5 Best Best Beaches in Sesimbra

This curving, turquoise bay just 40km south of Lisbon is home to a long, sandy beach that splits in two at high tide to form a strand each side of an intriguing waterfront fort.

Jetskis and ketches play off-shore while droves of Lisbon residents flock to taste the marine delights on offer at scores of beachfront restaurants, each with its own charcoal grill.

Praia do Meco is a fairly remote beach located within the Serra da Arrabida national park near Sesimbra. It occupies a 4km stretch of coast to the south of the beaches of Costa da Caparica, around 40km south of Lisbon.

This long, sandy beach was largely undiscovered until the early 1970s. There was no vehicular access and nothing in the way of development. Around this time travelling 'hippies' from around Europe and the U.S. set up camp at the beach.

A short drive east of Setubal down tiny winding roads will bring you to one of the most stunning beaches in Portugal - Portinho da Arrabida. This former tiny fishing village is now attracting increasing numbers of foreign visitors each year, but its isolation from public transport have so far protected this sheltered cove from serious overcrowding.

Set in the Parque Natural Arrábida near Setúbal, the idyllic Praia de Galapinhos is one of the regions most stunning beaches. The crescent of golden-white sand, backed by the densely forested hills of the Serra da Arrabida, is lapped by crystal-clear azure waters. It is little wonder this beach was awarded 'most beautiful beach in Europe' by the European Best Destinations organization.

Set in the Serra da Arrábida National Park, just beyond the mouth of the Rio Sado estuary, is Praia da Figueirinha. This is one of the best known and most popular beaches in the Arrábida area and is one of the closest to the town of Setubal.

Figueirinha has a stunning backdrop of the Arrábida Hills along with a fine stretch of golden sand which forms a narrow sandbank extending out into the calm, clean waters of the Sado at low tide. You can walk out along this sandbar which also forms a safe, sheltered lagoon in front of the main beach.