5 Best Sights in Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal

A favorite destination for celebrities, Comporta's snow-white sands are dotted with colorful sun loungers and straw-roofed beach huts selling cocktails as well as fresh seafood, and the clear, bright blue invites you to take a cooling dip. Although one of the busier beaches in the Alentejo, this is still quieter than the beaches of the Algarve, and there’s plenty of elbow room even during the summer high season. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets; food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

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.

Cars often line either side of the road behind Guincho Beach on weekends, and surfers can always be seen braving its waves regardless of the season or prevailing weather conditions. The undertow can be dangerous, and even accomplished swimmers have had to summon lifeguards. If you prefer something more sedate, this beach—with the Serra da Sintra serving as a backdrop—is an ideal spot to watch the sunset. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; windsurfing.

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.

The wild, hard-to-reach Ribeiro do Cavalo has dazzling white sands and crystal-clear water in several shades of turquoise. Curiously formed rocks jutting out of the water are encircled by all manner of colorful fish, so bring your snorkel gear. During the summer, regular boat services speed sunseekers to and from the beach and Praia do Ouro in Sesimbra (a 5--10-minute ride), but for the rest of the year it can only be reached by private boat, kayak, or by a half-hour walk along a very rough track. Look out for the purple markings on the rocks that indicate which way to go. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.