If you were hesitating whether or not to take a pair of swimming costumes with you on your holiday in Lisbon, the answer is YES.
It is true that the city of Lisbon itself does not have a beach, but is situated on the estuary of the Tagus River, so the waters surrounding the city are a mixture of the river and the Atlantic Ocean and there are no bathing areas. But if you are beach lovers, surfers or simply can’t conceive of a holiday without going in the water, you can’t go on holiday without going in the water, here we bring you the solution: Costa da Caparica, 15 kilometres of beaches stretching from the southern mouth of the Tagus River to a small village called Fonte da Telha. This is one of the best beach areas around Lisbon, only 20 minutes from the city centre.
This area is characterised by its lack of pollution and is very extensive, the further south you go the less urbanised the surroundings will be. These beaches are not usually visited by large numbers of tourists, but by Lisboetas in search of a bit of relaxation. Surfers are also a common sight, as there are surfing schools all along the coast where you can learn this sport that the Portuguese love so much.
The Costa da Caparica is very well connected to Lisbon by various means of transport:
- By ferry: you can take the ferry from two piers, at Cais do Sodré (direction Cacilhas) or at Bélem (direction Trafaria).
- By bus: you can also get there from the places mentioned above: in Cacilhas by bus no. 124 and in Trafaria by bus no. 129. Or if you are closer: No. 153 from Praça de Espanha or No. 161 from Praça do Areeiro (all stop in the town of Caparica).
- By car, cross the 25 de Abril Bridge and follow the signs for Costa da Caparica for about 10 kilometres. If you go by car, we advise you not to stay on the beaches of Caparica itself, but to continue along the coastal road, as if you go a little further you will find better landscapes, with quieter and less crowded beaches.
If you opt for one of the first two options, which leave you in the town of Caparica and you want to get closer to the beaches further south, you should take the Transpraia train: the tourist train that runs along the Costa da Caparica linking the town with the beaches. It costs €2.50 per adult and €1.20 for children if you take one way and €4.50 for adults and €2.50 for children if you take both ways.
The first stop is Caparica village, and goes all the way to Praia da Fonte da Telha. It operates only between 1 June and 30 September and at the following times:
- From Caparica: from 09:00 h to 19:00 h, passing every half hour.
- From Fonte da Telha: from 09:30 to 19:30, also with a half-hourly frequency.
So if the inconvenience for not coming to visit the beautiful city of Lisbon was that it didn’t have a beach, you no longer have an excuse!
