming in the sea, sportsmen prefer Praia Grande where various national and international surfing, bodyboarding and skimming competitions are held. There is also a salt water swimming pool for those who prefer a calmer “sea”.

Azenhas do Mar, with its houses cascading down the cliff, also boasts a salt water swimming pool, and a narrow beach that is swallowed up at high tide. It is one of the most scenic spots and well worth the trip, as is Praia da Adraga between the cliffs. To complete the tour of the Sintra coast, you must visit the westernmost point of the continent of Europe, Cabo da Roca, “where the land ends and the sea starts” and let yourself be carried away by the view and the power of the sea.