11 Best beaches in Sagres Portugal

The small town of Sagres in Portugal’s Algarve is a pretty place that’s got a big history, big surf and so many beautiful beaches.

Some of the beaches in Sagres are, in my view, the best in the Algarve. They’re less built up and still maintain a bit of wildness to them and they stretch for miles and miles.

Sagres has a lot of history and is deeply connected to the Portuguese Age of Discovery. As you explore the best things to do in Sagres you’ll come across remnants from this time including Cabo Sao Vicente and the old fort.

During my recent visit to Sagres, I explored any of the best beaches in Sagres and nearby and have pulled together this guide to some of the best places to go for a beach day or surfing in Sagres.

If you’re planning a day trip to Sagres from Lagos, or are staying in the town itself and looking for the beaches in Sagres to relax on, check out this Sagres beach guide.

Best beaches in Sagres town

Sagres town itself is within easy access of 5 great beaches that you can walk to. There’s Tonel Beach which is considered one of the best for surfing in Sagres; Mareta beach in the middle of town has nice calm waters and is perfect for a family beach day; Beliche Beach which is usually a bit quieter; Praia de Baleeira near the fishing harbour which has calm water and Praia do Martinhal in Sagres which is great for snorkelling or diving.

All of the above beaches in Sagres have received the Blue Flag award in recognition of their high safety, and cleanliness standards of the beach and its facilities.

When it comes to swimming in the Algarve, the water is probably a bit colder than you’d expect since you’re swimming in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean. While you can still swim in the waters and play in them without a wetsuit, if you’re surfing or spending longer in the water you’ll want a wetsuit to stay comfortable in the cooler water temperatures.

Sagres beaches map

Click on the map below to view an interactive map of the best beaches in Sagres. This gives you an idea of where they are located and what’s nearby.

1. Praia do Martinhal Sagres Portugal

Praia do Martinhal is a long sandy beach with golden sand. It’s the first beach you’ll see when you enter Sagres from the main road and is a great place to take a chilled beach day.

From the beach, you can the Baleeira lighthouse and there are two restaurants on the beach itself and a large car park at the rear of the beach so it’s easy enough to park up and get out everything you need for your time at the beach.

It’s a popular place with windsurfers and a great place to try it out if you’re keen.

In the summer months, this beach has lifeguards too making it safer for swimming than some of the other Sagres beaches.

If you’ve got a snorkel you should head out into the water and find the underwater caves which are super cool to see!

2. Praia da Mareta beach Sagres

This was where we headed when we first arrived in Sagres and it was my favourite of the beaches in Sagres that we visited.

Though this beach is one of the busiest in the area, on the weekend we visited it wasn’t very busy at all. It is the closest to the town of Sagres though so I’m sure that’s not always the case.

This beach stretches for about 800m and has some cliffs on either side that provide a bit of shelter from the wind and waves found at other beaches near Sagres.

Since Praia da Mareta faces south you get sun all day long and it’s super close to town (300 m walk) so it’s near all the cool restaurants and other things to do in Sagres too.

If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat, there are three restaurants right on the beach serving delicious fresh fish and other tasty dishes.

During the summer, Mareta Beach is supervised by lifeguards too.

3. Praia do Tonel

Praia do Tonel is a beautiful beach tucked beneath the cliffs of Ponta de Sagres with stunning views of the bay towards Cabo de São Vicente.

To reach Tonel Beach, you can follow the signposted turning to the right just as you reach the large car parking area for Sagres Fortaleza. The beach is next to the fort and has a restaurant and toilets.

This is one of the more popular surfing spots in Sagres and there can be strong currents, wind and waves here so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if you’re looking for a swimming beach near Sagres,

However, if you’re looking for somewhere to watch the surfers while enjoying the scenery, then Praia do Tonel is a solid choice.

From the beach, you can see the 16th-century defensive structures and the Fortress of Sagres, which is believed to house the tomb of St. Vicente too which are well worth checking out during your visit to Sagres.

4. Prainha das Poças

Prainha das Poças is a beach tucked beneath the towering cliffs of Ponta da Sagres. Because of this, it gets some protection from the strong winds and big waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

The beach is a small and pretty stretch of soft, golden sand. However, during high tide, the sand disappears and only rocks are left.

Despite being close to the main beach, Praia da Mareta, Prainha das Poças is never too crowded so it’s a peaceful place to enjoy some time at the beach.

5. Praia de Baleeira

Praia de Baleeira, next to Sagres’ fishing harbour is protected by a breakwater meaning it’s a bit calmer than some of the other nearby Sagres beaches.

Though it’s perhaps not the prettiest beach in Sagres, the openness of Baleeira beach is quite nice and you’ll get expansive views out over the ocean.

There is one restaurant behind the beach, and plenty more can be found behind the harbour area.

6. Praia do Beliche

Praia do Beliche is surrounded by tall cliffs between Sagres Point and Cape St. Vincent. It’s in quite a secluded location and so the beach stays relatively calm even when strong winds blow but there’s usually still a decent amount of surf.

There are no facilities here so I recommend packing drinks and snacks as well as a beach umbrella and some towels and sending a nice few hours here. To get to this beach you’ll need to go down quite a long series of steps so you won’t want to be carrying anything too heavy.

The dark-coloured cliffs here create small coves where you can find a peaceful spot and almost have a private beach.

7. Praia do Castelejo

Praia do Castelejo is a Blue Flag beach in Sagres and so it’s nice and clean with some great facilities. If you’re visiting Sagres as a family it’s a good spot for the day.

This beach is more popular than nearby Cordoama and Barriga beaches because, on the northern side of this beach, you can go looking for marine life in pools during low tide. It’s also a favorite fishing spot so you might see plenty of fishermen in the area.

8. Praia da Cordoama

Praia da Cordoama is one of the many beaches that make up a long stretch of sandy coastline just west of Vila do Bispo.

It’s the longest among these beaches, but during low tide, it connects with neighbouring Castelejo and Barriga to form a huge sandy beach.

All these beaches are part of the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park, known for its stunning natural beauty.

This beach is surrounded by towering cliffs, reaching up to 100 meters high, providing a majestic and scenic backdrop. It’s also a popular spot for paragliding and we saw quite a few people giving it a go.

I’d recommend walking up to the Cordoama Viewpoint or driving down the gravel road to get there before or after exploring the beach.

There’s a small restaurant here (cash only) where you can get snacks and drinks.

9. Praia do Barranco

Praia do Barranco is a peaceful and secluded beach just a couple of kilometres along the Algarve coast from Sagres.

Unlike many of the nearby beaches, it’s protected from strong ocean swells, so there are no waves suitable for surfing but this does mean the calm and clear turquoise waters are perfect for a refreshing swim.

The cliffs on the western side of the beach also provide some shelter from the winds that are common along this part of the coast.

10. Praia da Murração

Praia da Murração is rarely crowded so it’s a great Sagres beach if you’re looking for somewhere peaceful and quiet to relax on for a day. It’s basically next door to Praia da Cordoama so you can walk between the two, but head up here to escape any crowds.

The beach has dunes towards the rear of it with green grasses growing up from them and a small river which flows down to the beach.

There are no facilities here and you have to drive down a dirt road to get here. Therefore if you’re renting a car it may not be recommended depending on the contract you have with them.

You could, however, take this Jeep Safari tour which goes out to some of the quieter beaches like this.

11. Praia do Telheiro

Praia do Telheiro is the last beach before you get to Cabo de Sao Vicente.

This beach is surrounded by fields and is not only beautiful but has some unique rock formations due to the waves and winds coming at the rocks from two fronts.

To get to Telheiro beach you have to descend from the parking spot at the top of the cliff and follow the marked path downhill. It gets steep and you have to climb down some rocks, but it’s doable for most, and worth the effort.

FAQs about the best Sagres beaches

Final thoughts about the best beaches in Sagres

Sagres in Portugal’s Algarve region is a great place to go to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

There is such a diverse range of stunning beaches in Sagres. Some are popular for surfing, some are popular for just chilling out, and others for snorkelling or windsurfing.

Whether you’re looking for cliffs, golden sands, or crystal-clear waters, you’ll find some beautiful of the best beaches Sagres has to offer on this list.