Costa Azul

Lisbon boasts two glorious stretches of golden sandy coastline, one to the north of the River Tagus (the Costa do Estoril) and the Costa Azul (Blue Coast) to the south. Both are blessed with an abundance of fine sandy beaches (praias), each with its own natural features and characteristics.

Costa Azul is the name given to the coast south of Lisbon and that of the Alentejo, running down towards the Algarve. It includes Costa de Caparica, a major resort popular with Lisbon residents, though far less known to the rest of the world. In a sheltered estuary, you find the historic city of Setúbal, the third-largest in Portugal, and the Parque Natural da Arrábida, is here, too, in the shelter of an estuary. A number of fishing villages like Comporta, Sesimbra and others have retained their working atmosphere and charm, while the beaches compare favorably with the overcrowded Algarve.