2 Best Sights in Costa da Caparica, Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula

Still under the radar even among Lisboetas, Cova do Vapor is a fishing hamlet perched at the point where the river Tagus meets the Atlantic Ocean. The soft-sand beach is Caparica's closest point to Lisbon, and there are glorious views over the city's domes and towers, but its rustic beach shacks and hand-constructed wooden playground make Cova do Vapor Beach feel like another world. While crowds of surfers pack most of the Costa da Caparica, there are still vast swaths of space on the sands and gentle dunes here. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

When young Lisboetas want to go to the beach, they'll often head to the Costa da Caparica, which is packed in summer and exudes a more youthful vibe than Cascais and Estoril. Formerly a fishing village, the town itself is rather lacking in charm these days, but the beachfront is lively with cafés and bars catering to a relaxed, surf-loving clientele. Avoid the crowds by heading south toward the less accessible dunes and coves at the end of the peninsula. Each beach is different: the areas nearest Caparica are family-oriented, whereas the more southerly ones tend to attract a younger crowd (there are some nudist beaches, too). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming; walking.